Copyright

[Eddy Daze]

Do you think it right to copyright the word of God and the words of the souls that have spread it?....eg Mohamed, Lord Caitanya,Buddha and Christ (I know some will think Budha may not belong in that group, but I am taking the Vedic angle regards Lord Buddha) , is this practice not hindering the spiritual messages?

 

[Willamena]

I think the messages should be there to share, yes.

 

[Breathe]

I suppose I can understand why they do it - but that doesn't mean I agree with it.
Religious scripture should not be copyright. Any.

 

[Eddy Daze]

Ah...I have just realised it may be useful....The founder of the Hare Krsna movement in the west translated the vedic books , but after he left this earth some self appointed guru/s altered some of the books, partly so they could get gullible people to follow them instead of reading the bona fide words of the accepted translater/guru, so if these altered ones get hindered that can only mean good.

 

[Japaholic]

No, legally you can't copyright the word of God.

An American guy tried to sue God for causing pain and grief throughout the world and for using cruel and unusual punishments.

The court ruled that as God did not have an address and was not able to appear at all, let alone appear in court for his defence that a case could not be brought.

In a nutshell, God does not get the same legal protection we get (eg copyright) because God can not prove God exists. (....and that he has a mail address!)

 

[Eddy Daze]

No, legally you can't copyright the word of God.

An American guy tried to sue God for causing pain and grief throughout the world and for using cruel and unusual punishments.

The court ruled that as God did not have an address and was not able to appear at all, let alone appear in court for his defence that a case could not be brought.

In a nutshell, God does not get the same legal protection we get (eg copyright) because God can not prove God exists. (....and that he has a mail address!)

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]PURPORT[/FONT] ​

The ultimate goal in practicing yoga is now clearly explained. Yoga practice is not meant for attaining any kind of material facility; it is to enable the cessation of all material existence. One who seeks an improvement in health or aspires after material perfection is no yogi according to Bhagavad-gita. Nor does cessation of material existence entail one's entering into "the void," which is only a myth. There is no void anywhere within the creation of the Lord. Rather, the cessation of material existence enables one to enter into the spiritual sky, the abode of the Lord. The abode of the Lord is also clearly described in the Bhagavad-gita as that place where there is no need of sun, moon or electricity. All the planets in the spiritual kingdom are self-illuminated like the sun in the material sky. The kingdom of God is everywhere, but the spiritual sky and the planets thereof are called param dhama, or superior abodes.

A consummate yogi, who is perfect in understanding Lord Krsna, as is clearly stated herein (mat-cittah, mat-parah, mat-sthanam) by the Lord Himself, can attain real peace and can ultimately reach His supreme abode, the Krsna-loka, known as Goloka Vrndavana. In the Brahma-samhita it is clearly stated, (goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah) that the Lord, although residing always in His abode called Goloka, is the all-pervading Brahman and the localized Paramatma as well by dint of His superior spiritual energies. No one can reach the spiritual sky or enter into the eternal abode (Vaikuntha Goloka Vrndavana) of the Lord without the proper understanding of Krsna and His plenary expansion Visnu. Therefore a person working in Krsna consciousness is the perfect yogi, because his mind is always absorbed in Krsna's activities. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayoh. In the Vedas also we learn, tam eva viditvati mrtyum eti: "One can overcome the path of birth and death only by understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna." In other words, perfection of the yoga system is the attainment of freedom from material existence and not some magical jugglery or gymnastic feats to befool innocent people.

What do judges know?!
All original pre-1977 books by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 

[Breathe]

There should be an "Authorized" and "Suggested" translations, then, officially endorsed, officially supported, by the members?

 

[Eddy Daze]

There should be an "Authorized" and "Suggested" translations, then, officially endorsed, officially supported, by the members?

Seems as if some of the suggested versions have already lulled some in, there is a large amount of debate on the net over it, I was shocked when I heard the translation of the accepted authority had been changed, another thing that worries me is the altered versions of the bible out there, I think there are even different versions of the ten commandments.To me that is one of the worst things, as somebody who could be really dedicated and tryng to follow being given wrong instructions, I am a believer though that eventualy the follower will realise the faulty part and seek out the true versions.

 

[Breathe]

Seems as if some of the suggested versions have already lulled some in, there is a large amount of debate on the net over it, I was shocked when I heard the translation of the accepted authority had been changed, another thing that worries me is the altered versions of the bible out there, I think there are even different versions of the ten commandments.To me that is one of the worst things, as somebody who could be really dedicated and tryng to follow being given wrong instructions, I am a believer though that eventualy the follower will realise the faulty part and seek out the true versions.

I hope you're right.

Unfortunately some people do things like this - in an age where irreligion and secularism is more commonplace, it's easier to alter sacred texts, and being able to lull the stupid and insecure into giving your money is what some people what. It's disgusting that some do that. I was raised without religion, as were my friends - yet I had the common sense to look deeper than the surface. Most of those friends who went through a similar situation to me ended up, dare I say, in cults.


I'm guessing some people will eventually study more into the religion, should they want to - and find the truth, that their religion is distorted - either accidentally or on purpose, but the problem is many do not. That's partially why I think there should be an authorized translation. Yet to be able to copyright Holy Texts, that's foreign to me. Those aren't the translator's words - they're God's words allegedly, or at least the scribe's and prophet's who came before them - whether or not they have been kept up to date is not for me to decide not relevant, though.

 

[Eddy Daze]

But the ten commandments and Christs words you would expect to be keopt pure, I mean if the bible is around in thousands of years time, and this kept happening , it could be something completey different, but keeping the name tag "bible"

 

[Breathe]

Yeah.
Imagine the ten commandments, "Thou shalt not assassinate". Just an ever-so slight change could really change it.

Although I think that the Bible should still be updated somewhat - some words change, like the word for donkey.
Yet it should still keep true to the text, or at least the FEEL of the text if the text would be confusing.

 

[cardero]

Do you think it right to copyright the word of God and the words of the souls that have spread it?....eg Mohamed, Lord Caitanya,Buddha and Christ (I know some will think Budha may not belong in that group, but I am taking the Vedic angle regards Lord Buddha) , is this practice not hindering the spiritual messages?

If you or someone wrote (or co-wrote) a book today of their inspirings of GOD it would probably be wise and practical to copyright the material. Just keep in mind that no matter how much one believes it to be the word of GOD, the Library of Congress does not recognize the contribution of spiritual authors.

 

[Breathe]

Cardero, that is awesome.
Perhaps then, Holy Texts should be copyrighted by the translators and editors?
Hm, this is a tricky one.

 

[Riverwolf]

I believe that there's a verse in Acts that basically says "curse you for thinking the word of God can be sold for money" or something like that.

I understand the publishers needing to charge money for Bibles, as otherwise they'd never stay in business and would never get Bibles published at all.

But that's the beauty of modern internet: most versions of the Bible are available free online, and I suspect if you want to reproduce texts, you don't have to pay money when you ask permission. (though I do suspect they won't allow reproduction of their translation unless it's for evangelical reasons; probably the reason Internet Sacred Text Archive only has the KJV translation of the Bible in English.)