ex-l wrote:Which was all to do with how individuals use BK facilities, networks and service items to sell and promote themselves, e.g. "good for my professional career", and this was the debate about whether it was independent or not. In this case, was Robin punting it round the film festival to promote his own career or to promote his Baba?
You are right ex-l, nobody from the audience will know that it is all about The Knowledge told in the 7 days Raja Yoga course in BKWSU. From this point of view it is "Selling Gyan".
If we put Gyan aside, from ethical and legal point of view there is a great difference between one enthusiastic independent young producer who makes his first film putting all his borrowed money without knowing if anybody will watch his film and Robin Ramsay as a celebrity actor and Senior BK financing and producing ToTT, being sure that it will have a great chance selling the DVDs to hundred thousands of BKs, and even more. Plus the chance showing the film in the film festivals and selling it round the globe to the film distributors for lokik audience with copyright and commissions, plus copyrights from TV broadcasting round the globe.
All big or independent producers announce with pride how much the production's costs are. It is also a legal obligation. Even more at this ToTT film, because the PR network of a charity World Renewal Trust aka BKWSU and Janki Foundation as accepting the income from the DVD (both not paying any taxes) are involved. The film is already expected from BKs in more than 8,000 BK centers. Of course Robin Ramsay is obliged to announce how much the production cost was, how much for the master DVD he has paid, what percentage of the market price is cost and what percentage is going to which charity. The charity's name should be also announced. I find Chai Bhai's suggestion of showing on the DVD that by buying this DVD "they will support the tribal health care in India" blurry, not clear. It should be clearly fixed what percentage of the price is going to which charity's account.
As long as the above issues are not clearly and legally stated, Ramsey family and BKWSU have no right to blame the members of this forum questioning the "Silence" of the Ramsays' on ethical and financial issue.
He might not make money but he makes connections and in the movies ... it is all about the next deal.
Of course it is a different career becoming a well known art film producer than being a celebrity actor.
I openly criticize from a spiritual point of view Robin Ramsay in particular, more than any other BK (even Brian Bacon), for assiduously working the Brahma Kumari networks for the benefit of his own professional interests ... so much so that I cannot tell which is which.
I am sure thousands of BKs will think like this, whisper amongst themselves like this, but will never have the courage to speak loudly although they have all rights to ask about Gyani aspect as well as the financial issue. They have surrendered their lives to BKWSU. It is also our right. We have surrendered decades of our lives to BKWSU.
and I wish they would remove their mud from the River Tao and stick to their own religion. They could not though, you see. "Brahma Kumari" does not SELL so well as the cool "Tao" does. Its all down to marketing in the end. The public should know what it is getting before it has to commit.
Unfortunately, the BKWSU leadership together with Ramsay family made a huge mistake by using that title with "Tao". Which means from the point of ethics deceiving the consumer, you may say, in a subtle way.