oldchakra.com

BBT: A Fantastic Supply of 
Srila Prabhupada's Books
By Suradasa

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I was very surprised that you published the uninformed letter about BBT stock of books on your website. It was kind of irresponsible not to contact us first. But anyway, we do have all of Srila Prabhupada's books in print, and hundreds of thousands of his books ready for mass distribution in the warehouse.

These include

Small books: Easy Journey, Perfect Questions Perfect Answers, Life Comes from Life, Perfection of Yoga (due in the warehouse in two weeks), Isopanisad, On Chanting, Coming Back, Chant and Be Happy, Path of Perfection, Higher Taste, Beyond Birth and Death (due in the warehouse in five weeks), Sp. Perfection of Yoga, Sp. Topmost Yoga, Sp. Beyond Birth and Death, Sp. Nectar of Instruction, Spanish Science of Self Realization, and Science of Self Realization Soft.

more...

Sankirtana Mela and the 
Annual Meeting of the BBT Trustees
From Ranjit Dasa

Dear Devotees,

The annual meeting of the BBT Trustees will be held on June 24 through 26 at the ISKCON temple in Abentheuer, Germany.

If you have any proposal you wish to make to the trustees, please send it to me, either by e-mail (Ranjit.ACBSP@pamho.net) or by regular mail:

Ranjit Dasa
Bhaktivedanta Archives
PO Box 255
Sandy Ridge, NC 27046
USA

After the meetings, from June 27 through 29, there will be a Sankirtan Mela.

Obstructing the Legacy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
by Mayesvara dasa for the Bhaktivedanta Archives

We all owe a great debt to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. His divinely inspired realizations gave us meaning and transformed undirected, mediocre individuals into extraordinary servants of Lord Krishna. Srila Prabhupada’s profound contribution to this world extends far beyond "Good Literature." His teachings are a theological landmark that we know will bring light to this dark place for the next 10,000 years.

In 1978 the Bhaktivedanta Archives was formed for the sole purpose of accurately preserving the 6000+ personal letters, 30,000+ photos, 10,000+ pages of manuscripts and transcriptions, and 2000+ hours of audio recordings of His Divine Grace. These first-hand artifacts are the closest things we have to properly understand the devotional legacy Srila Prabhupada left in our care. This venerated collection is the origin of the numerous books, magazines, videos, audiotapes, CDs, and computer research tools that bear the familiar Bhaktivedanta Book Trust logo. The Bhaktivedanta Archives is the only place in the world that has the original resources capable of confirming Srila Prabhupada’s exact words and teachings.

Was the BBT Authorized to Change Prabhupada's Books? 
By Vipramukhya Swami

CHAKRA (Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK) - July 5, 2001: Controversy continues to rage over the Internet over whether the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) was authorized to edit Srila Prabhupada's books after his disappearance.

The BBT has now replied to the controversy by producing a new CD called "Gita Revisions Explained: The CD." The contents of the CD may be reviewed over the Internet on the Gita Revisions Website (http://chantandbehappy.com/revisions/) 

© CHAKRA 5-July-2001

Call for Homages
By Dravida dasa

This year the deadline for submitting offerings for Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-Puja book is FEB 28, not April 15, as before. So we urgently request that you submit your offering on time or transmit this message to any temple or center presidents, sannyasis, GBC's, or project leaders that you may come in contact with. Thank you.

What follows is the BBT's official call for homages for Srila Prabhupada's 2001 Vyasa Puja book.

© CHAKRA 22-January-2000

BTG to be Late
By Nagaraja dasa

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Because of persistent computer problems, the January/February issue of Back to Godhead will be delivered about one month late.

Our apologies to our subscribers.

The computer problems have been fixed, and we're working hard to get back on schedule.

Hare Krishna.

Your servant, Nagaraja dasa Editor

© CHAKRA 6-January-2000

Srila Prabhupada's 2001 Vyasa Puja Book
By Dravida dasa

This year the deadline for writing offerings for Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja book is February 28, 2001, six weeks earlier than usual. The idea is to leave more time for promoting the book before Vyasa Puja and to enable us to ship the book earlier, thus greatly reducing shipping costs.

© CHAKRA 3-January-2000

A reply to "The Death Of COM" by "KRUMA RUPA KRSNADAS" recently posted on VNN

I have seen your article posted on VNN and have carefully noted the contents. I know perfectly well who you are, and am equally well aware of your intentions by posting this series of absurd accusations, desperately attempting to attack various people's integrity including my own.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 11-April-2000

In case you have not yet paid it, we would like to inform you that if you have been on COM longer than since halfway 1999, and if we have not received payment yet, your membership will expire on April 15. That means practically that from April 16 you will no longer be able to log in. Neither will the PAMHO.NET server forward any mail to your Internet address.

We found a new credit card processor, so now we can again accept credit card payments on our web site www.pamho.net . We have also updated the other ways of payment at www.pamho.net/pay.htm 
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 4-April-2000

A three-day, international “BBT Symposium 2000” took place in mid-January, in Kisslegg, Germany. The North European BBT (NE-BBT) rented a new-age conference center and hotel for it. The symposium presentations focused on Srila Prabhupada’s book production and distribution.

Eighty devotees from Germany, Switzerland, Scandinavia, England, Benelux, the USA, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and CIS countries gathered to strengthen the sankirtana spirit and renewed their inspiration.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 28-Feb-2000

This year, as always, the deadline for submitting homages for Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-Puja book is April 15. Below is the announcement published in the HKW and going out to all temples. Could you please write your offerings and submit them on time, and also forward this message to any temple or other Iskcon entity under your care.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 17-Feb-2000

Since the number of devotees who are calling the BBT E-mail Systems directly is decreasing (nearly everyone logs in through the Internet nowadays), we have reduced the number of login modems to three. Therefore, the phone numbers +46 8 530 29613 and 29614 are no longer valid.

Win/MacCOM users don’t need to worry about this announcement, WinCOM and MacCOM are set up to call the group number +46 8 530 29610 for direct calls.

© CHAKRA 24-Jan-2000

BBT RELEASES Bhagavatam CD-ROMs.

The North American office of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has released a set of two CD-ROMs containing Amala-bhakta dasa’s audio recording of all the translations of Srimad-Bhagavatam, by Srila Prabhupada and his disciples. The set also contains about 300 BBT paintings and 200 color photos of Srila Prabhupada.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 11-Jan-2000

CHAKRA (Los Angeles, CA, USA) - September 9, 1999: Here are the minutes of the 1999 annual directors meeting of the BBT International. (“The directors” is technically the right name for those whom we’re accustomed to call “the BBT trustees.”)

The meeting took place in Los Angeles on June 22 through 26. We usually have a three-day meeting, but this year we added two days more. On the first of those two days, we focused on issues of managerial concern. On the second day, we focused on topics pertaining directly to publishing and distributing books, especially new ones.

For most of the resolutions, I’ve added explanatory comments.
>Full Story

© CHAKRA 08-Sep-1999

The BBT and the Law
from Radha devi dasi


Dear Prabhus and Maharajas:

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am writing in response to Nityanandana Rama's criticism of ISKCON's lawyers in the recently settled BBT lawsuit. I am not one of the lawyers who worked on that lawsuit. Nor do I know Nityananda Rama dasa or the basis for his outspoken complaints about the lawyers who did work on that lawsuit. However, as the newly appointed legal director of ISKCON's North American Temple Support Office I have come to realize that most devotees do not realize the very important role they play in each and every legal matter which ISKCON faces.

The BBT lawsuit did not begin the day the first legal paper was filed in court. That lawsuit began years earlier when ISKCON's corporate managers inadvertently ignored the important legal steps which would have preserved the BBT chain of command.
of ISKCON's lawyers in the recently settled BBT lawsuit. I am not one of the lawyers who worked on that lawsuit. Nor do I know Nityananda Rama dasa or the basis for his outspoken complaints about the lawyers who did work on that lawsuit. However, as the newly appointed legal director of ISKCON's North American Temple Support Office I have come to realize that most devotees do not realize the very important role they play in each and every legal matter which ISKCON faces.

The BBT lawsuit did not begin the day the first legal paper was filed in court. That lawsuit began years earlier when ISKCON's corporate managers inadvertently ignored the important legal steps which would have preserved the BBT chain of command.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 15-Dec-98

BBT Struggles
with New Competition
by Vipramukhya Swami

CHAKRA (Vancouver) — The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International (BBTI) is trying to come to terms with the recent decision by a California court to allow Hansadutta dasa and his friends to form a separate company to print and sell Srila Prabhupada's books.

In a turn-around policy, Jayadvaita Swami, the present chairman of BBTI, recently issued a statement in which he said that the BBT and all of their divisions will now start selling their books at wholesale prices to any devotee or group, "regardless of affiliation, philosophy, or social or managerial outlook."

It appears that the BBT is concerned about the new competition and is trying not to lose potential book sales from Hansadutta's new company.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 9-Dec-98

Access for All
The new BBT policy on selling books at wholesale prices
from Jayadvaita Swami

Though the news is already getting around, I wish to formally announce a new policy for sales of BBT books. Henceforward, all BBT divisions will sell their books at wholesale prices to any devotee or group, regardless of affiliation, philosophy, or social or managerial outlook. Whether you're an ISKCON temple, a non-ISKCON temple, an independent devotee, or whatever, you're welcome to buy BBT books in any quantity. And if you buy in wholesale quantities, you're welcome to pay the wholesale price.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 9-Dec-98

BBT Settlement: We Lost
from Nityananda Ram Das

Take away the political spin woven into the "Devotees settle their differences" press release and it looks to me like Hansadutta Dasa, Veda Guhya Dasa, Bhagavan Dasa, and Dasa Dasanudasa Dasa Devi got everything they originally set out to achieve. The title indicates that "Devotees settle their differences" but without looking too deeply I can see that the title should have been "We Severely Lost—They Easily Won." Oh yeah, and to rub it in, we get to pay their expenses too, but then losers usually have to.
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 9-Dec-98

BBT Legal Case Ends
Devotees settle their differences and pledge cooperation

from Jayadvaita Swami and Gupta Dasa

"Now all my disciples must work combinedly and with cooperation to spread this Sankirtan Movement. If you cannot work together then my work is stopped up. Our Society is like one big family and our relationships should be based on love and trust. We must give up the fighting spirit and use our intelligence to push ahead."

(Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Upendra Prabhu, dated 6 August 1970)

Hare Krishna. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya.

The BBTI-Hansadutta court case is over. By the grace of Krishna, the devotees involved were able to settle the matter without need of a trial. On November 13, the devotees appeared before the judge and placed their settlement on record, thus putting their legal dispute to an end.

In dispute had been several issues: Is the original American BBT trust, founded by Srila Prabhupada in 1972, still valid? Is it the true owner of the copyrights to Srila Prabhupada's literary works? And was Hansadutta Dasa still rightfully entitled to serve as a trustee?
>Click Here

© CHAKRA 4-Dec-98

BBT Case Settled
By Vipramukhya Swami

CHAKRA (Vancouver)—The BBTI v. Hansadutta case was settled on Friday, November 13, 1998. The Court has entered a stipulated judgment declaring that the trust formed by the agreement of May 29, 1972, is a valid trust.

This trust owns the copyrights to a list of works including the bulk of Srila Prabhupada's books. The current trustees are Jayadvaita Swami, Brahma Muhurta dasa, Svavasa dasa, and Naresvara dasa. The beneficiary of the trust is ISKCON, a religious movement started by Srila Prabhupada in 1966 and further defined by the GBC of ISKCON. The BBTI is the authorized agent of this trust.

Hansadutta dasa, Bhagavan dasa, Veda Guhya dasa, and Diane Chan have acknowledged that they are not trustees of this trust and that they have no say whatsoever in managing the trust or the finances of the trust.

As part of the stipulated judgment, however, a company formed by Hansadutta will be given a license to publish some of the BBT books, including pre-1978 editions.

A joint statement about the settlement is to be released soon.

Both parties have also agreed not to disparage one another. VNN's coverage is a violation of that agreement, because the coverage contains false and disparaging statements. VNN's statement that the case cost the BBT over $1 million, for example, is false. It did not cost anywhere near that amount.

Furthermore, it has been proved in court that the BBTI was formed in 1988 by all the actual BBT trustees, not just Harikesa dasa, and that this was approved by the entire GBC body. It was also announced to the devotee community in the ISKCON World Reviewand in other ways.

© CHAKRA 20-Nov-98

BBT: No Stock Market Loss
From the GBC Executive Committee

11 August, 1998

Recently a rumour has been propagated which asserts that Harikesa Swami had speculated with ISKCON and BBT funds on the Russian stock exchange. When the Russian market suddenly collapsed, the rumour continues, tens of millions of Prabhupada's dollars were lost.

The executive committee has investigated this allegation and found it to be false. Here is our report about what actually happened.

Put simply, there was no capital investment and consequently no capital loss, at any time, by either ISKCON or the BBT, on the Russian stock exchange.

Among the many disciples of Harikesa Swami in Moscow were several householders who worked as financial consultants. Together they formed their own investment firm, which in time became enormously profitable. From these profits, these devotees offered a substantial donation to Harikesa Maharaja.

Taking the suggestion of some of his disciples, Harikesa Swami asked the Russian financiers to keep the sum they had offered him invested in their company's mutual funds. A percentage of the regular earnings generated by that capital should be used for Krishna conscious projects. (The remainder of the earning would be added to the original capital.) This investment was handled by his disciples, who were professional financial managers, and Harikesa Swami did not take an active part in it.
>Click Here

CHAKRA - 11 Aug  98

Thirty-Day "Freeze" in BBT Case

Attorneys in the BBT International Inc vs. Hans Kary case have announced that on August 5, 1998, the Court granted the parties' request for a thirty (30) day "freeze" in litigation which will afford the devotees an opportunity to fully explore settlement options. The Court also reset the trial date to November 30, 1998. All of the parties have expressed their desire to resolve the issues consistent with the instructions of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, who wanted all of his disciples "to cooperate together in serving the mission of the Lord." [760619LE.TOR]

CHAKRA 11-Aug-98

BBT Accepts Harikesa Swami's Resignation
from Bhagavat Dharma (das) MG (Mayapur Project, Comm.)

The BBT Trustees have accepted the resignation of Harikesa Swami due to ill health. The Trustees hope that Harikesa Swami can receive the treatment and the rest that he needs, and they offer their gratitude for all his inspiration and service for the BBT.

Brahma Muhurta Dasa, who for several years has been the manager of the Northern European BBT, has been appointed trustee until the next annual trustee meeting, to be held next summer. He oversees the work of seventy devotees in translation, editing, artwork, and production.

Since the collapse of Harikesa Swami's health, rumors have been circulating that the BBT has lost huge sums of money on the Russian stock exchange. The rumor is false. The BBT has never invested anything in the Moscow stock market, nor any other. The BBT invests its money in printing books. And if it has funds to hold for some time, it places them in secure, non-speculative accounts such as fixed deposits, as Srila Prabhupada did himself.
>Click Here

CHAKRA - 1 Aug  98

BBT vs Hansadutta
BBT News Release. 18th June 1998.
From the BBT Communications Office.
Radlett, UK.
=============

Recently, several commentators have spread their opinions widely on the Internet, on the pending BBT court case against Hansadutta das. The BBT Trustees are concerned that devotees may be fully appraised of the facts in this case.

The six BBT Trustees, all devotees in good standing and with many years of experience, strictly apply the rules laid down by Srila Prabhupada for the printing of his books. In a letter of 14th March 1974, Srila Prabhupada writes:

"The BBT can authorise a centre to print, as in the case of foreign translations, with the agreement that when the foreign printing becomes financially solvent they will pay royalties to the BBT. But all printing of ISKCON literature must be by the BBT or under their sanction and approval. If temples print independently it will be at the cost of the books I am, myself printing, and could eventually cause the financial ruin of the BBT, meaning I could not order new books from the printer or have sufficient funds for construction of temple projects."

In pursuance of Srila Prabhupada's stated instructions, the BBT Trustees, after many attempts at negotiation, began a case against Hansadutta das in the Los Angeles Court. Hansadutta has filed a cross-complaint. He is asking the Court to order ISKCON of California and BBTI to turn over to him (and his two alleged "co-trustees," Veda Guhya and Diane Chan) all the money that has been received for the sale of Srila Prabhupada's books since 1988. He also asks the Court to declare that these trustees, none of whom are active in ISKCON, be declared as the holder of legal title to all the BBT copyrights.
>Click Here

CHAKRA - 17 Jun 98

BBT Online Newsletter No. 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to the BBT Online Newsletter No. 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contents
~~~~~~~~

1. Editorial
2. Creating a Sankirtan-Friendly World
3. Back To Godhead Update
4. The BBT Trustees and Their Work
5. Protecting Srila Prabhupada's Copyrights
6. Responsible Publishing
7. Opportunities for Service
~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Editorial
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We can imagine how pleased Srila Prabhupada would have been to hear India's new Prime Minister praising "the printing of millions of copies of Bhagavad-Gita in scores of languages" at the recently opened Delhi temple. The BBT was, and still is, a crucial part of Srila Prabhupada's global mission. Our new bimonthy newsletter will keep you up to date with what is currently happening with the BBT. Our aim is to create a positive exchange between ISKCON's publishing arm and ISKCON's members.

We hope you will find this newsletter informative. We really would like to know what you think. We believe it is essential for devotees to have a dialogue about issues that are important to them. Then, even if there are disagreements, we can work towards a solution. We hope to hear from you soon. Thank you, prabhus.

Your humble servants

Editor: Anjana Dasi

Consultant Editor: Bhagavat Dharma Dasa
>Click Here

CHAKRA - 17 Jun 98

Protecting Srila Prabhupada's Copyrights
from the BBT Online Newsletter #1
In a letter to all ISKCON centers dated 14 March 1974, Srila Prabhupada stated, "I specifically formed the BBT to invest in it exclusive rights for the printing of all literature containing my teaching, writings and lectures."

Srila Prabhupada wanted his books protected legally by copyright, and that was one reason he formed the BBT. Srila Prabhupada set up two BBT trusts -- first one in India and then another in America -- but this resulted in certain legal ambiguities. For this and other reasons, the BBT trustees formed the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, with the blessings of the ISKCON GBC. The BBTI serves mainly as the owner of the BBT copyrights and trademarks and licenses the use of this property by various BBT divisions around the world.

Devotees sometimes ask, "Why can't I print my Spiritual Master's books?" Yet Srila Prabhupada didn't even want his own ISKCON temples to print independently. He stated clearly that all printing "must be by the BBT or under their sanction and approval." He gave specific instructions as to where the profits from his books should go and he was determined to achieve this. Temples have an automatic blanket license to use photos and short articles from BBT publications for their cards, newsletters, and so on. No problem.

The BBTI office in Sweden monitors unauthorised use of text and artwork from Srila Prabhupada's books. If you do come across any unauthorised use of Srila Prabhupada's books please notify:

Madhavi Puri Dasa, BBTI, Farboret 101. 24297 Hoerby, Sweden.

e-mail: mats.olausson@com.bbt.se

Currently Akruranath das, the BBTI lawyer has filed a case against Hansadutta dasa for publishing bootleg copies of Srila Prabhupada's books in SE Asia. Hansadutta has filed a countersuit that claims he is the owner trustee of Srila Prabhupada's books. He claims that he and two of his followers are the actual owners of legal title to Srila Prabhupada's copyrights. He wants the beneficiary to be changed to enable them to use BBT money for non-ISKCON projects, at their discretion. The trial is scheduled for September.

Any devotees who were involved with Hansadutta Dasa, please contact Akruranath Dasa (Adam Bernstein) at (408) 297-9982.

E-mail: akruranath.acbsp@com.bbt.se

CHAKRA - 17 Jun 98

BBT Copyrights
from Bhagavat Dharma Dasa
In a letter on VNN, Paramadvaita Swami writes:

"Copyrights of the holiest books on earth [Srila Prabhupada's books] in the hands of either party [i.e., the BBT or anyone else] are ludicrous. This could never have been the desire of Srila Prabhupada. . . . No greater blessings could happen at this point then the judge's decision to declare the writings of Srila Prabhupada public domain. . . . If anyone dares to prohibit a disciple of Srila Prabhupada to publish his words, glory and picture, he must be out of his mind. . . . Every disciple in our family has the right and duty to . . . publish. . . his Guru to his heart's happiness."

There are those of us who still adhere to such ludicrous duties as preserving Srila Prabhupada's copyrights. We don't share Paramadvaita Swami's wish that the judge bless the world by placing Srila Prabhupada's writings in the public domain rather than in the domain where Srila Prabhupada put them. And we're out of our minds because we believe that the right to publish Srila Prabhupada's books belongs not to anyone who feels it in his heart but instead to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Perhaps we poor creatures might be forgiven for recalling the instructive letter from His Divine Grace reproduced below.
>Click Here

CHAKRA - 12 Jun 98