06-06-2012, 12:01 AM
My my. Good topic. As it began, it was a question whether one ought to charge money for "spiritual" services. I thought songbird clarified well the differentiation between "spiritual" services and assistance for specific disciplines. There seems to me to be a valid differentiation there.
The area of interest was the primary topic of discussion in my chat today, and was most interesting. That topic was, was it legit or moral or right to charge for "spiritual teaching"? First, we had to define "spiritual teaching". Generally, that came down to providing anecdotal information. For example, Julian taking don Juan on as an apprentice, as well as all the other stories of the Naguals and their apprentices in CC's books. I added examples from the ranks of the Zen masters, abbots in monasteries guiding monks. None of the above asked for, nor receive payment of any kind for their services.
To add some fuel to the fire, I suggested that if a person purports to be a "spiritual teacher", then he is living a "spiritual life"...that is, one in which there is a direct connection to spirit...and if so, that person no longer has concern about the mundane issues of rent, clothing, food, shelter, etc...as in the lilies of the field...and therefore, no need whatsoever to share his understandings, ala Nisargadatta, UG Krishnamurti, et al. In other words, the proof of the pudding is in the pouring. If you are a true spiritual teacher, if you live with spirit, in accord with spirit, there is no need whatsover to request payment from any seeker approaching you for guidance.
The area of interest was the primary topic of discussion in my chat today, and was most interesting. That topic was, was it legit or moral or right to charge for "spiritual teaching"? First, we had to define "spiritual teaching". Generally, that came down to providing anecdotal information. For example, Julian taking don Juan on as an apprentice, as well as all the other stories of the Naguals and their apprentices in CC's books. I added examples from the ranks of the Zen masters, abbots in monasteries guiding monks. None of the above asked for, nor receive payment of any kind for their services.
To add some fuel to the fire, I suggested that if a person purports to be a "spiritual teacher", then he is living a "spiritual life"...that is, one in which there is a direct connection to spirit...and if so, that person no longer has concern about the mundane issues of rent, clothing, food, shelter, etc...as in the lilies of the field...and therefore, no need whatsoever to share his understandings, ala Nisargadatta, UG Krishnamurti, et al. In other words, the proof of the pudding is in the pouring. If you are a true spiritual teacher, if you live with spirit, in accord with spirit, there is no need whatsover to request payment from any seeker approaching you for guidance.