Today, an e-mail appeared on a hypnosis e-mail list that did some major saber rattling about copyright infrigement of some very effective spiritual teachings. In several of my recent advanced hypnosis certification classes, we have studied a number of healing modalities - extremely effective ones - that use these specific spiritual/metaphysical concepts. The actual material used is held proprietary by its author, and is very jealously guarded - so much so that, according to the e-mail, one hypnotist who misused it lost his National Guild of Hypnotists certification.
This particular material is quite powerful, but is certainly not unique. To me, the beauty of it is that the material is standard between any of the hypnotists who studied at that particular school. However, the material being so jealously copyrighted has tended to reduce some of its effectiveness. So the question arises - how do you mix money and spirituality?
Where is that line between the need of the practitioner (hypnotist, teacher, etc.) to earn a fair living and the spiritual material manifest for the betterment of Humanity? To me, it is a delicate balance. Yet in a way, witholding spiritual revelatory material, such as is being done in this particular case, seems to me to be a misuse of that material. Is this the case?
In my view, the author has the right to dictate - and enforce - his publication rights to the material. Yet does material that powerful require special consideration? Would Jesus copyright the Sermon on the Mount if it were given today? Would Mohammed copyright the Koran? Would John of Patmos copyright the book of Revelation? - and so on... If material is truly spiritual or scriptural in nature, should it be copyrighted, or should it be public domain, perhaps with some way of ensuring the respect it deserves.
I have often wondered; were I to manifest some deeper spiritual truth, would I do the same? Would I copyright it prior to publication, then limit its replication and charge people for it's use? Or would I follow the ultimate path of devotion and put the material in the public domain for all to learn from? Is there a point between these two ends of the spectrum?
In short, do we owe our allegiance to dead presidents - e.g. to money? Or do we owe it to Source/God/The-Universe, the source of such teachings, and to Humanity, their ultimate benificiary? What is the truly ethical thing to do in this case? And what would you do?
