March 22, 2007: I thought I deleted this page years ago, but as it is still online and one Devarshirath dasa decided to put a link to it from Bhaktiforums.com, apparently in an effort to assist me to get my book published (thank you!), I decided to update it with this pre-script. The title of the book has changed, and the book is no longer only about the Interfaith Musical Experiment at New Vrindaban; now it is a general history of the community. Satyaraja is no longer involved, but I still need an editor and publisher.Sincerely,
Hrishikesh (Henry Doktorski)
Chant and be happy! New Vrindaban outdoor kirtan, ca. 1989. 1.Your help is needed to publish Uniting East and West: Sacred Music and Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada's Great Experiment in Christian-Style Worship at the New Vrindaban Hare Krishna Community. There are two phases to this project: 1. preparing the manuscript for publication, and 2. publication.
Steven Rosen (Satyaraja), author of dozens of books about Krishna consciousness and founder/publisher of the scholarly Journal of Vaishnava Studies, has kindly agreed to edit the book as well as "flesh-out" (expand and develop) the text in order to round out the manuscript. He wrote:
Dear Henry,Bhakti Ananda Goswami (Brother David Sherman), a sincere devotee and scholar who visited New Vrindaban several times in the early 1990s, emphatically underscored the importance of Satyaraja's key role for the publication of The Great Experiment:Hare Krishna, and best wishes! Thank you for sending your manuscript, "The Great Experiment." It is generally well-written and, if properly edited, will make an important contribution to the world's understanding of Vaishnavism In general and of ISKCON in particular.
I would be happy to flesh out your work, adding the necessary facts and documentation regarding Gaudiya Vaishnava history, particularly in relation to music, and I would also like to edit the entire manuscript for consistency and clarity. In addition, once it's edited, I would be happy to help you find a publisher, or even publish it myself, through my FOLK Books imprint. But that's a later consideration. For now, let's see if we can get the necessary funds for me to get started on the editing. You have a potentially valuable work here, and we should move on this as soon as possible.
All the best.
Steve Rosen
(Satyaraja Dasa)
Haribol Hrishikesh Prabhu!To date, Bhakti Ananda Goswami pledged $500, Hrishikesh pledged $500 and Damodara and Janaki have also pledged to make contributions to help fund the book. If you also would like to help provide funding to publish this valuable history, please contact Hrishikesh atSatyaraja's Journal of Vaishnava Studies is the most well respected one of its kind. major scholars regularly contribute to it. . . . two months of his concentrated effort to make your book publishable and insure his full support and that of his network of scholars would be very well worth it.
He is really able to directly get your work before the eyes of the very best western vaishnava academics today. This alone would be worth the lakshmi to access to influential persons to seriously critique your work is essential in today's publishing field.
As poor as I am, I would even be willing to contribute something to help you with his fee. Essentially, by jumping through his hoops, you will be guaranteed that the end product is something that he will enthusiastically endorse and promote, even if he doesn't publish it himself.
You get what you pay for. If you pay him and work with him to achieve a manuscript that he is proud to associate himself with, it will be something that the academic community will want to read. It will be first class, and have great potential. He already has the network of top academic associates, that he has spent years cultivating.
Take advantage of his offer while it is still on the table ! If something else comes along to engage him, you might not get the opportunity of his service again. If he is willing to work for you for 2 months, go for it !
I cannot think of a better association for your work than to be brought out of the scholarly group / network he has formed. FOLK Books published the Journal of Vaishnava Studies for years, so it has developed a very good reputation from this high quality academic service. I want to encourage you to take this opportunity. He has consistently produced a first class academic journal for years, that is highly respected among scholars of vaishnavism.
In various fields, to even get the opportunity to perform an historically significant service, is a rare thing. A significant portion of your musical career involved your service to Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra and Their devotees. This particular body of work, along with the unique period in the Hare Krishna movement that it enriched, is worth writing and reading about for its own sake. Some things should be done, even if they are not going to be a big commercial success. If I had the funds I would give you a grant to cover the total cost just because the story deserves to be told as a service to all concerned, past, present and future.
I have no lakshmi, but would even borrow off of my own Ministerial Association credit card if it will help to raise the lakshmi. The best I could do at present (I have checked) is to take $500 off of a credit card as a grant for you. I am thinking that as seed money, maybe you could raise the rest by soliciting some donations saying a respected sannyasi (head of the World Vaishnava Association Interfaith Committee) has sacrificially pledged $500 for the project.
'My' $500 is not much, but as a token of my respect for the worthiness of the project, it may mean something to others, who then may also be willing to contribute. Satyaraja's discount is an in-kind contribution, which shows his sincerity. The service, the work is the thing. If it has merit for the devotees then Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra will be pleased.
Sometimes we must step-out on faith and take the opportunities that the lord sends, even if they are scary and fraught with potential problems. Progress takes a spirit of surrender and sacrifice, risk and work. Your book project is a worthy work and should be published and presented in first-class company.
With love and prayers for your success,
Your aspiring servant,
Bhakti Ananda / Brother David
Mastercard and VISA cards are accepted.
If you cannot contribute financially, you may be able to assist by helping me complete my archive of New Vrindaban publications for reference purposes. After The Great Experiment is published, I will begin working on a history of Prabhupada's Palace of Gold, and later, if Krishna permits, a history of the New Vrindaban Community. I need many more issues of certain publications, such as Brijabasi Spirit, New Vrindaban News, New Vrindaban World, etc. to complete my collection.
If you have any publications from New Vrindaban, or ISKCON publications which might include an article or reference about New Vrindaban, please send me an e-mail and tell me what you have. I will of course be happy to reimburse you for your copying and postage costs.
Thank you very much.
Hare Krishna!
Henry Doktorski
(Hrishikesh dasa)
End Notes 1. New Vrindaban outdoor kirtan, ca. 1989: Left to right: Truthful, Mahati Mataji, Peaceful Swami (with guitar), Dhananjaya, Vishvamurti, Dhruva (with recorder), Murti Swami, Hrishikesh (with accordion), Buddhi Yoga Swami, unknown black devotee, Bhaktisiddhanta Swami, unknown Indian devotee, Dhirodatta (with guitar), True Peace, Madhava Ghosh
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