Buddha Torrents has recently come under pressure from Blogger as well as Publishers to close its doors and cease postings and delete the blog. I have mixed feelings on this and know that the majority of people that use this blog would say no, however if you feel it should continue or should not I would invite you to comment below.
If you use Buddha Torrents and have never left a comment now would be the time!
If you dont use Buddha Torrents now would also be your time!
Below is the original letter received.
Hi there
I see that you are responsible for posting many Buddhist books up on the web via buddhisttorrents.blogspot.com and other avenues. I am sure your intention is really good – its so wonderful to be able to make so many precious teachings available to people.
However, what you are going is actually really harmful in a number of ways and I wanted to bring these to your attention for your consideration. I am not trying to engage in a philosophic debate or anything, I just want to paint the whole picture for you.
Authors, publishers, and booksellers who create, produce, and make these books available are not getting rich off of these, but their enumeration is what makes it possible to continue putting these books out there. We are not producing any Tom Clancy or Danielle Steele novels here. If the economics of producing our types of books breaks down, far fewer will be made – that is just a reality, and frankly it is already happening due to the changing economics with bookstores closing and Amazon becoming the gorilla that it is. So making these available to people for free ultimately does a lot of harm. For example, one of our authors donates all her proceeds to her monastic practice center to ensure that it can continue in the future. This is one of many, many examples. Many of our authors barely make enough to do what they do.
It is a difficult time for publishers of all books these days – many will not survive the next few years, and those that will are struggling to find new ways of revenue to enable their employees to do what they love, which is making these books. Having free downloads undermines this.
As for those people who do not have enough money to afford these books, we do make them available for libraries to have. Additionally Shambhala, and I assume Wisdom, Snow Lion and others, donate many books to worthy causes – each year we send them to prisons, military personnel, and other organizations.
So I respectfully request that you please stop your activity in this area, remove links to these files that enable others to take what is not given. I know your heart is in the right place, and you could be doing so much to help people connect with this meaningful activity. Become a reviewer! Blog about these books! We’ll send you reviewer copies for free.
Thanks for your consideration,
For those of us who live in places where the vast majority of the books featured here are not available, you are a life line. For those of who cannot afford to purchase books, you are an amazing Bodhisattva of compassion.
RépondreSupprimerFor myself, this site has been an amazing gift. I've had access to material here that I would never have been able to buy. My practice has been helped a great deal by this site. I'm sure many others have been helped as well.
You do not host any of the files shown here so I agree with Didier's view. You are preforming a great service here and I hope that you choose to continue. You are truly needed. =)
Namaste, Gasho, Hapchang. _/|\_
Please don't go!!! Your are my only source for such very important things. =)
RépondreSupprimerRevenue is only lost by the authors/publishers if people who find books online are people who would have bought the book in a bookstore. When I find things online that I enjoy, I purchase them. The majority of things I investigate online are things that I otherwise would not have exposure to. They are not things I would have purchased, so no money is not changing hands that otherwise would have. And when I do come across something I enjoy, as I said, I go purchase it. On the contrary to the spokesperson from Shambhala, this forum and sites like it have made me purchase more things from Shambhala, Sounds True, Snow Lion, etc.
RépondreSupprimerPLEASE, PLEASE do NOT close this blog. It has helped so many people who would otherwise not have access.
RépondreSupprimerMany are indigent.
If there is anything I can do to help facilitate, please feel free to contact me'
Thank you
nancibaren
This website is outstanding. For them to force you to take this site down is outright outrageous. Just another big brother. If that is the case, everyone can probably chip in for towards a small website and hosting fee on another domain because Big "Brother" Blogger is not respecting or supporting your site anymore.
RépondreSupprimerThis site has been very enlightening. If Blogger knew better, most temples provide free books, lectures, and seminars to spread the word. Of course, they accept some donations here and there.
Blogger just wants to shut this down. That's what happens when you have Google running the world. Corporate greed. They have no problems scanning millions of books and putting them online for free. A bunch of hypocrites.
But when a bunch of peaceful Buddhist or Zen practitioners want to spread the message of love and peace, it's time for Google to shut it down.
By the way, some people should wake up to the world reality. We are no all us citizens, so for us is not possible to ask our libraries (if any) to get dharma books. In fact, most of us in latinamerica don`t have public libraries
RépondreSupprimerI doubt many visitors to Buddha Torrents would have paid for the books anyways. Like me, they probably would have waited until they were released in mass trade paperback, bought them used, borrowed them from a friend, or borrowed them from a library (if they had access to a library at all). From time to time, I have gone out and purchased books I have sampled from Buddha Torrents which I probably wouldn't have done otherwise. The site is, at worst, a wash for the publishers and probably a net gain.
RépondreSupprimerBasically the book publishers are where the music industry was 8 years ago. They are fighting digital publishing, trying to lock down their product with onerous DRM, and are missing the bigger picture: sharing on the margins generates more revenues in the long run.
If Blogger is no longer interesting in hosting your blog, you can easily throw together a WordPress blog and host it in a share-friendly country like Sweden.
Or you can simply release under a screenname at TPB or Demonoid.
It's a joke for a book publisher to use what little money the authors make as an excuse because it is them, in fact, that determines the pay of the authors.
RépondreSupprimerI have the utmost respect for the major publishers like Snow Lion, Wisdom, and Shambhala Publications but the paid e-book versions of their books are only a dollar or so cheaper than the printed copies-despite the lack of any printing costs-and I doubt it translates into higher pay for the authors.
The simple fact is that they are defending an outdated business model (less aggressively so than the MPAA and RIAA are) and need to innovate faster. It is why so many authors are now self-publishing.
+1 for this place!
RépondreSupprimerLike you already said, this is a complex matter. I read the letter from Shambhala Publications and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by their kindness. Usually you get something along the lines of: "Stop, or we will sue your ass and put you in jail."
RépondreSupprimerI can understand publishers like Shambhala, and I understand people who are left with very little money at the end of the month that they can spend on books & things they like. If I were you, I'd think this matter over and decide based on what is the Right thing to do.
I am living in rural Thailand and sustain from a moderate salary. Having no access to material via buddhosttorrent means have no material at all. Sharing can't be wrong.
RépondreSupprimerAsking for Dana is ok, but asking for profit is not!
Yours in the Dhamma,
Peter
thank you buddhisttorrents for helping make Dharma more widely available and accessible to many more people.
RépondreSupprimerSharing is not a crime - can't agree more. Buddha gave his teachings freely to all. Did anyone pay Buddha anything for using his teachings in gainful ways?
I am sure the authors want their works more widely read and shared to benefit more people. Netizens like Buddhistorrents make this possible.
There are just people in the world who can't afford to purchase those books. What's wrong with sharing these books with people who can't afford to pay.
Publishers could perhaps consider make it a part of their mission to 'dana' or share with people who can't afford to buy the books by giving permission to netizens like buddhisttorrents to continue doing what it does to provide a babdly needed service. If this dana is made, the we all 'do not have to take what is not given'.
thank you buddhisttorrents.
If possible then please don't close the site, I try my best to get a book from Local Library rather than try to get it thru internet but the Choices are sooooooo limited or should I say there are hardly any choices, but at the same time don't want you to get into any trouble whatsoever, so after reading thru all the comments make the final decision depending on your situation.
RépondreSupprimerYou did a great service to all us fellow dhamma travelers and I will be forver grateful for that, with metta, a Dhamma Seeker.
why they don;t do the same with the megasharing sites?it's just intimidation
RépondreSupprimerKeep it going!!
RépondreSupprimerThose that have the money to buy - will buy regardless.
Those that dont have the means - need sites like these.
And all this site provides is links to were you can get the torrents - so does anyone really think closing the blog is going to stop anyone downloading these.
I dont think so.
I think they have every right to do this. However, I also think they have avoided their responsibility to make products which cannot be copied. If I went into Borders and tried to steal a book a small device within the book would set off an alarm. Why is there no digital equivalent of such a device? So before they blame us for their problems they should take action to find technological solutions to what are basically technological problems. That's the only solution that will work.
RépondreSupprimerlong live this blog!
RépondreSupprimerAll I can think about is....
RépondreSupprimer"Don't let it end
I'm begging you, don't let it end this way
Don't let it end
I'm begging you, don't let it end this way" STYX
hmmm.
RépondreSupprimeri buy a book. i give it it to someone else. and so on. and so on.
the publisher earns from the first. but not from the second and so on. and so on.
the digital age makes the 'and so on' much more 'and so on.'
but that's the truth of the matter.
the whole world of digital protection is a sham; once the book is purchased, the right to the material has passed on. no matter what the publisher may say. (and the bought & paid-for government may enact).
the buddha lived in the pre-digital age and any precepts must be carefully adapted to the current age, and not blindly adhered to as some fundamental word of god.
it is the work of the publisher to manage the initial purchase of the material. if the publisher wishes to induce more initial purchases of their material, then they must also adapt to the current age, and figure out how to make the initial purchases more inviting than the digital copies.
the decision is, of course, yours. and their request was, indeed, respectable. but they are exerting their efforts in the wrong direction. get into that conference room and figure it out on your own! buddha didn't have a laptop and a marketing staff. you do.
Get a hosting on a different country.
RépondreSupprimerThat may solve the problem or delay it.
Thank you for sharing.
Buddhism is not about money, Its about liberation from suffering. SO now that we have the possibility of sharing. You want us to stop?
RépondreSupprimerBuddha Torrents makes the internet valuable: as a source of knowledge that leads to practice and compassion.
RépondreSupprimerPlease do not stop.
However, I guarantee that if this sites does stop, another will take its place. Karma
Dharma should be free to all people at all times. People outside the rich white world simply have no access to these teachings except through torrents. The gatekeepers have a point about making their living in a capitalist environment, but they should also examine their hearts for selfishness and greed.
RépondreSupprimerI'm from Greece, first comment here, but I've known this blog for over a year and found many wonderful stuff because of it.
RépondreSupprimerI was missing it when it ceased for a while, but happy to see it up again.
It would be great if it's possible to stay, but I've never run a blog and I understand that with all this pressure it's not to be taken for granted.
Best of luck and thanks for all the effort so far!
I´m from Argentina. This kind of books and not even in English.
RépondreSupprimerApart from that, one Kabat Zinn book, here is almost 100 Us Dollar.
We, argentinians, have an exchange of 4/1...I mean, 1 dollar it equal to 4 argentinians pesos...
can you imagine how bad is our situation? we cant afford books...
One book it´s equal to more than one week of work =(
Actually, i´m a student of psychology. I really can´t afford this books, and this kind of information could not easily be found (and if you find it, probably, will cost very expensive)
What would our Lord Budha say in this kind of situation?
Let put in his pleace and act according to compassion.
Most budhas torrent users, cant afford this books... My opinion is that budha torrent must go on posting as it being doing...
By the way, thanks budha torrent for share, share is always good
That's a tricky one indeed.
RépondreSupprimerI agree with a lot of what has been said here about the publishing world. The fact that the nice folks at Shambala, for example, are selling their pdf books and their printed material for nearly the same price is a shame: it did discourage me already, not being able to purchase these books.
Indeed, I agree that downloading their material for free is screwing them over. But on the other hand, considering the economy and their business model, it is very difficult to go about it in a different way. I'm not saying that it gives us the right to screw them at all. I'm saying that they could look at what they're doing wrong, and that asking people to stop sharing these links is pointless and futile indeed.
So maybe, no matter if you delete this blog or not, it would be good to answer them, asking for them to rethink the way they're making their money. They definitely should benefit from publishing their material, but they have to adapt to this new world.
I'm not saying anything new, and some comments here have been expressing the problem and situation a lot better than I did, but I wanted to support that point of view, and thank you for sharing these links no matter what.
I hope it won't be to much of a pain for you to make the decision :)
I hope this blog continues, but... if i were in your situation, I would close it.
RépondreSupprimerParadoxical? Totally.
Just like the fact that I like to eat meat, but if I had to kill the animals myself, I would be a vegetarian. Not sure if that makes me a hypocrit or just plain lazy.
from Thailand,
RépondreSupprimerBuddha and master in the pass never sold his work.....and he teach to everyone who want to know Buddhadharma.
Buddhadharma is not a personal property, Buddha gave it to old master and they sent it again and again to present time, now why anyone want to sell Buddhadharma?
I am live in the country that I can not find these book in library and it is very expensive tax if I want to buy it from store.
Yes, if I have enough money, I will go to buy it. I think everyone feel like this, it is hard to read ebook on the monitor but now I can do only this.
but...it is your consideration.
I respect all of your decision.
(please forgive me for my poor English.)
this is an excellent blog, Please let them stay, thanks a lot
RépondreSupprimerJust really few Buddhist material are available in my country and this blog was so helpful. My monthly salary is ~500 USD and I ordered many from the books that I have seen here. I think publishers must look for other ways to donation, the closing of this blog will not lead to results. The people who reads these books are not criminals and most of us committed in buddhist practice.
RépondreSupprimerFor some reason googles spam filter has been blocking some comments but I have published them all now.
RépondreSupprimerI'm getting the feeling that it is time to end this blog and move it to a safer host. We will see...
Thanks everyone for all your ideas and suggestions. Please keep them coming.
I tend to agree with the poster who suggested that you should remove links to Shambala publications, and provide reviews instead. I am impressed by their respectful approach.
RépondreSupprimerPersonally, as someone who regularly buys their publications, I don't agree with them that downloading will hurt their business. What I see is that it just makes more people aware of the great quality of their catalog. I also think they need to get with ebook delivery, and face the fact that digital will be the way to go. But, if they see it differently, then their views should be respected.
I have great sympathy for those who genuinely cannot afford or get access to publications. I regularly come across works on this site that I never knew existed, which can't be bad for the authors. However, there are lots of free sources out there, and perhaps the site could develop links to these.
The great classic works of Buddhism are generally out of copyright and available online.
Dear Buddhist Torrents,
RépondreSupprimerI came to this site at a time in my life when I was out in the spiritual wilderness, not knowing where to go or what I was doing. Only through the information on this site have I been able to find doorways to peace.
You have inspired me as a blogger and many others too as well as opening up a new world of information for us to learn from. I have personally purchased many of the books and CDs I have seen on here if I have enjoyed it.
For the amount of good you bring to the world my view is this: DO NOT CLOSE THE SITE DOWN.
People who are telling you to close the site are hypocritical as they use the site for their benefits too and my argument is as follows:
The second precept states to refrain from taking what is not given' which is what everyone is basing their moral views of closing the site down on. However, the first precept states to refrain from destroying any living beings. HOWEVER when we are ill, we take medicine, that medicine kills the bacteria or organisms that is giving us pain. This is technically against the very first precept.
The difference between Buddhism and other religions is that the onus is on the individual to ensure that the precepts are kept. It is a principals based religion rather than rules based and I think those telling you to shut it down have missed that. You must make the decision yourself. This does not mean to do wrong and seek out loop holes in the scripture, but you are your own refuge for common sense. You cannot base an argument on one precept without taking the WHOLE Dhamma into context. That is why I believe those telling you to close the site (including Shambhala) are wrong.
The good this site brings to SO many people is unmeasurable. To those talking about karmic affects and sacrifices don't seem to understand that the karmic good you are doing for many in an unselfish way outshines any negative effects you might have gathered from publishing companies.
I highly respect Shambhala Publications for their letter and I appreciate their advice. What you might want to do is continue the blog as normal but just review those books that are published by Shambhala.
I really hope you chose to keep the site open for all those who are not fortunate enough to be in a country which allows them easy access to all these scriptures and learning material. I don't think people understand that by losing a site like this would have a more detrimental affect for the lives of the many people that visit here, than for the lives of those small few who will benefit from the closure .
DO THE RIGHT THING AND KEEP BUDDHIST TORRENTS OPEN!
Peace and love to all,
Bodhirukkha
Many thanks to the people(1+1?) running Buddha torrents! I have gained free access to many precious texts!
RépondreSupprimerHowever, I also have serious misgivings!
Practicing ethics the way I have been taught involves: "Not taking, what isnt given!". If publishers and authors have not specifically published free through the internet, it would seem to be a transgression taking such a not-given book?
It would Probably accumulate some negative karma?
Yours in the Dharma./M
Kindly please don't close this blog it would be a great loss for me and all dharma friends the place where I am living dont often get buddhist books and I usually do my best to buy the books but sometimes the books are very expensive if I need learn more about buddha dharma and do reference I need to go to library so it is very essential and important for all the dharma friends please dont close this blog I request publishers to kindly help the poor dharma friends I understand publishers take a lot of effort behind to publish book but they have to keep in mind no right effort and good cause goes waste, regards, Bharath
RépondreSupprimerShambala would have us perpetuate the wasteful paper publishing industry for the sake of their profits. These profits go to Tibetan institutions and agenda that are far more political than spiritual.
RépondreSupprimerI have always lived in remote places, and my vote goes to the readers in those situations, not to mention those who cannot afford the strength of their literary enthusiasms. These days I buy the books I am really sure I want from Amazon, and I free download those of more uncertain value to me, which invariably leads to more paper
purchases.
I am about to write a book for specialized interests, and I am unable to think of even one good reason it should ever see paper, as profits are of no interest to me. I have concluded that the paper publishing industry is really about SALES and PROMOTION, and they do not give a fig about writing or the common interests of humanity. They care far more about salesmen than authors.
Plz leave Buddha Torrent alive!!! Plz plz!!!
RépondreSupprimerCopy and MOVE if you must but do not delete!
RépondreSupprimerI have purchased Shambala products thanks to this 'blog'.
Nohing of this site is in mine library if it would ofcourse I preafer real book then staring at this electronic device. Thanks to this site I've benefited. Thank you. Many books or Dvd's contained here normaly I would't buy, so there is also no harm in income from sharing it with me.
RépondreSupprimerI mostly download the more academic books posted here. They are usually written by professors and academics and they usually have a monthly income from their institutions. And they might even get extra bonuses for publishing. Furthermore, these books are usually so expencive that its impossible to buy. I could go to the library but since i like to scrible when i read i would have had to copy the books. That would be a lot of work. And to repeat what others have said: i would not buy the books im downloading if they were not available. I would probably not have come across them.
RépondreSupprimerbtw: i could recommand pages like: scribd, avaxhome, ebook30, holybooks
File Sharing is a fact of life in today's society. Right and wrong is in a large part determined by cultural norms. This is true in particular with shady areas where it is not clear that the harm is greater than the benefit. Pew Research surveyed the US and found that 29% of Americans file share.
RépondreSupprimerA high percentage of file sharers were low income and concern about copy rights increased with income. Anyone who has tried to live on less than $30,000 knows that there is very little room for purchasing media.
Many public decisions made today are often made on the basis of the utilitarian principle of the greatest good for the greatest number. Yes, publishers and authors are harmed by file sharing. But the harm is incredibly small compared to the gain of society.
Those who file share share a lot. While I don't know of a scientific estimate for society at large, I know for myself I would probably purchase less than one out of every hundred things I download. So there is a small decrease in revenue for music. However, the quality of my life and the quality of the lives of those around me have been greatly enriched.
If you decide to close this blog you should be very clear with yourself about why you close it. Closing the blog will increase publisher revenues slightly. It may have a marginal effect on the income of the artists. However, most individuals using this site would continue to download. The publishers are deluded if the think that the growth of file sharing can be halted.
File sharing is a generational phenomenon. As our population ages file sharing will become a universally accepted behavior. The only point I can see for you to close this site is for an egalitarian devotion to the letter of the law. Even that is a bit of a stretch considering that there is nothing technically illegal about this site.
The Buddha never charged anyone for his teachings, and i'm sure the book sellers would also love giving their books away for free to the people who can't afford them, such as me.
RépondreSupprimerThe Buddha said all things are impermanent. He did not make any exemptions for content publishing models.
RépondreSupprimerHi from Italy!:-)
RépondreSupprimerThank to Buddha Torrents I have the chance to get in touch and preview books that I would not meet otherwise.
After that, if I like a book generally I buy it.
So, my impression is that blogs like this are not a damage but a "showcase" for buddhist books publishers...
please continue to share the dharma, i think these western buddhist publication companies should make dharma books available to those less fortunate free of charge. this may seem strange to some but i waited 6 months to receive dharma books from taiwan. i got them free of charge and they definitately weren't available in any store here.in any case your disclaimer states that you do not host any of these torrents, you just makes the links and descriptions available ,please continue, your efforts are greatly appreciated.
RépondreSupprimerthanks from trinidad and tobago!!
In the adverse times we live making accessible books that can raise awareness is an act of merit and it shouldn't be stopped. We cannot put a price tag on everything. I feel disappointed with Shambhala Publications. Please, continue Buddha Torrents.
RépondreSupprimershambala has been a great publisher over the years and i've bought so many of their books -- thank you for making them available to us.
RépondreSupprimermany of the books i might download from buddha torrents are copies of the books i've already bought so that the originals are then donated to local libraries.
shambala isn't losing any new sales as a result but does reap the merit and good karma from these donations to the community.
i look at BT as a second hand bookstore for the soul.
thanks - please keep BT running
I never posted a comment here but I wanted to say this:
RépondreSupprimerMost books that I read fully or about half way I end up buying because i love it and want to have a hard copy. Please leave this open, to some, its the only way they can get this type of material. Appreciate it
i also want to add that if you close your site down, numerous other ones will appear and someone will keep it going through torrents/usenets/irc so please keep this site open!
RépondreSupprimerit's amazing how intelligent and respectful this whole discusison has been. It's quite rare on the internet to see that.
RépondreSupprimerThs site is really one of a kind. If you do decide to move it, please let us know where so we can follow you.
And if I may play devil's advocate: A lot of people refer to the precept "do not take what is not given". Can someone explain what I am taking when I make a digital copy? I am not depriving anything from anyone. (plenty of testimony above showing that a download does NOT equal a lost sale) I am not saying there are no karmic consequences to downloading. There are karmic consequences to all actions. But I don't believe that precept applies to filesharing. Do not confuse copyright and precepts.
I also wonder if Shambhala Pubs is monitoring this thread. It would be great if they would respond to some of the comments made. For some reason though, I doubt they will, and I find that unfortunate.
I am from Australia. 98% of 'illegal donwloads' I have collected from this site and others are e-copies of books that I already own because I bought them. If I buy books at Shambala and asked them to give me a complimentary ecopy, it's easy to anticipate the reply.
RépondreSupprimerAs Patrul Rinpoche says “The Dharma is nobody’s property. It belongs to whoever is most interested.” ( Words of My Perfect Teacher)
So from the Dharma side of things no one can claim anything. In fact I would see sites like this especially when used by Argentinian, Mexican, Hungarian, Greek and other friends in remote places or in poor circumstances as part of the ongoing transmission that we are all responsible for.
It is a fact that translators have to live. Those of us who have work and can make sacrifices to our own comfort can buy the books from the publishers, can sponsor the 84,000 project and the Khyentse Foundation.
The highest generosity is giving the dharma. Thank you for the courage of maintaining this site. Resisting the moralistic blackmail from left wing liberals is part of that...
The will and freedom of many sharing knowledge, traditions, history and culture should not be taken away from the people who actually shares what has been done and meant to be for the people. Let's call it "spiritual whealth".
RépondreSupprimerFirst of all, it seems to exist only one complaint coming from Shambala... therefore, avoid the posts related only to Shambala.
RépondreSupprimerSecond, we people who live at the periphery of the world (i.e. I live in Argentina), the chance to get and read these books or watch these movies is highly valuable.
This same old argument didn't work with the music download and now is being applied to books, without real foundation, trying to make us feel guilty for the bankrupcy and poverty of the authors and editorials. Knowledge must be asequible to all besides Amazon's customers.
As one who reads and writes, uploads and downloads torrents, I could probably argue either side of this issue.
RépondreSupprimerAs one who just recently found that this blog is operating again, I know how much I would miss it if it closed.
I do believe that you should drop the Shambhala books, since there has been a specific request to do so.
I know Blogger has closed other blogs like yours which provided links to download material. So, it might be better for you to find another venue.
Anyway, thanks for your efforts so far.
I couldn't read all of the posts previous to mine...but I agree that Buddha Torrents is a teaching site, not a site that is out to disable the authors, etc that make the material featured on the site.
RépondreSupprimerI support Buddha Torrents and I think it does and important service. When I do find books at my local store for purchase, you bet that I do purchase them also!
Despite what is being said, not many can continue to spend hundreds of dollars on this sort of material. For those us who can not, this is a helpful website.
RépondreSupprimer2500 years ago, Buddha appeared in this world to give teachings with one and one purpose only: to teach us the way to liberate ourselves. Buddha has never asked for anything in return. Therefore it is our responsibility to keep the teachings available freely to others.
RépondreSupprimerIf you are a writer to write about Buddhism and want to make money, we suggest you switch career. Dharma can't be for sale.
Please Don't Delete!! I love this site!!
RépondreSupprimerI love this blog. Don't delete it, please!
RépondreSupprimerI also live in Mexico, a country in great turmoil. I sometimes buy Dharma books here and through Amazon, but they are extremely costly and I am not wealthy. I have downloaded books from Buddha Torrents, and once in a while check in to see the new uploads. I don't print and sell these books, sometimes -when I think a specific title may do some good to someone- I send them via e-mail. I don't see a crime in this. It's like back in the 70's, when you tape-recorded a record and gave it to your girlfriend. (I don't consider that a crime either). I am, by the way, in the publishing business. Please, keep on...
RépondreSupprimerGassho!
really sad to hear that, but it'll be great if keep posting and staying alive blog
RépondreSupprimerPlease keep the site going! Your work is helping a lot of people.
RépondreSupprimerThis site is amazing, please keep going.
RépondreSupprimerMy friend,
RépondreSupprimerThe most important thing is the INTENTION. I heard this words from a great tibetan teacher, so do what you think is good for others. Don't think too much about right and wrong, just do it.
how can sharing be wrong?
RépondreSupprimerwe are not even supposed to profit financially from sacred teachings in the first place
we are moving to a more open hearted and generous world beyond money, based on sharing; it is happening now. i understand shambalas point of view, they are accting to protect their interest. it is for them to leave how to adapt to a changing market place rather than being reactionary and trying to grasp onto something they have already lost. times are changing fast, change is accelerating. your work supports and uplifts many and i feel sure that many readers/listeners do go on to buy original material.
RépondreSupprimerin the spirit of abundance i praise you, offer gratitude for all the teachings and invoke the vision of prosperity of all kinds to flow freely to us all
Namaste
It's a very useful blog. Don't delete it, please!
RépondreSupprimerShambala Publications! Indeed! Whats their motive for intruding into this blog? MONEY! To stay in business! They have outlived their usefulness years ago. This blog is a REAL service for free, a concept that has been totally lost at Shambala.
RépondreSupprimerGo away and leave this blog alone, and hopefully, in the near future, your whole money making "Buddhist" yuppie publication will turn into dust.
stay.
RépondreSupprimerwith or without you the trend is the same.
as an alternative ask them to post some advertising space on your blog for those who afford to buy them and want to support this way.
however I would remind that editing house that all great spiritual masters offered those teachings for FREE and with full detachment regarding material values like money.
the world is changing so they have adapt also to spread these valuable gems.
if there will be no more means to stay alive as a non or small profit business , well then it's the planet's bad karma ...
let the people gain more merit and start again :D
a garland of life giving wisdom, and though things of this world are impermanent...wisdom is not
RépondreSupprimerplease continue to bring together these rare flowers...your garland of wisdom means a lot to me
love
mani
india
well all good things come to an end I guess too bad that this awesome blog got on the hot list I want to thnk you for all the great stuff
RépondreSupprimerone thing the so called"publishers" do not get is no on here will buy there stuff anyway
Maybe time to move the whole rig to a new address!!! some music bloggers keep moving their blogs around to avoid the NetGb LOL
thnks again
Please consider those living in areas of the world less fortunate from a material point of view & who can't afford the material presented here.i said presented & not hosted...
RépondreSupprimerThe letter from Shambala Pub. indeed very kind but...really ?
This site has been here a number of years i think, keep it up please.
Where 'I' live (El Salvador) there is no trace of the information I can find thanks to you; daily zazen practice changed my life and I thank you deeply for what you've done.
RépondreSupprimershambala's motive is unclear to me, shouldn't the dharma be freely offered to anyone?!?!
RépondreSupprimerisn't that (!) actually a precept just as not taking what is freely given??
(maybe i am confused i don't know),
what i do suggest is that you can open a dharma donation box (paypal) and if people here do appreciate the books they can give dana and you can donate it as you wish,
i am not saying this is the solution, only a possibility.
another thing is, if you have a teacher that you trust you can ask for his advice, and talk to shambala also to try and understand each other better.
What I find invaluable about this blog is that it draws to my attention material that, given my quiet life style, I otherwise would not encounter. However, if I find something here that I really like then I will always buy it (if it's still available) - usually as a gift for a friend or family member. (Most of what I download I don't like and therefore delete after a quick perusal.) In the last two years most of the gifts I have bought for friends and family have been books I have first encountered on this blog. I don't buy for myself because my eyes can no longer cope with real books.
RépondreSupprimerPlease don't shut Buddha Torrents down!!!
RépondreSupprimerWeird, they want to shut you down when you're only pointing to the torrents and you're not hosting anything. You're simply serving as a liaison.
For publishers it may seem like a loss but they are not capable of truly measuring the effects to others, their statements are empty and are only based on their perceptions.
Besides, I believe that when a person is touched/inspired/moved by the Dharma and somehow gains some insight and realization because of it, he or she will do more good deeds even without the law. Say for example, if I get to download a book/dharma talk and this has inspired me or touched me in any way, I may have the urge to donate. The ripple effect is immeasurable.
I don't think I've articulated my point well. haha
Anyway, I agree with Emperor Coconut, it may be a generation thing.
So please don't shut the site down! :)
Hi. Please continue this blog and don't bother about complains. Everything is changing and it is not our fault that we want free access to books on internet - its normal after all and there is no way to avoid this. Internet resources should be available free for everyone without any obstacles with full support for sharing anything that man can invent. Thats the ultimate objective of internet.
RépondreSupprimerWhat is not normal is publishers complains on reality who starts counting invisible lost money on their account blaming us for lower income and such and such situations. They are looking on this subject from old marketing point of view with has nothing to do with us - free as space, without blame, pure and innocent curious readers :)
May all beings be happy - with what their got. Everything is empty, everything is free like space without any marks of possessiveness. Even more in this Reality there is no such thing as copyrights. Not mention that Dharma is ultimately free from such stains.
Stay cool and relaxed.
Gonna have to respectfully disagree with most of the posters here. We live in the real world, where publishers, especially small publishers, like Shambhala require actual capital to survive. It's nice to talk about the Dharma and how it should be shared freely with all, alas, be realistic, Shambhala has real financial concerns it has to deal with in order to remain in business and to continue providing access to the Dharma. Part of being a grown-up is being grounded, and recognizing things as they are. Sure, you can try to change them, but going against the grain like you're doing is only hurting small publishers, and ultimately making the Dharma less available.
RépondreSupprimerSeriously consider doing what they ask of you.
Please don´t destroy this place. It´s not so easy to find such an unique place to find something about buddhism.
RépondreSupprimerthx
I believe the publishers are hardly losing any money because of file sharing.
RépondreSupprimerI have bought many books and audio recordings, but I simply cannot afford to buy everything, since I am on a limited income. If I couldn't get free access, I wouldn't get access at all. If I can afford it, I will buy it, but if I can't, I won't.
I probably wouldn't have heard of many spiritual teachers that I bought books of later on, if it wasn't for sites like this one.
Dear people at Shambala (and similar places): try seeing sites like these as a form of promoting your products. It's not free, just like purchasing an ad in the paper, but in the end you profit from it.
hi! I'm from romania and it's the first comment on the blog, but not the first visit. Thank you for the work and please keep it up!
RépondreSupprimerI was happy to find books here, books that are quite impossible to find on the book market in my country. And even if you find them, they are quite expensive, so...it's really helpful that they can get to people who cannot afford them, but need to read them.
Thanks!
Stay with us please!!!!
RépondreSupprimerDon't let them get to you. Keep on providing teaching for those who may not have access to ANY of the facilities mention in the letter. What you are doing is reaching a far greater number than the donations that Shambhala is making. Further, they may be small but the are not exactly hurting they are neting between 5 and 10 million a year. This is only the publishing company as we all know Shambhala is a good sized outfit. Needless to say, they are doing a lot of great work and so are you. At the end of the day, I don't recall reading price list in any of the sutras. The Buddha taught for free. You are helping to feed the spirit of the Maha Sangha and helping those who would not otherwise have any access to the text mentioned on the site.
RépondreSupprimerPlease keep up the good works!
Many Thanks!!!!!
It is really imposible to me to buy these books. I live in Ecuador, here the books are expensive, and these good materials are really rare. And the books are not in Spanish, if you want one of these books, you must import. Not a good situation, please continue these blog... :)
RépondreSupprimerShambhala Publications, please dont worry. Even if i use this blog, i always buy the best books in paper form. ;-)
RépondreSupprimerwhy is it that a library could loan out the same books (paid for only once) countless times unrestricted while the generosity of some in sharing the files (from first paid copy) and those accpeting the generosity be considered 'ethically wrong' or worse 'a crime'?
RépondreSupprimerif Shambala (and others like it) is really doing Buddha's works in Buddha's spirit, then do what is right by the Buddha with wisdom and compassion - share what they have with those who don't have the cold hard cash to pay for it as spiritual food.
if shambala and others like is are purely business concerns, then .....
thank you buddha torrents for providing a badly needed service in Buddha's spirit.
Hi
RépondreSupprimerI've visited your site near everyday since finding in on the web It would be are great shame to lose your blog.... Please don't go the people that are tying to close you down are the same people that don't practices what they preach with wrong intention behind their cause.
Why "us" against "them"?
RépondreSupprimerWhat if we work together?
Maybe we can support, volunteer and donate Dharma publishers.
How much do they need to make this teachings available to everyone?
I've now backed up this site and every post on it and am ready to shift it to an off-shore server in the event either the owner shuts it down or is forced to shut it down.
RépondreSupprimerThis resource will live on regardless of what the owner or anyone else does.
That was kind of my plan as well.(Anonymous July 6, 2011 12:07 ) I think rather than continue this blog I will just release the xml code to all who want it. Blogger is to unstable to continue with this. If some devoted person wants to contiune this I will fully support it.
RépondreSupprimerI'll make a another post next week as to the fate of BT.
Sounds good, I'm looking at VPS providers in Holland ATM, if in a week you decide to drop it I'll be redeploying.
RépondreSupprimer@ Anonymous July 6, 2011 12:07 & Leaf Dharma -
RépondreSupprimerGreat Idea! If its redeployed elsewhere will someone keep adding?
This blog has been a source of knowledge and information for me and, I am sure, many other people from all over the world. There are several blogs on the Internet which features mindless violence etc which have been running for years, yet nothing has been done about them, but there have been efforts to close this blog which educates us about Buddhism?? How ridiculous is that! Please let this blog continue.
RépondreSupprimerI'll keep adding content and maybe open it up to some contributors to keep it updated.
RépondreSupprimerHey Leaf,
RépondreSupprimerThis is silly, of course, but I'm sure you know that. Sounds like you might be getting tired of it all, which is understandable.
"So making these available to people for free ultimately does a lot of harm." How can giving dhamma away for free do harm? What a silly argument. Reminds me of when I started teaching meditation and my former teacher got upset and started telling people I was going to destroy him because he relied on income from his meditation students from the same centre. When I told this to our headmaster, he snorted and said, "how can you destroy someone by teaching meditation?"
I give away my book and videos away for free; not even any ads on my YouTube page, even though I'm a partner. To do this, I've had to make a lot of sacrifices. I wear rags, eat leftovers, live in caves and shacks and under park benches, etc. I have no money, go hungry sometimes, sick and have no medicine sometimes, etc. But I'm happy, and I'm not going to let someone tell me that I shouldn't share dhamma because the author "donates all her proceeds to her monastic practice center to ensure that it can continue in the future." What a bunch of rubbish. If you need money to write a dhamma book, you shouldn't write a dhamma book.
Which I guess leads me to the conclusion that your site is pretty useless, from my hpov ;) I don't come here for dhamma, there's too much free stuff that makes me feel much better anyway. Even the visuddhimagga is available for free distribution (quasi-illegally). Honestly, I don't know how Bhikkhu Bodhi can sell his translations.
Just thought I would make come on to some noise :) Good luck with the tea shop.
Those of us who are a little more worldly still gotta eat bro. Life of a monk isn't for everyone.
RépondreSupprimerPlease stay with us. =) _/|\_
RépondreSupprimerThe above post somehow implies that copyright law is equivalent to universal law. This is not so.
RépondreSupprimerAnd if he takes it offline, it won't matter, it will be mirrored, the content will never disappear.
No, please don't do it because it is a Great Source for Buddhism and Spirituality so please keep it alive...
RépondreSupprimerI will try to tell others about so you get more visitors and can go further with this great piece which is your BLOG!
Please don't.
RépondreSupprimerNot all books are available especially on the Philippines.
And they are not affordable either.
I think it is apparent that those who are interested in this kind of material will, obviously, pay for it if they are able. Shutting down Buddha Torrents will only really affect those who cannot afford to purchase these materials, such as those on disability, etc.
RépondreSupprimerPlease keep this blog going, but if you decide not to continue then at least leave up the info for as long as possible.
There is no such thing as "I".
RépondreSupprimerThere is no such thing as "mine".
There is no such thing as "copyright".
Peace!