Guest guest Posted October 12, 1999 Report Share Posted October 12, 1999 > >> >Well Peter now knows you are coming Dan! :-). Jerry makes a fundamental point >though. What he is saying (to nondual teachers) is that if money really does >not matter then why not give one's insights and wisdom freely on the >Internet. Maybe that is too simplistic but Jerry's vision makes perfect sense >to me. Especially since access to the Internet is growing exponentially world >wide and the benefits from the free exchange of information and wisdom are >obvious. The best gifts are always free, I believe. In any case, all my gifts >are free! > >Harsha Harsha, I'm glad your gifts are free. By the way, I charge by the word for my insights. In your case, I'll be glad to set up low monthly payments. You see, when people pay for nontangible things, it helps them arrange their values and priorities correctly. That's why I know I'm doing God's work when I charge an arm and a leg. It's my way of helping God help those who can help themselves! (I'm lying - I did teach some of this in the past, and I didn't take any payment. But I don't hold anything against anyone who does. I'm lucky enough to have been able to get material needs met elsewhere.) Speaking of arms and legs, you've probably heard the story about the Zen student who waited outside Bodhidharma's cave in the cold and then eventually had to cut off his arm to receive the teaching. I guess you could call that a case of perceived supply and a demand. If the only perceived supplier of the teaching demands an arm, then hey, an arm is only transitory... My conclusion here: if the perceived supply is available for free on the internet, maybe less folks who are demanding teaching will want to give up an arm and a leg. But if they do, then who's to say? Maybe that experience will be helpful to them, including the sacrifice of something tangible. For me, this forum has been a valuable way to have a give and take around an issue I consider primary. So, clearly, I feel an affinity and support for the idea that you and Jerry are addressing, and I'm very happy about it. Yet I realize some folks may want a more formal kind of teaching arrangement where they pay someone for instruction, or even just a beautiful illustrated book for their coffee table, or maybe an expensive weekend retreat that includes a chance to bathe in a holistic hotspring or natural mineral mud. I just hope spiritual seekers will draw the line at turning over both their ability to consider with discrimination and all that they earn to "someone special". Perhaps in looking at teachers' parts in this, one will observe the adage "by their fruits you shall know them." One may also observe the wisdom of the sage P.T. Barnum who observed that when someone is willing to turn over money for something, someone will always appear to be willing to take it. (Those weren't his exact words, but his exact words were less delicate.) Love, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 1999 Report Share Posted October 12, 1999 In a message dated 10/12/99 4:50:07 PM Central Daylight Time, berkowd writes: << or even just a beautiful illustrated book for their coffee table, or maybe an expensive weekend retreat that includes a chance to bathe in a holistic hotspring or natural mineral mud. >> LOL diana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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