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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 28, 2008 8:01:44 GMT -6
Hi All,
Sorry I have been absent from this forum for so long. I have been concentrating on the Tinkadi Baba book. I am happy to say that it is finally finished. We are waiting for the proofs to come in. They should arrive sometime this week. Next week it will be available on Amazon and Borders, etc. Look for it if you are interested. My own little bookstore is undergoing a face lift. That will be done some time this coming month.
About this forum. It is a strange thing. It seems to bring out the worst in people. I find that when I am heavily involved in it, my mind is disturbed. Getting away from it for a while always makes me peaceful and joyful. Maybe it is best to close it. I had high hopes for it once, but it has continued to disappoint me. It seems to draw shit-heads straight out of the woodwork. Not so much from among the members as from among those who just "drop by" and leave a dump. If I don't close it altogether, I may at least close it off so that the knuckle-dragging trolls can't pee on it.
What do you think? Does anyone come by any more? I thought I would pick up some of the projects I started on here again: the Govindadas Kaviraja songs, the Tattva-sandarbha, the Bhagavata Purana, and so forth. Those works might eventually become books from Blazing Sapphire. The idea was to share work in process, not allow the foolish to become more foolish. Maybe it is just a waste of my time and yours.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2008 2:13:24 GMT -6
Hi Nitai-ji nice to hear from you after so long and good to know about the new book. About CS, I would suggest that only members could post or even better, just people who you think should have access to post and make comments, others read only. Something like a redefinition of what the main idea is and focus on Caitanya Vaishnavism. Arts of all sorts should be untouched, but members only can post and comment. In this way, you can prevent undesirable things happening, but at the same time keep it as an open source to the public. Well, those are some ideas, but ultimately it is up to you.
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Post by Nitaidas on Oct 30, 2008 8:31:16 GMT -6
I've given it some thought and received some fine advice from some of you both here and privately. Thanks for that. I think I'm going to leave things the way they are. To close things off would be running the risk of closing myself and others off from some great opportunities to learn and to work off some karma. In a way this site is therapeutic for me and maybe for some others as well. Therapy is often not pleasant. One has to face one's ghosts and come to terms with them. That is a necessary ordeal one has to pass through in order to become healed. For that reason I think I will leave this site open. I guess I am surprised at how many people think it is necessary to limit free speech or to actively oppress it. That can't be what Krsna intends.
Anyway, I should just take my lumps and learn from them. Look at all I (we?) have learned this year. I knew nothing about Nagari-bhava and now I know a lot more. Buddysattva's peculiar (mis?)interpretation of Caitanyite philosophy and theology is also very instructive. Such challenges cause us to go back and re-examine our own cherished beliefs and assumptions and either re-affirm them or reject them. I like Bodo Baba's understanding of the guru which is presented in his conversation with Premananda Bharati, a conversation translated for the first time in the appendices of our re-edition of Premananda's classic Sri Krsna. Don't know what I'm talking about? Look it up. Amazon has a look inside feature activated for the book. Maybe you will get lucky and be given that section as a sample.
The other aspect of benefit to me in keeping this site open is that I get to work off some past karma. Long ago, I rejected Bhaktivedanta because I didn't think he was a worthy guru. Such actions produce karma-phala, especially in the form of retribution from among those who think he was wonderful. He was basically a decent person. I knew him personally as many of you know. Now, I think I was wrong about him. He was worthy to be guru, in the expanded sense that Bodo Baba gives to the word. He came to teach us how not to do it, to show us the pitfalls and dangers of becoming a guru and ultimately how seriously wrong it all can go. These are very valuable lessons and for risking himself and no doubt bringing down upon himself untold calamities and sufferings as a result of the lessons he taught us, we should all be very grateful. "There but for the grace of God, go I."
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 25, 2008 9:16:06 GMT -6
I was perhaps a bit premature in announcing that the latest book from Blazing Sapphire Press was done. A proof arrived and it had some flaws. Those have been corrected and we have signed off on the book. It should appear on Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble within the next few days. Keep an eye out if you are interested. I will post a sample of the book somewhere here in the labyrinth of this forum. The title is Sadhu Sadhu and it is by Sri Binode Bihari Das Babaji
What is next? I am back to work on a book by Sri Kanupriya Goswami on the powerful and elevating effects of association with the holy. An early version of that book is also posted here. I hope to have that done by the end of the year, but you know how that goes.
In addition, my guru-bhai Joseph and I are working on a couple of books together: one, a more popular (we hope) book tentatively called The Indigo Mind for a new age (lala-land) audience and another book called the Rasik Tradition, an overview of the history and major traits of the Caitanya tradition, here called the Rasik tradition, for a general readership (that is, with not too many details. Those pesky little things tend to hurt the heads of general readers what to speak of my guru-bhai). Also on the schedule is the completion of my older translation of the Sri Krsna-lila-stava by Sanatana Goswami, perhaps the first post-Caitanya book in Sanskrit and I argue the Goswami version of the Caitanya tradition in seed form. It may also be the only book one needs if one wants to taste rasa. Anyway, these are the plans. The semester is almost over and I should have more time to spend at the forum after that (at least for a month until the next semester begins).
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Post by Nitaidas on Nov 27, 2008 10:02:16 GMT -6
The book is actually available now at Amazon, though the cover picture is not up yet. I guess it takes a few days to get it all together. I will be adding the "Look inside" feature shortly." The book has grown from the original projected size of 150 pages to nearly 300 pages. Don't know how that happened. Perhaps the Bengali kirtanas in the back made the difference.
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Post by Nitaidas on Dec 4, 2008 9:43:43 GMT -6
Finally, the book is up at Amazon. The link is here.Treat yourself to a Christmas gift.
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Post by Nitaidas on Dec 7, 2008 19:16:55 GMT -6
The other book, Sri Krsna: the Lord of Love, is also doing well this year. You can see it here.Why not treat yourself or a loved one to a Christmas gift with this book, too?
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Post by Nitaidas on Dec 9, 2008 11:46:52 GMT -6
Our next book is On Association with the Great (Mahat-sanga prasanga) by Sri Kanupriya Goswami. An earlier version is posted here on this site in another section. We are looking for good, high resolution pictures of Sri Kanupriya Goswami. If anyone has one or knows someone who does, please let us know. We are beginning to plan the cover of the book and arrange its interior design. It would be great to have some better pictures of him than we currently have. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2009 0:42:21 GMT -6
Thanks again for my complimentary copy. I assume you read my email after I received it, although you never replied. Overall I think it is strong, although I think it could be expanded with more memoirs from people who spent time with Baba back in the day.
I am kind of disappointed that Blazing Sapphire Press is the fourth publisher to go to press without my getting to proof the manuscript of what I have written. Although I don't have any specific complaints about the final work product, it is a matter of principle. I noticed that you added some content of your own to my contribution, yet you did not see fit to let me know that you were going to use your editorial license and make such embellishments. Oh well.... I guess I have to be more vigilant with publishers in the future and insist upon my rights as an author to see galley proofs before they are sent off to the printer. At the very least, I am going to make sure there is a clause in my contract.
OK, off my soap box. I think everyone here will come away with something from this book, and not just because I was a contributor (just kidding).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2009 17:03:32 GMT -6
On the other hand, Blazing Sapphire Press is hands down better than the other major publishing houses I have been published by when it comes to the editorial and production process. And I am not just saying that because of my ongoing affiliation with BSP as an editor/proofreader and contributor. It is just an unbiased objective opinion.
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Post by Nitaidas on Mar 7, 2009 17:13:14 GMT -6
I don't remember getting an email from you, baba, or any note affirming that you received the book. Anyway, glad you got it and that you like it. Our editorial changes were so slight, it did not occur to me to bother you with them. Sorry, if you felt left out of the process. Not our intention.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2009 17:30:11 GMT -6
I emailed you at your Blazing Sapphire address, which is not the one I usually use.
No offense taken. I just like to vent from time to time. Call me an old crab ass. If the shoe fits...
Hope all is well with you & family.
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