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Well, I donât think anyone here has accused the people at Wisdom to be profit mongers. The main problem with BBâs works is the copyright restriction. This prevents things like printing out a small sample of suttas from the books and giving them away for free at monasteries. Such distribution can be done with other translations like Thanissaroâs, for example. I personally donât mind paying for the hardcopy versions of BBâs translations - a long time ago, I even bought his Samyutta Nikaya translation from Wisdom and gave it to a library in a monastery. But, altruistic motives trying to expand the reach of the Dhamma with freely available translations have a place in the world too and very much in line with the Dhamma, IMO. Why pour vitriol on such endeavors ?
Regarding internet noise, a few lines from the Sage are enough to handle them:
Among hostile people, free from hostility we dwell.
Among miserable people, free from misery we dwell.
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Iâd generally agree with the quote from the Udana in the OP, but I think itâs rather ungenerous to apply it to Bhikkhu Bodhi (BB):
One should not make an effort everywhere,
should not be anotherâs hireling,
should not live dependent on another,
should not go about
as a trader in the Dhamma.
Iâd be generally suspicious of spiritual teachings if they are not being freely-given and freely-received. If the originators/teachers are not materially benefiting, thatâs a promising start for indicating the teachingâs usefulness: a good ârule of thumbâ. Of course, thatâs not enough by itself. They themselves may be self-deluded or working from even more convoluted and non-benign but non-monetary motives (some kind of ego or power-trip perhaps).
Iâve wondered if a kind of âPeterâs principleâ applies to spiritual seekers. Peterâs principle is a well-known business/management concept which basically states that everyone in the workplace tends to eventually be promoted/rise to their own level of incompetence! 
Perhaps seekers, similarly, usually keep seeking until they rise to find a teaching with sufficient sophistication and complexity to befuddle their minds (and Iâm not ruling myself out here either 
)! Sorry thatâs probably being waaaay too cynical! 
There are probably only two viable models to impart spiritual teachings in a monetarily non-compromised fashion. One can earn oneâs living working nine-to-five in an ordinary fashion and then use oneâs own free time and resources. That limits oneâs time, but obviously one can then do it in an uncompromised way (thatâs an established route in Zen). Alternatively, one can go the full mendicant or renunciant route, require just the bare necessities from some supporters to survive, be easy to support, have no dependents, and be able to devote oneself fully to the path/teaching. Thatâs was the Buddhaâs model and it has historically been a successful one (though not immune from being corrupted either).
Otherwise things get tricky: mouths to feed, children to support, mortgage and bills to pay. Maybe some people can support a family in a genuinely voluntary donation-based setup. OK, it may be the case that one can then spend a lot more time teaching than the free-time teacher, and some people probably can actually manage this balancing act. Itâs a dangerous slippery slope though.
The spiritual world, in general, is IMO rife with commercialism and full of wolves in sheepâs clothing. Thereâs a lot of money to be made from the gullible and desperate. Those that succeed obviously tend to be more intelligent, eloquent and charismatic than the average, have a sufficiently impressive set of teachings behind them (whether theyâve put this together themselves, have borrowed them from an ancient established set of practices, or blended old and new, is immaterial). Actual ethics probably has little to do with commercial success (if they can fake that they have it made! :)).
Probably a bit like politicians. One would hope that those who rise to the top would be those most intent on public service and bettering the world. In practice, for the most part, it doesnât quite work out that way! The necessary skill set is a little different They are some grubby compromises to be made on the way to the top. No doubt, there are actually some principled, well-meaning and public-spirited ethical politicians. Similarly, Iâm sure there are some genuinely ethical, well-meaning and big-named spiritual teachers running successful commercial enterprises. Unfortunately, probably doesnât generally go with the territory.
In contrast, Bhikkhu Bodhi (BB) is obviously not materially benefitting at all from his translations. I presume royalties are being diverted into his Buddhist Aid charity. He seems a person in love with the Dhamma. Quibbling about his chosen means of publication seems to me to be focusing more on the letter than spirit of the law (perhaps more like to a person worrying about the quality and make and brand of the pencil he is using rather than what he is actually writing with it). BB going with Wisdom probably was the better strategic and logistical choice back in 1995, which is when his Majjhima Nikaya translation seems to have been first published. Maybe not the âpurestâ means, but the internet was a mostly unheard of development back then (especially outside of developed countries and, even within them, not seen much outside of universities). His teacher, Nyanaponika Thera, also was a founder of the BPS. BB was the head of that too for a while (with close links to Wisdom). The whole conventional publishing model would have been the most natural route for him to go. In practical terms, it probably had the widest potential reach also. I suppose he also naturally built up a good relationship with them over the years.
In many ways, the newer open-source type model, which has developed with the opening up of the internet is a more preferable model. The internet has a very wide reach now all across the world. The endeavour underlying SuttaCentral to translate the Dhamma and make it freely available is very very commendable. These are different times, though, to even twenty years ago.
Wisdom is a small specialist Buddhist publishing house. It is able to maintain availability of a large and diverse catalogue of Buddhist titles. Its employees have helped nuture and guide a lot of interesting Buddhist books from inception to publication. Sure, they are making a livelihood, but IMO itâs an honest living. They are not masquerading as spiritual teachers. What they do is a bit more low-key and humble. They are simply a small number of editors/publishers in a Buddhist-themed publishing house (most with probably a lot of enthusiasm for what they do). What they do is probably a lot more honest and straightforward than much of what goes in in the spiritual world in general.
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But the question remains, why do they continue to withhold these precious teachings via copyright law? Wouldnât further dissemination of the Dhamma bring even more joy and enthusiasm to their lifeâs work by virtue of the tremendous merit it would create? It is questions like these which might lead one to question the true motivation behind their actions.
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Perhaps they see value in the enterprise they are involved with: this conveyor belt for producing Buddhism/Dhamma books? They probably want to keep this show on the road (surrendering the copyright on too much of their catalogue might cause all this to break down). Itâs also their livelihood (so I guess that inevitably compromises them to an extent).
While itâs a prestigious and deliberately visible part of Wisdomâs catalogue, thereâs unlikely to be very much profit at all in their Pali Canon series of books. Those books are big â so pretty much have to be hard-covered â and therefore must be expensive to physically print. I doubt the print runs are big so no economies of scale either. The âIn the Buddhaâs Wordsâ BB anthology must surely be, by far, their biggest seller in this series (and itâs quite inexpensive to buy also). The reality is that few Westerners interested in Buddhism probably ever read much of the Nikayas (likeliest to read the BB anthology if anything at all).
Making the Nikayas (those have been translated) available for free electronically (maybe on a voluntary dana basis), but still physically purchasable, would seem like a good move to me, and unlikely to hit their bottom line. However, their primary focus seems to be Tibetan. If they made the Pali canon electronically free, how could they then not do the same for their Tibetan translations, which they seem to have far more of? Or the smaller number of classic Zen translations? Where then do they draw the line? Perhaps these are more important to them financially? Again, I donât know (am just speculating here).
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Again, Venerable @sujato has stated that studies show little to no impact on sales due to free online access, and that it can actually increase sales of physical copy due to increased exposure, as well as the percieved goodwill generated by those who make such a valuable (spiritual) commodity available in the true spirit of the teachings.
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Upcoming release of Suttanipata in September is $45.83 on Amazon. And this is just the Suttanipata, not the KN!
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The preorder is $45 through Wisdomâs website, which includes a digital preview. The regular price shows as $75. http://www.wisdompubs.org/book/suttanipata-pre-order
Is over 1600 pages though, so the price is in line with of the MN and AN.
This might well be true in the case of the Pali Canon Series for Wisdom, but Iâm not sure this will always hold. The links earlier in the thread are interesting. However, the author accounts, while indicative, are anecdotal and the actual formal studies are small. One focused on open-access academic monographs (41 books involved) and found an increase. Another looked at a more general sample of, also, 41 books from three publishers. The smallest publisher example, involving sales of hundreds of books, found free digital availability increased physical sales by about 20%. The medium-sized publisher, Random House, with sales figures numbering thousands, found a more modest c. 10% increase. The largest publisher, Tor, with sales figures of tens of thousands, found a c. 25% decrease.
Free digital may well often help overall sales, but probably not always. The free-stuff-on-the-internet model may not always work, e.g. the newspaper business seems to be in terminal decline (for various reasons but one probably being the widespread availability of free content).
Iâd agree that ideally translations of the Dhamma should not be copyrighted. However, the concept of copyright in general has its uses (though there are problematic aspects to modern copyright law).
As an aside, the following story from 6th century Ireland on copyright comes to mind (taken here from an Irish Times article). Itâs also an illustration that notions of copyright are not entirely a modern invention. It involves St. Colmcille (also known as St. Columba):
A prolific scribe, Colmcille led the Google book digitisation project of his day, at Durrow, where he and his team of monks copied all the sacred texts they could get their hands on, for wider dissemination.
And when his former mentor, Finnian of Moville, returned from Rome with a prized volume of the âVulgateâ â St Jeromeâs translation of the Bible â Columba was naturally anxious to make copies of that too.
Jealous of the manuscript, however, Finnian would not give the access needed. So Colmcille transcribed the book surreptitiously, until the older man rumbled him and demanded the copy. Their dispute was subsequently referred to the supreme court â Tara â and the High King himself: Diarmaid. Who, finding in Finnianâs favour, delivered a famous ruling, usually summed up in the line: âTo every cow its calf, to every book its copy.â The judgment was even more elegant when you consider that contemporary manuscripts were written on vellum. So the cow-calf analogy could hardly have been more apt. Unfortunately, Colmcille did not appreciate its beauty and the dispute escalated into the Battle of CĂșl Dreimhne, in AD 561, when 3,000 men died.
CĂșl Dreimhne became known, in almost âGame of Thronesâ-type terminology , as the âBattle of the Booksâ. Later, Colmcille wracked with guilt at his role in these deaths went onto become a Christian missionary, aiming to âsaveâ as many souls as possible in recompense, founding the settlement on the Isle of Iona, and starting the re-Christianisation of Britian (something with far-reaching historical implications).
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Thanks for that lovely story.
To be clear, even though I often and lengthily rail against copyright, in my view the chief ills of copyright stem from the modern extensions to the idea. If copyright were opt-in, and limited to 20 years, with optional renewal, this would in my view make it more fair and reasonable, and in addition, would be much easier to enforce.
Obviously, however, the discussion on copyright in general is tangential to its application to Buddhist scripture.
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I thought the list was indicative of the labels people give us. They are unreal caricatures not representing the actual complexity of a personality behind it.
I think the distinction between what one thinks and what someone says out loud is an important one. Staying in control is sila. Loosing it is akusala, and often a good pointer to areas where further progress may be had. The forum has its own kind of sila (or vinaya if you like) to adhere to. To err once in a while is human.
More subtlely many people want to be enlightened âŠbut without changing who they have always been. This is not possible, naturally.
with metta
Hi guys ,
can anyone care to explain the
meaning of below statement ?!
brilliant temple priests and âfields of meritâ in the possession of some body of magical revealed wisdom with which they can impress the fawning and scraping devout - is actually closer to represent what the Dalai Lama and other so-called tulkusâ cult s are all about more than anything!
Thanks .
P/s : isnât that as a buddhist
whom constantly abiding in
Right Speech, claiming
himself following the right
path of the Buddha , supposed
to not Mocking at each other ,
being Non Spiteful in speech !?
Regardless of whether
the other party being
sensible or nonsensical ?
or utterly ridiculous !
For Your Information ,
Tzu chi controversy
Tzu Chi claims that special donations are used only for a stated purpose, but it is belief that the donations has been wrongly used to purchase stocks, funds and land in industrial areas and conservation zones.
Donations have been used to purchase so called barrier funds or vice fund , ie sins stocks or risky high-yield bonds in Monsanto, Boeing and tobacco company Altria, etc as well as to buy land in industrial areas and conservation zones for rezoning and development.
Sins stocks includes ,
gambling, smoking, drinking and warmongering (defense stocks).
If you would like to know HHDLâs stance on âguru-yogaâ and the infallibility of gurus, since this is a common misconception about Tibetan Buddhism:
The Dalai Lama emphasized that no Buddhist no teacher should be considered above reproach. âYou should not say: âoh, this is my guru, whatever guru says, I must follow.â Thatâs totally wrong!â he exclaimed. âThe Buddha himself mentioned âmy teachings, you must examine.â
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Sadhu, Sadhu
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The one thing about this that really drives it home, is what exactly do we all mean by the âDhamma.â I mean any book on buddhism is the Dhamma. When the buddha spoke that passage on trading the Dhamma, itâs not like the pali canon was thought of like it is today. He certainly meant anything that helps lead to awakening, anything pertaining to his teachings. So really, writing any book on buddhism should be released for free, or at least it seems that way to me.
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For this you need lot of supporters.
In west the major support coming from migrant Asians.
They already have commitment to their local temples.
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On the topic, I would like to call attention to the fact that Wisdom Publicationâs 2016 financial statements are already public and available. See below my updated highlights from these latest financial statements.
WISDOM PUBLICATIONS INC (EIN 04-2979113)042979113_201612_990.pdf (1016.3 KB)
In 2016, Wisdom Publications made $2.405 million in gross book sales, at a gross profit of $991 k - a meaningful 41% gross margin. On top of that they received donations of $126.4 k, royalties of $427 k and other book related revenues of $12k.
Wisdom Publicationsâ functional expenses were $1.56 million in 2016. Some $731 k out of this total were spent in wages, compensations and employment-related expenses. The second largest functional expense item was related to compensation of officers and directors, with one single individual (WPâs president) earning a total of $157k as reportable compensation and $29k of other compensations in the period. The third largest item was advertisement, $239k or roughly 10% of the book sales amount.
As a result of the above, Wisdom Publications made in 2016 $204k out of selling Dhamma-related stuff (books mostly) after all functional expenses were deducted. Their cash and investments position ended 2016 at $1.25 million by 31 Dec 2016. On top of that their inventory position (Dhamma-related stuff waiting to be sold) ended the year at $1.4 million.
Last but not least, it called my attention the fact that Wisdom Publications apparently made very little dana itself in that year. 
In 2016, the reported total made amount of donation and gifts given/offered was of only $12,400 (twelve thousand and four hundred dollars) . This is a very small figure when compared to to the $113 k spent in travel, accommodation/occupancy, conferences, conventions and meetings in that same year. 
How much is Wisdom Publications worth?
There are many ways the value of a positive cash flow business such as Wisdom Publication can be assessed. On a conservative basis, we may approach it by its current outstanding cash and cash equivalents position ($1.25 million) and of course the operating cash flow stream selling Dhamma-related stuff yields (~200k / year). A simple net present value calculation over this cash flow stream assuming it to remain at this level in the long term and a reasonable risk-adjusted capital cost of opportunity of 10% would result in $2 million. Hence, it is worth at least $3.2 million in total.
We may as well tackle the question from a simpler end and use instead the average Price to Earnings ratio of ~54x for the Publishing & Newspaper industry found at this link. This means that Wisdom Publications could be worth as much as $11 million, or 54 times the net profit of $204 k reported in 2016 ( âRevenue less expensesâ in the document above).
You may add as well to both the above measures the net-of-depreciation value of Wisdom Publicationsâ fixed assets - land, buildings, and equipment- booked at $355k as of year end 2016.
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That means they can avoid paying taxes too.
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