BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Spirituality Enlightenment for Sale?

Here is a question for you all:

Is it necessary to pay for spiritual guidance? Should metaphysical techniques and religious traditions come at a price? Should churches be palaces and gurus be millionaires?

What do you think?

I would not trust ANY spiritual advicer that I have to pay. It reminds me of the TV preachers that said "Send us a check for $25 and WE will save your soul from hell fire and damn nation!" and "for $10 we will pray with you" Sorry Jesus never said that we could by our way into God's Good GRACEes! and I have never seen or heard of Buddha saying for $XXX you can become Enlightened.

I think the only thing money can buy is phyical stuff food, shelter, maybe some education but lets face it Money cant buy smarts or commen sence!

I know that churches and temples and all that like it need money to be opperational but I think it should be on a donation bases. I hate to see this great big gwady religous building with all this glitter and gold and then say that they are all about helping those in need. I look at the building and think "How many people could they have helped if they didnt blow all that money on the building!

when a spiritual path becomes bought and paid for it is no longer a Path to a True and REAL Divine being. No matter what path it is.

My first response is absolutely not. But then I think about the Pagan community, and how in many ways its being turned into a money maker. This doesn't exactly thrill me. But on the other hand, some of the people who charge, do so at a grassroots level, either dealing in trade (service for service) or take payment for services rendered and aren't making a fortune from it but enough to pay their bills.

I would support those at the grassroots level, but be less likely to pour my money into a huge spiritual machine. Around where I live, there are some churches whose primary goal is to secure wealth at the expense of the donations given to them in the name of spiritual salvation. I could never support something like that.

It's a challenge.

I can argue that it should be completely a donation basis - that someone who is poor and struggling should be able to go for free. People who are more solvent should do their share to pay the basic share for heat, rent, etc.

But on the other hand, there are people out there who take advantage of everything. So if you had free yoga classes, what if you got someone disruptive in the class who went just because it was free and who really didn't care about the class? If you pay for something, you tend to appreciate it more. You have a "stake" in it.

I don't agree with forced tithes that everyone should pay say 10% of their income, because for some people it could literally mean they can't afford to go to church. That doesn't seem right. But on the other hand, is it right if someone with plenty of money goes all the time but doesn't pay anything at all - and the church or temple ends up having to close because they can't afford to heat the building?

Enlightenment for Sale?! I think we should pay for books and counseling and the minister's salary and the maintenance of a church building - all the accouchements needed to support the guidance received. Guidance and education have a cost - they are part of the payment received for services rendered cycle of survival as humans.

On the more esoteric point of enlightenment for sale - I think all the books and education are guideposts and maps, but it is up to each of us to follow the directions to reach the divine goal.

Oh OOPs Spiritual Education... Yes I think it is fair to buy books and pay grassroots prices to keep the church or temple up and running...

I though we were talking about Spiritual Salvation or Enlightment... like buying your way into heaven... that is a definent NO!!!

Like indulgences? Absolutely not.

You can't buy your way into Heaven. Now, I know there are people who think they can but it isn't money that God is interested in, for those of us who believe in God, that is. Jesus already paid our way into Heaven. All we have to do is believe it and ahve the faith that it is true and we are as good as in.

Tithing has nothing to do with getting into Heaven. Tithing represents our riches when we get there. I tithe when I can. When I can, I tithe more than the ten percent and sometimes less and there have been times when I couldn't give anything at all.

For those of us who believe in God, He knows where our hearts are and that is what truly matters.

Paying your way to heaven is a really old strategy used by corrupt priests. I'd rather not pay, thanks.

I think, from a personal (buddhist) viewpoint, this controversy undoubtedly exists in my calling, too.
We find, unfortunately, that some Spiritual Gurus, lamas or leders choose to give talks and teachings but at a frightfully inflated cost.
Recently, I went to see the Dalai Lama at the Royal Albert Hall, and the ticket price was very reasonable for my placing in the 'audience' and the duration of both the spectacles and his involvement. Good VFM.
I also had the good fortune to go and see a Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Monk (some of you may have heard of) called Thich Naht Hahn. That too, was very reasonable, with sales of items, books and artefacts after the teachings, with ALL monies being donated to fund schools, housing and vital necesities for orphans and handicapped children.

But I have also seen advertised some 'scams' which frankly make me blanch at the costs.
Exorbitant and outrageous. Blatant profiteering and playing on people's emotional needs and quests for guidance.

From my experiences, I have learnt to investigate first, who these so-called teachers claim to be and what they intend to do, or teach. Google, investigate, read and learn all you can about them. Visit relevant websites and forums and ask questions of other members, for feedback.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said once that you should thoroughly test,scrutinise and examine a teacher for 10 years, if necessary, before being absolutely sure of their sincere and authentic vocation.
If the words don't fit the deeds - give 'em a w-i-i-i-i-de berth.

That's what I say.