WEEK EIGHT ESSAY

[Susan Piver]

Talk about your feelings regarding money and teaching meditation. Do you have judgments? A
philosophy? Do you think it should be by donation? (No wrong answers here!)

[Dawa]

It was mentioned in our session this week that “clear is kind.” I live by this, and with money it is no different. I have faced “money issues” all my life. What started as a scarcity in childhood, and the example of an immigrant household trying to just get by, has become some foundational fixed ideas about the value of a dollar. As a young woman I was told I would make a great wife and mother one day…nothing about how to buy myself a house. The social structures around money showed me that there was never enough, and that people who had it were bad, dirty even. I always saw people “scrounging” for money, or arguing about it. As very religious people, anything “extra” was given to the church. It was even understood to be more ‘spiritual’ to give rather than receive.
As I have aged, I have learned that acquiring money is not so difficult. There is a lot of money in the world… and it is printed all the time. I stopped equating my ‘worth’ to money, and discovered how it could serve ME (*buy a house!). I went on to work in media (big money), health-care (less money), education (even less money), and as a ….yep, Wife and Mother(absolutely zero money!) As a Woman, I have regularly experienced being encouraged for giving more, giving for less, and being (socially, not monetarily) ‘rewarded’ for this – almost as assumed acts of service. I’m really over this, and won’t take part anymore in the social de-valuing of women as contributors. I have chosen to work for myself for the last 15 years and will do so for the rest of my life. De-valuation happens to people, and to ideas. Perhaps meditation suffers from this, as do many “soft” skills.
Now as a Counsellor, I find some sensitivity on both the parts of myself and potential clients around fees. I have followed in the footsteps of other very creative operators, and created a tiered offering, to allow, for as many people as possible to access my services. People pay different fees for access to my time, based on their means. This is a bit rare in my industry. I am proud of doing it, and I am serious about it — fees are what they are, once agreed on, and must be paid, and on time. In exchange I will show up and offer the best I’ve got! I know I’m a good deal, and if that isn’t enough for someone, they are not my client. I put my faith in autonomy – theirs and mine. Working this way also occurs to me as an important move as an Independent Operator, as anti-establishment, anti-commercialist, anti-patriarchal, and pro-spiritual.
I think the same applies to offering meditation instruction. I will incorporate it into my work, and perhaps offer it as a stand-alone. I will be creative about a tiered cost offering, and then I will expect that people can show up…or not. I have known and enjoyed free offerings myself, and then ‘graduated’ to paying for what I valued, when I could. I am happpy to be putting back into a system that works.

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 3 days ago by Dawa.
• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 3 days ago by Dawa.

[Kat]

Love it, Dawa – Thank you for sharing this. I felt the strength and power of what you have learned in your life about money – especially with regards to women. I also felt the creativity and compassion you found in your tiered payment system. I especially loved what I felt was your fierce independence and insistence on creating things the way you want them to be: Awesome!

[Virginia Dickinson]

Dawa, it was really interesting reading about your experiences. Thank you for sharing these. So incredibly true that as women (at least my generation) we were not taught about managing money and finances. I also had to learn this the hard way. I admire the “relationship” with money that you have developed.

[Susan Picascia]

Thank you, Dawa for all you say. To be reminded “Clear is kind” means a lot. I have had so fewer “problems” setting fees with people when the number just rolls off my tongue because I know I am worth the fee (experience, education, study, practice), because I know the fee matches my experience level, and I know the fee is fair. Clear and kind. A good aspiration!

[Colin Dodgson]

Hi Dawa, clarity rings through your essay! I appreciate your journey toward achieving it and applying it in your life, especially around money. I think those early attitudes and confusion can be formed for anyone when money is too scarce, as well as structurally for women who aren’t expected to be responsible for it. I love what you’ve done to counteract that for yourself, and for others by example.

[Octavio Valdes]

Thanks for your perspective Dawa. I never thought about the difference on this topic based on gender, but think you are right and there is an extra burden put on girls about this topic. Good to keep that in mind.

[Liana Merrill]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts in this essay, Dawa. I really enjoyed reading it. I especially loved the line “I know I’m a good deal, and if that isn’t enough for someone, they are not my client.” I can so relate to this and feel like I say something similar to myself in my head when I’m trying to hype myself up. My husband owns his own business (he’s a carpenter) and I often encourage him of this too when he’s doubting himself. We all bring so much to this world, and we deserve to be (and feel) valued for the gifts we bring!

[Glenn Thode]

Thanks Dawa, for sharing your insights. So many of the markers which influenced me and my views on putting a money value on what I do, I seem to share with you. Except the gender, as I did not grow up as a girl. But that perspective was and is very visible in the social nudges I saw my mom receive, who was a single mother for most of my childhood growing into an adult. I also saw this with my sisters and the social questions regarding our two daughters. Very insightful and thanks for sharing your path on innovating how then to interact with the actual amount being relative in terms of numbers but still probably the same in relation to what someone can carry. I’ve learned so much I will embrace and carry with me.

[Toni Gatlin]

I love everything about this! I too was raised in strict gender roles that did not equip women to provide for themselves, and with lots of baggage around receiving any kind of compensation or generosity. Learning to charge a fair price (fair for both parties) for my skills is a life lesson that’s been hard to learn, but worth it.

[Stina]

I have no judgments on this topic other than each person must decide what is right for them based on their individual circumstances and needs.

For me, I am fortunate to have a full-time job that pays the bills and gives me health insurance, so I can choose whether I want to charge money for the things I do outside of that job (including teaching meditation). At the moment, I am mostly planning to teach friends who have told me they want to learn how to meditate and I am more than happy to give my time and energy to a friend in that way because the joy I receive in sharing something that is special to me with someone I love is a reward I value more than any additional money in my pocket. I may also do a free weekly meditation practice for my students/coworkers, but that would be within the hours of my job, so I view that as time I am already being paid for.

If I were to expand my teaching beyond friends or if I was starting to invest significantly more of my free time in teaching, then I do think there is a point that I would consider charging in some way.

[Cheryl Finley]

Hi Stina,
I resonate with your first paragraph, which about says it all for me too. Thank you for your clarity. 🙂

[Octavio Valdes]

Fully agree with your perspective Stina. I am not sure if I will teach or not, but I would do pretty much the same thing as you are suggesting.

[Dawa]

I so appreciate all the lovely feedback this week 🙂

[Kat]

All the meditation teachers I’ve had have been free, and asking only for donation. I am ok with that, because I’ve seen that model for a long time. It can be good because it allows a lot of new people to come in at any time and try out meditation with a smaller initial investment.

I’ve always thought that money and spirituality don’t mix. However, when I look deeply at that thought, I realize I’m not sure that thought is really true for me.

What is money? It’s a kind of appreciation. If I appreciate someone’s teaching, and I want to share in the time and teaching that they are offering, I am willing to pay. When I value something, I believe the money will be available for me to give it.

It has always been harder for me to receive money and ask for the check, than to give the money. Since I was young, I have had a lot of practice in finding the courage to ask for the money, even though it has sometimes felt like pulling off an arm. There’s a “worthiness hurdle” that I have to overcome, but, in business, I’ve learned it’s not really about me and my worth. It’s simply about asking and allowing, and I can do that.

I like what Susan was saying in class today about the Ground, the Path and the Fruition all being about a gentleness that is allowing. I like that because I want to make a space inside where I can allow the mystery of my Spirit to reveal itself to me, allow the joy of community to unfold in my experience, and allow money to be a friendly support that is part of all that good stuff arising.

[Virginia Dickinson]

Kat, I think what you said about money being appreciation is very true. I think about the people I pay for services that are important to me like a haircut, acupuncture, or a massage and how much I value paying for these. I do try to tip generously to show my appreciation. It’s funny, because it seems easier to do that, value someone else’s service than to think of getting something for my service. Money is indeed essential in our society, but the thing that is more valuable to me is time. Maybe this happens to us as we get older. I like to give my time to people. I have so much more of it then I did when I was raising children or working full time. So to me time is more valuable than money. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

[Djuna Penn]

Hi Virginia, I share your feelings about valuing other peoples services and time than my own. I don’t know how this will translate into me leading any meditation classes. I think it really depends on what I end up offering people in the way of meditation classes. I have the luxury of time on my hands too, and I like to help others who don’t.

[Cheryl Finley]

(oops.. I put a comment in the wrong place, and not way to delete.)

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 1 day ago by Cheryl Finley.

[Cheryl Finley]

Hi Kat,
I completely resonate with what you have stated so beautifully. Yes, yes, yes. Indeed, it’s poetry to me. Thank you. 🙂

[Natalie Miller]

Hi Kat, I really loved your last paragraph. Gently allowing is something I want to nurture through my practice.

[Clif Cannon]

Kat, thanks for sharing your thoughts and heart – I especially resonate with “allow money to be a friendly support that is part of all that good stuff arising.”

[Virginia Dickinson]

Today’s class discussion about money was really interesting. I appreciated hearing different viewpoints. I think that charging for meditation teaching is an individual choice. For me I think it would depend on the situation. If I were to work in a setting such as a rec department I would of course go along with whatever fee for service is required. I can certainly see times where it would be beneficial to volunteer meditation teaching such as in a setting such as a prison, or homeless shelter. Not that these have to be only way to volunteer one’s time. I liked the idea that was presented about providing an initial session for free, and then after that participants can pay. I have a paying job, so I don’t really have an attachment to getting paid or not for teaching meditation.

[Cheryl Finley]

Hi Virginia,
I resonate with what you’ve shared. All depending upon the situation at the time, and our personal situations can change. Thank you for sharing. Your clarity is calming for me. 🙂

[Dawa]

Great ideas here, Virginia. I like the idea of finding the little pockets of a community where me may be of service with the beautiful gift of meditation.

[Natalie Miller]

Hi Virginia, Thank you for reminding me that there are very appropriate spaces in which I might offer instruction at no charge.

[Liana Merrill]

Virginia, I completely agree that the decision to charge for meditation instruction would likely depend on the situation, and I’ve been thinking a lot more about this since our last class. I can see how some situations might lend itself better/might feel better in my body to volunteer/not charge, and others might feel differently (I had the same thought about a rec center, as we have one in our town and I had the a-ha that maybe, someday, I would want to teach there). I, too, have the luxury of a “day job” to pay the bills and so it isn’t as important to me as well, but it is really interesting to think about and brainstorm. Thank you for your thoughts!

[Rosie]

This is something that I’ve thought a lot about in my work as a therapist. I love my work, and would do it for free – if I could afford that. But I can’t, so I have to charge money for it. Of course, it’s complicated. If I charge too much, then there are folks who don’t have access. If I charge too little, then I can’t survive. So – a middle way. There are lots of ways to manifest a middle way. My way is to do a combination of things – I accept insurance, even though it’s a pain in the butt, and they don’t pay very well, so that folks who aren’t wealthy get to have therapy. I have a sliding fee scale for folks who don’t have, or choose not to use, insurance. And I have a pro bono slot for those who have neither insurance nor funds.
My vision of how I’ll offer meditation instruction is different, because I’m not thinking of it as income-producing, but as a volunteer offering. When I learned to meditate, it was in an MBSR class, which was quite expensive for me at the time. The teacher offered a free intro/Q&A session, and that allowed me to see what a good fit it was for me. Had she not offered that, I would probably not be here today. So my goal is to offer free instruction, so that folks who’ve never been exposed to it can have an experience of it, and have their misconceptions cleared up. I’m lucky enough to live at the beach, where there are new vacationers coming and going every week, and I’m planning to offer free instruction on the beach once or twice a week.
That said, I don’t have judgments about how others choose to offer instruction. Different students need different options, and different teachers need different practices.

[Colin Dodgson]

Hi Rosie, I find kindness and generosity in your approach, and appreciate you point about the space for different teachers and students to create and choose the approaches that work for them. Thanks!

[Dawa]

Hey Rosie, I am so in lime with you on the tiered offerings/fees. I do the same, and would also “do it for free if i could” Yay to be enjoying our work and the people we do it with, so much that charging becomes a dilemma 🙂

[Lauren Lesser]

Hi Rosie,
I love how you’re describing your practice here and in class and how naturally meditaion teaching can be woven in to your community, and I thank you because it makes me realize that that’s the context I don’t have (yet) and what I want to look out for on whatever turns out to be my beach

[Clif Cannon]

Thank you, Rosie. The middle way resonates, and responds to circumstances as they arise – it seems like a stance (that can move and adapt) rather than a fixed rule “I do/don’t charge.” This makes a lot of sense combined with mind/heart.

[Melanie Sponholz]

Rosie, I like your thoughtful one-size-does-not-fit-all approach to getting compensated as a therapist. It helps ensure you meet your own needs and those of many different clients. Thank you for sharing: )

[MaryBeth ingram]

For me, context is everything on this topic.

I’ve been an employee. I’ve been an employer. I’ve been paid to do work. I’ve paid others to do work. I built a small service and consultancy business that still thrives today under the ownership of another family member.

I’m more than happy to be done with the tasks of tracking income from sales, expenses, depreciation of equipment, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), travel, marketing, and this is a small list! No more complicated, agonizing tax return filings. I’m retired now and it’s all straightforward and simple. But I’m 74 and many of you are in the thick of your careers.

In 2023 I read a work of poetry at a retreat in Ireland, not my own work but that of an author whose work resonates deeply. The room erupted and I was approached asking how much I charge to present works of poetry or prose, what was my Instagram page, where could they find me online reading other works. While I was extremely complimented, I knew that I wanted the freedom of reading what was meaningful to me, choosing from what came across my radar and struck a chord. I don’t want deadlines, pressure, or quotas of how many readings to produce. Rather I desire to be captured by something that reaches into me, animates me, and wants to be expressed, to be read out loud, to be shared. I created a Facebook page, MaryBethReads, and began posting videos, reels, and I’ve probably done less than 50, and that’s ok. Each one speaks to me and then I speak it out from my heart and give it away hoping it will touch someone else. Money would complicate it and I’m blessed to be able to offer it this way.

Context, again, is everything. I needed to build my business to pay bills, start a retirement fund, be able to contribute and donate to worthy causes. There is NO SHAME in making money. I needed to make money during those working years. I’m not wealthy but I’m ok and I’m grateful. I have no idea what I’ll do with the meditation training when the program ends. None at all. Perhaps it will want to be expressed as well. Maybe. Maybe not. We’ll see.😉

[Susan Picascia]

Hi Mary Beth, stage of life and tax complications! I identify with both of those. Both of those will influence my decision, also.

[Rosie]

MaryBeth, I love the energy and freedom and self-knowing that you describe and project so well!

[Niki Pappas]

Beautiful response, MaryBeth, and not surprising since I’m lucky enough to know you quite well! We are each in a stage of life and fortunate position where we are able to be of service without the requirements of charging and business building and all the rest. I’m so grateful for that and I wish I could wave a magic wand and remove the shadows of shame and anxieties about worth and value that commonly pervade our relationship with money.

[Liana Merrill]

MaryBeth, thank you for your essay! I loved reading about your experience in Ireland. How fun! I can totally relate to having a gift/something that sparks you like that and wanting to protect it. Keep it for my own/not letting it snowball into something I don’t recognize, which I’ve always been fearful of happening if I were to charge/bring money into the mix of something I do that speaks to my heart. I so appreciate your candid essay and think a great summary is a sentence you actually wrote: “Context, again, is everything.” So true! Even though you have no idea what the future will hold after the class, I’m betting that the universe will speak to you again just as it did in Ireland 🙂 Grateful to be on this journey with you.

[Melanie Sponholz]

Hi MaryBeth. I agree, context is everything! We all have responsibilities and needs, and I agree that there is no shame in making the money you need. Reading your response made me think about right intention with regard to the question of earning money for meditation instruction. If the intention is being able to keep food on the table and pay the bills, while also being able to share meditation instruction, I would say that’s an honorable/right intention. And I am going to check out your facebook page: )

[Toni Gatlin]

This is beautiful, MaryBeth. I resonate deeply with that idea of wanting to do what brings joy regardless of the paycheck… read the poems that YOU love rather than the ones someone wants to assign to you! And what a gift for both of us to be in different places in life where that’s a real option. <3

[Susan Picascia]

I worked through my relationship with money when I became self employed and built a consulting business/private practice over many years. It took awhile to no longer be afraid of money and I feel very good that I took myself seriously about earning, investing, saving, spending money so I could take charge of my financial life. I separate out monastic meditation teaching from lay teaching…all the stuff Susan raised about Dana, etc. As a lay person, I feel it is acceptable to charge as long as you have a solid background in meditation education, experience and expertise. And that the fee is equal to that education and what is being offered. Then, fees are set with ethical intention. I really respect what Mako said about money being a practice. That’s been true for me.
I respect the need to earn a living-especially for women. Ethics around it has more meaning to me than the fact of charging. We don’t need to give away our expertise to be a good or humble person. However, we do need to have ethical intentions. Money is important for self esteem, security, generosity, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, etc. It’s a good thing to have enough. And it’s a good thing to share enough.

[Rosie]

“It’s a good thing to have enough. And it’s a good thing to share enough.” So well said!

[Niki Pappas]

Thank you, Susan, and congratulations on the very healthy relationship you appear to have with money! I see and hear such moderation and realism and respect — for students and teachers, for women and men, for traditions — in your comments.

[Erin Schwartz]

Susan,

I really appreciate your perspective around the ethics of charging money and the importance of having ethical intentions. I could not agree more! Very well said.

Cheers!
Erin

[Elizabeth Watts]

Thanks for your thoughtful essay, Susan. You put this sensitive issue in a very positive and straightforward way. We do need to be able to earn a living, and if we are giving a service, it is good and right to be able to charge for it. I like your take on the ethics of it too.

[Cheryl Finley]

This topic is still processing for me. Right now I feel it would depend on the situation, and the opportunities that arise.

I’ve learned that sometimes when I try to predict a situation, and decide ahead of time how I will handle it, it can constrict my very joy of whatever it is I’m offering (be it tangible or intangible). And in letting go (to the best of my ability) of the figuring-it-out-mind, and be true to the intention to: serve, to help others, to be anchored in my heart & its guidance, to trust– that’s an opening for opportunity to dawn. Often it can come with offerings that simply wipe away all pre-conceived concerns; or provide a harmonious way to work through things…

…One example of this, happened early in the work world. I’d interviewed for a job, there was a sense of mutual agreement that it was a good fit. They said they’d be in touch. During that time, after belaboring, I was able to come up with & be at peace with a salary that I’d ask for. They called after a few days, and offered me the job at exactly the amount I had in mind. Everything is not always that exacting, but the principle holds, and things work out. My move from IL to GA is another example. There are many, I am grateful to say.

So, I will continue to abide in the Container of my Heart’s Intention to: help others & myself by teaching & practicing meditation, listen within and act as I’m guided, to go where I’m called to be, talk with those I’m called to speak with, and act on all inspiration-whispers. I will see how it unfolds, and respond accordingly at that time.

I am grateful for the Grace that abounds.

[Colin Dodgson]

Hi Cheryl, great examples of embracing whatever unfolds, and being in tune with it. I think letting intention be the north star is the heart of it, and something I too settled on as I reflected on this question. Very inspirational, thank you!

[Colin Dodgson]

My first instinct was that it would feel okay to me to charge if I were to teach, though it might depend on who, why and where. Maybe sometimes it would feel right to offer instruction for free or some other arrangement.

I think the critical piece for me is that I don’t see money and dharma as needing to be separated for dharma to be held in reverence or kept pure. If I tried to exclude money from parts of my life connected to dharma, it would feel like saying the dharma is somehow separate from the rest of my life where everyday things happen. I don’t think that’s true.

I see money as essential for staying in the human realm, and supporting family, community and beyond. Without independent means, I must generate income to do that, and I feel any means of doing so that also allows me to put my understanding of dharma into practice is appropriate and reasonable, including teaching meditation.

The donation model feels like dodging the issue for me; a way to have someone else decide, so I don’t have to. I feel like I need to take responsibility for setting a value, rather than putting someone else in the position of wondering should I or shouldn’t I? How much is too little or too much?

On the other hand, I could see something like donation working for me as a way to apply the sliding scale idea. Less “Donations welcome,” more “Pay if you are able, $0 – $X,” so it becomes a compromise that sets expectations but removes an obstacle for those who need it.

With this question, I feel intention is everything – and clarity is kindness (thank you Susan and Dawa). I trust that money exchange around teaching meditation is just another aspect of life. It doesn’t exclude compassion, kindness, and being more awake, and actually can be something to work with to grow toward those qualities.

[Lauren Lesser]

Hi Colin,
I love how you framed your considerations and how thoughtfully deepening they are.

[Jo Westcombe]

“If I tried to exclude money from parts of my life connected to dharma, it would feel like saying the dharma is somehow separate from the rest of my life where everyday things happen.”
Thank you for this, Colin. I think it is very helpful way to explore this.

[Natalie Miller]

My desire is to become part of a collective of teachers who already have a fee system in place, so that I may begin my teaching journey with some support in this area.
I tend to struggle to assess the value of the services I provide. I trust that this will become less of a concern over time, as I recognize my strengths and meaningful connection with students.
I appreciated the discussion in class this week regarding the importance of self-sufficiency. I feel this deeply. I want my focus to be on teaching the practice and being present for the students, not how I will meet my basic financial needs – though that may still happen. I’d like to take steps to avoid it. Also, I like the idea of honoring the lineage by being fairly compensated for my role.

[Djuna Penn]

Nathalie, I really like the idea of offering meditation as part of a collective of teachers, or other wellness practitioners. We have a wonderful yoga studio nearby and I’ve been thinking about approaching to see if they’d be interested in me offering a class to their members.

Your perspective on fair compensation as a way of honouring the lineage has got me thinking: in what ways can I honour the lineage of scholars, monastics, teachers, and lay people who all worked to preserve and pass along the dharma? The answer that just came to me as I write this is doing my best to live the teachings every day.

[Mary Pitz]

Hi Natalie–
I wish you the best in being part of a collective of teachers–that seems like the best of all worlds!

[Djuna Penn]

I struggle with charging the going rate for my work as a leadership coach, unless it’s part of a corporate program.

It feels very personal to ask another person directly to pay me for my services. I haven’t looked very deeply into this for myself -definitely some unexplored territory for me.

Several friends have asked me to offer a class since our training here started in January. And I’d be comfortable having a class at home for them for a food donation, maybe.

Otherwise, I’ve thought about a few teaching set-ups. But none of them feel like the right fit yet.

At this point, I think my hesitation has more to do with being ‘out’ about my Buddhist practice than anything else, even though we’re not learning to teach the dharma.

[Lauren Lesser]

As an organizer, I initially struggled with the thought of asking for a membership fee in impoverished neighborhoods but learned quickly that it was honest and respectful to be serious and clear about the money that not only encouraged attendance at first, but set the stage where literally invested community members owned their own path where they developed and directed a group that belonged to them.
In my next work incarnation, as I grew as a psychotherapist and began to transition into private practice, I re-entered the struggle to set a fair fee schedule, recognizing that I was revisiting questions about valuing myself and what I was able to offer. I never was comfortable setting the high fees most of the people I trained with-and trained- have set and I realize that while getting comfortable in their way is not my way, and while my middle way is doing well enough now with more reasonable sliding scale fees and insurance rates, Saturday’s class made me uncomfortably aware that I can also hear the Mamos grumbling that there is more internal work I need to do, (or/and?), as Maho gently pointed out, giving and receiving is a practice.
I am informed by these experiences when I connect with my feelings regarding money and meditation. While mandates of each role share a path to living fully and freely in connection with and commitment to others; and the practice of each role include some questioning about one’s worth and efficacy; the role of meditation teacher is different in many ways. There is a lot to think about when one is considering honoring lineage and dharma as well as how this practice adapts and changes in it’s cultural context here and now. There are further considerations when one finds a when and where to teach and how that forms the frame. But overall, I do think I would choose to charge money for teaching meditation, to loosely quote and honor what many of you talked about in class; attention must be paid for the energy and value exchanged and we must value ourselves and our efforts to learn from and value those who stand behind us and in honor of what we are passing on. A free session, to see if there is a good fit, (or a come on, from the drug dealer perspective), sounds like a good possibility to me, I would also look at a sliding scale with individuals, an agreement if within an organization. I really, really don’t think it should be by donation, I share the conflict this brings up for me as Ankur so succinctly described her experience, and, as, Colin wisely observed, it puts the onus on the student instead of on the teacher and as stumbly as one might feel starting out, okay, as stumbly as I do, it is important to take responsibility for holding the frame in honor of the practice and what it means.

[Rosie]

Lauren, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of your answer, and the clear commitment to living/teaching in a way that’s consistent with your values.

[Ankur Ganguli]

Lauren – your words “its honest and respectful to be serious and clear about the money” really made an impact. The possibility had not occurred to me that someone in financially challenged condition might find it disrespectful or condescending to be offered something for free. This truly is a delicate dance.

[Alexandra]

I agree with what was said in class. I think we must recognize that most of our teachers are not monastics so they need our support, but I would also be skeptical if a teacher charged a lot or appeared to be living some crazy lifestyle of the rich and famous.
I think teachers should be able to support themselves, especially if this is their primary work. I like the idea of a free first class. If by donation, then I like the idea of a ‘suggested donation’ so people don’t have to think too much about the proper amount.
I could see that it might be difficult to start free/by donation and then start charging (which would likely make some people mad) so maybe it’s better to just start off with clarity: first free class and then a clear cost going forward – with options for scholarships or sliding scale for those who need it.
Volunteering is something else, and it can feel exhausting and draining. It doesn’t do anyone any good for teaching meditation to feel that way. If teachers have other sustainable income that’s different I suppose but still worth thinking through before starting to offer teaching.

[Erin Schwartz]

Hi Alexandra,

I think your response is spot on. Before beginning to offer meditation instruction, it makes a lot of sense to take inventory of your own circumstances and to think proactively about how changing from offering free teaching to charging might land. I also really like the idea of teachers including a “suggested donation” amount. There have been so many times when I’ve just felt lost about what is appropriate to offer.

Cheers!
Erin

[Niki Pappas]

My intention is to offer meditation guidance pro bono. This is consistent with a decision I made last summer (on my 63rd birthday) to simply offer all of my one-on-one guidance and group facilitation free of charge. I do get paid for a little bit of Enneagram typing work that I do for another teacher, but otherwise my service is on a volunteer or pro bono basis, and I see it staying that way unless something currently invisible unfolds.

It was a relief for me to make that transition. My work life has comprised diverse phases and stages, with diverse paychecks to match — from partnership in a privately held marketing research firm on the high end to yoga teacher on the low end. I have struggled with the way our culture and economy reward certain types of work with huge monetary sums and other types of work — arguably so much more important for the benefit of humanity — with almost nothing. Personally, I remember the dissonance I felt when I stepped out of the corporate workforce for a few years in the mid-90s when my boys were little… I went from being a highly paid yuppie with premium status on airplanes and in hotels (so important!), to a harried mom with a baby in a stroller and a toddler, looked at askance in those same spaces. I remember thinking, but I’m the same person… why does it feel like my value / my worth is so different now?! (And of course my boys were adorable and perfectly well-behaved — ha!)

These days I feel a congruence among my various “roles” — as daughter who moved to be near her aging and ailing father, as life guide to a handful of clients, as facilitator / teacher in various groups, as end-of-life & hospice volunteer, as occasional writer, as mother to two young adult sons, as fiancée to an amazing man, as friend and neighbor, as Buddhist and meditation practitioner — and my soul, and that feels really good.

[Rosie]

I don’t really have a comment, other than to say that I just feel good having read that!

[Dawa]

Niki, what a lovely life you are living. I turned 54 a few days ago and your passage here made me feel great about age and choices and where I am. Thanks!

• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by Dawa.

[Erin Schwartz]

My feelings about charging money for offering meditation instruction are more complicated than I would have thought. Currently, I don’t have any intention to offer meditation instruction in any kind of formal way, so I don’t plan to charge for offering it. I have a full-time job that provides me with enough compensation and healthcare benefits. If I were going to offer meditation instruction, it would most likely be with people I know or as a pro bono service for local organizations. I personally would not feel comfortable charging money for offering meditation guidance at this point.

However, I do think it is important that meditation teachers (and others doing similar work) receive compensation for their services. They are offering their expertise, time, and energy and should be compensated, especially if this is their primary work. They should be able to support themselves. Unfortunately, I think far too often there is an expectation that services like meditation guidance should just be provided without charge.

Ultimately, I believe how meditation teachers charge for services should be left up to the individual offering the teaching. The dana system has been around for a very long time, but I have to admit that having a set fee or a range results in less anxiety for me. I agree with what was said in class; I never know how much is the appropriate amount to offer.

[Elizabeth Watts]

I agree, Erin that it is too often an expectation that things like meditation instruction should be given without compensation. I’m not sure what this stems from, but I agree that we all should be compensated for our offerings. It is confusing to try to figure out how much is appropriate, and I would prefer to know in advance what is expected of me in such situations.

[Octavio Valdes]

I am not sure if I will teach or not. But if i do (to strangers) I would definitively charge for it. Time is money and if I am going to dedicate enough time to this, it will take the place of other activities that might generate money or my free time (which is precious).
I think the ideas of having a tier pricing system where you can offer the lessons for less to people with less money would be a good idea.

In general, my philosophy is that for something to grow it needs to be profitable. How amazing it would be to create a system where teaching mediation is profitable enough that it attracts more people to teach, which in turn means more people will learn to meditate. Creating a sustainable system like this would be great for everyone involved. I don’t see any issue with it, or conflict of any kind. Eventually this will drive innovation and different ways of teaching/learning would flourish, meeting more specific needs, different price points, etc.

[Jo Westcombe]

For meditation to thrive in the modern world, where most of us do not live round the corner from a Buddhist monastery, and in terms of the eight-fold path, teaching meditation for money would seem to be a good example of “right livelihood” – providing it is taught for the benefit of others and not simply in order to cash in on an appetite for McMindfulness.

My income comes from teaching – a meaningful profession which is not generally well paid. I have learned that comparing contractual details or hourly rates is a terrible idea. Whose work or qualifications or experience is “worth” more? Who actually gets more? Does the administrative worker in the department (however much of a support they are) actually earn more than me although they don’t have graduate qualifications and never worked an evening or a weekend or experienced the emotional labour of teaching?

In that sense, money as “value” is already slippery. But equally, it is part of the deal. I teach for my livelihood, and I expect something for it, not just as “my bread and butter” but something to pay something forward to help me to live for perhaps the last quarter of my life without being a burden on the state. My income from my meaningful livelihood is protective and existential.

I am not intending to become a meditation teacher who gets paid, but I am excited for others in the group who might be establishing themselves as professional meditation teachers. The world could certainly use this.

There is a middle way for me between charging e.g. an hourly rate for teaching online at one end and “gifting” short meditations in class at the other, and this is the yoga teaching I do in my local sports club. This is voluntary work, or “Ehrenamt”, which might be translated as something like “honourable service”. But there is a nominal sum of around $7 for “my trouble” each lesson, and I was presented with a card (that could also be used to get discounts on e.g. museum tickets) from the local council after a couple of years of service. Clearly, no one sees this arrangement as representing what the weekly slots are “worth”, but the regular commitment is valued, and this recognition means something to me.

A side note, perhaps, but the yoga world – certainly in Europe – suffers from a lack of standardization and licences. Perhaps one day the meditation teaching world could benefit from a standardized system of accreditation that could help teachers and those wanting instruction navigate this complex “value” landscape. This would also come under Protector Principle, I imagine.

[Mary Pitz]

Hi Jo–
I had to laugh at your use of McMindfulness–what a great term! I’ve heard Susan’s frustration with meditation being called a “life hack” (or something along that line), which truly separates it from what makes it meaningful.

[Melanie Sponholz]

Jo, I appreciate your thoughtful response. One of my best friends is a teacher, and we have had many conversations about the frequent under-valuing of the skill required to do the job well. I like the connection of meditation to right livelihood—seems legit to me! And love McMindfulness, LOL.

[Mary Pitz]

In our culture it seems that the concepts of money and value are inseparable.
Last year when cleaning out my parents’ home, my sister learned quickly not to list furniture online as “Free”—either people assumed it was junk or they would make arrangements to pick it up and never show up. Once she put a price on it, suddenly interest spiked and people showed up—on time—with cash in hand.

This week’s discussion made me realize that I’ve always paid for ongoing meditation classes, yoga, and Tai Chi, usually not directly to the instructor but through my membership in a sangha, a gym, or another organization. A “free first class” is always a great idea, to make sure there’s a fit between student and teacher.
I understand the donation model being a compromise, but as a student I would still appreciate a recommendation of a specific amount, simply not knowing what would be appropriate.

My concern is in devaluing or undervaluing any service being provided by a qualified person. I used to work as a technical writer creating software documentation, sometimes as an employee, sometimes on contract or freelance. The question of how much to charge came up frequently in my network, where most people had many years of experience or advanced degrees. Our professional organization was always pushing for some sort of licensing or minimum standards but nothing ever came of it. I do remember someone considering taking an hourly project for just over minimum wage-—although the standard rates in our area were many times that—-and it was quickly pointed out that not only would they be discounting themselves, but everyone else in the profession. Would that employer ever pay someone market rates going forward?

Similarly, offering something of value for at no charge might make it more difficult for other teachers who have a set rate structure or give the impression that classes should always be free. I know every situation is different; I can think of instances where of course I wouldn’t charge anything. But I would always want to make it clear to the student that this was my offering to them (“clear is kind”—I love that) to help set expectations for them going forward.

[Ankur Ganguli]

Hi Mary – I really love your reminder that the concepts of money and value are linked in our minds. Specially in the western culture the aphorism “you get what you pay for” is so often used to set that expectation. A prospective student may not value the engagement if it were “just free”.

[Anita Pai]

Hi Mary,

Thank you for your thoughtful reflection. I like how you framed your discussion about valuing a service (one where monetary compensation is expected and the norm) in different contexts. It underscores the point that the inherent value of a service should be honored, and sets a standard for the integrity of that service to be maintained.

[Elizabeth Watts]

Money is a sensitive issue for many people. It has always been up to me to make my own way, and I have been fortunate to be in a career that has offered me stability in that regard. However, as a self-employed woman in a high profile field, I have felt like I have to justify my position and earnings. This year, things are shifting with my work, and I thought what better time than now to delve into other interests that might offer me fulfillment and income streams in the future. Enter meditation teacher training. I do not have any set plans to set up shop as a meditation instructor, but who knows what the future holds.

I have always believed that if I work hard and follow my heart the next step will unfold. So far that has worked for me, and in this uncertain world, it has been a practice. I have not really thought about the structure of income in this future possibility, but I definitely think that we should be compensated for sharing our knowledge and energy. I agree with what folks said in class last week that an energetic exchange is important to avoid imbalances.

However, I also believe that the Dharma is a gift, and so many people can’t afford to take classes and retreats. It would be important to me to have some kind of a sliding scale or pro bono aspect to any model I might create, but being clear about fees and expectations would be paramount to avoid confusion or resentment.

[Ankur Ganguli]

I live by the simple philosophy of “put your own oxygen mask first”. I apply it to almost all aspects of my life, including money. This is not to give myself permission to be greedy or selfish, but to acknowledge that if I cannot sustain myself, I cannot help anyone else. I expect and respect others to make this call for themselves.

When I participate in yoga/meditation classes and retreats – I prefer when the fee structure is clear. I do appreciate it when there are scholarships or sliding scales available for those in need. For donation-based classes, I find it very helpful when there is some suggestion for amount or range. It takes the awkwardness and guess work out.

I am an immigrant and despite living in US for many years, I still find cultural norms very confusing, and they make me feel out of place. Talking about, or not talking about, money is a very strong cultural norm. Growing up in India, money was tight and so we talked about it upfront and cleared the air on expectations. Many relationships went haywire due to money-matters, and I have simply learned it as a “hygiene” to be very clear about this aspect. I do not judge others who do the same, instead I appreciate them.

I do understand that this is a deeply personal matter and others may choose not to charge money for meditation teaching. I respect that too. However, I request you to be clear about that in your communication to prospective students too. It will immensely help those who find ourselves challenged by cultural and social norms. Clear is kind.

[Elizabeth Bonet]

I completely agree that clear is kind! I love this perspective and yes, I’m also confused by cultural norms around talking about money. And then there are family ones to navigate too.

[Alexandra]

Well said, Ankur. Your point about cultural norms is important. thank you

[Joe Emery]

I don’t feel like there should be a hard and fast rule about the relationship between money and teachings meditation. I’ve known Buddhist monks who had cell phones and cars – those things didn’t diminish their monastic training or wisdom. It was funny to see people’s reaction to someone in monk’s robes getting out of a car at a restaurant. This sort of thing can certainly be taken too far in cases like Osho, who owned 30 Rolls Royces or something like that.

For any setting where I am leading my own meditation group, I want it to be free or donation-based (at least for the time being). This is more an instinctual feeling I have about my own relationship to the dharma and to money. I genuinely feel that there is no monetary value that could possibly be placed on meditation or the dharma, so I am reluctant to assign a dollar amount to them.

I volunteer and lead groups with prison inmates – they have no resources to give. I have been paid for this type of work before (I was a hospital chaplain) and I was content to be paid by the institution, but I was never in a situation where it would have been appropriate to charge money to patients or staff for my work. I have some ideas for paying myself going forward, including establishing a non-profit but I’ll have to see how it shakes out.

I have not seen any uniform norms in American Buddhism for how teachers support themselves; it seems to vary quite a bit.

[Allison Potter]

For this form of practice, I think I would do it more so for donation-based payments only. However, that being said, it is not my career that I need for my livelihood. I wish I could teach yoga and meditation and make ends meet rather than work in a corporate based environment. I have friends who teach as their main career and are stressed out all of the time with no reliable income or benefits. I know there are ways to make it happen, but I am not sure I have the “spiritual hustle” in me. I do like what OHP does having scholarships available to those in need.

[Jake Yarris]

I think I find myself in the realistic view, understanding the consumerist and capitalist forces that structure our western or U.S. society, and that as meditation teachers in this society we operate within or at least according to the influence of that structure. Do I agree with this structure? Not necessarily. Do I believe it has increasingly damaging effects and deserves some level of change? Yes. But still it is undeniably at work.

I really like what Colin said during class, which was to some degree of: the dharma is sacred and not for sale, yes. However, we as teachers are offering a service, a space, a guidance, a transfer. We can and probably should charge for this work that we do. And I do not believe that exchange tarnishes the dharma. I think the dharma is strong enough to handle it. Like any tradition or phenomena, it may experience change. The Buddhist tradition would not look the same in the West, in fact it looks different in every region, but I do not believe that diminishes its essential value and beneficial qualities. To some degree even every individual is a reflection of what dharma, meditation, and wisdom can be, and so the light of the dharma is constantly being reflected through new prisms.

[Elizabeth Bonet]

I tried to respond to this question twice this week but had technical difficulties – the Reply link would not show for me – not for the main questions or to reply to others either. So I apologize for the shortness of the response. I wanted to get it done before tomorrow and finally today the website worked.

I believe that money is a spiritual practice. How we handle it, how we treat it, how we care for it, how we count it. It often reflects how I feel about myself. And meditation teaching or any type of work I choose to do in the world is a spiritual exchange. I’m giving service and showing up to help someone with healing. And the money reflects that spiritual exchange and is supportive of it. I’m not in the position to give free services on a continuous basis. I give that in a different way with my podcast or videos or blog posts on my website. There are hundreds of all of that by now. I’ve been in the position of not being able to afford anything so thank god for free stuff. But I’ve also been in the position of being able to pay for what I need and have done that as well. To me, it all works out in the end.

[Liana Merrill]

I would say I started off on the “ick” end of the spectrum when it comes to charging money for teaching meditation. It’s a bit more broad than that though, as I’ve had this thought many times surrounding things I want to do/bring to the world that I feel like I am giving from another part of me than I give at my “day job”. It has always been difficult for me to imagine charging for things I consider my gifts, giving back, things that light me up that I’d be doing whether or not I was paid for them. This has started to really become more of an imminent issue, however, as I am scaling back from my traditional “job I do for income” and doing more volunteer work/things that light me up. I have really struggled with the idea of charging for these things I feel like come from my heart, that I would do regardless of pay. And for me, teaching meditation falls in this category. With that said, I can relate to what Susan said last week about wanting food and shelter. I was really encouraged to hear several different folks talk in our last class about how they had started off wanting to offer things for free/volunteer, and yet found it nearly impossible to do so. This was SO helpful to hear and really blew my mind honestly, and I think will really help with my mindset as I figure out what this next path will look like. I don’t have a whole lot of judgements or philosophies either way, just more of my own visceral feeling that is hard to describe and even thinking about, so I’m looking forward to just starting as they say, paying close attention to how I feel, and making small changes along the way as I see fit/depending on what feels good to me.

[Mike McCabe]

I have no judgment on whatever a teacher chooses to do regarding compensation.

Teaching meditation involves an exchange of value, an exchange of energy. So a teacher receiving value or energy in return is appropriate. Individual teachers have a lot of latitude to decide what form that value should take.

For my own decision it all starts with intention. I personally am not looking to teach meditation for money, so I thought very little about the topic before last Saturday’s class. I work as a volunteer for a group that brings mindfulness meditation to inmates at the local county jail. The program is rooted firmly in Tibetan Buddhism but is presented as a secular practice. My work is unpaid and that’s fine with me. My “compensation” is the inmates’ gratitude and that’s plenty.

But I can also imagine a future scenario where my local yoga studio adds a class focused exclusively on meditation. And if I were to teach that class I think I would try to arrange to be compensated by donation only.

Another teacher in different circumstances might arrange things differently, but I’m retired and my intention is to share, not to make money. But as I said above, no judgment if another teacher takes a different approach.

[Melanie Sponholz]

I believe it is rational and acceptable to charge a fee for teaching meditation. Of course, my main experience with respect to this is the programs with Susan. My thoughts about this are mainly that when a teacher (like Susan) has such a gift of ability to share the dharma, it is right to compensate them for their work, since it enables them to devote their time and talents to that effort. Without this compensation, they would need to divert their time and efforts to some other means of generating support, and this would be a great loss to us as students. This comes from my perspective as a member of our Western, consumerist society, and also as a member of the householder path–I am not viewing this as a monastic. I am also an Enneagram self-preservation subtype, and I identify with the need to generate income to feel “safe,” in a comfortable home, with good food, and good healthcare. I am also on board with offering scholarships and other opportunities to make sure meditation is available to those with lesser means. I feel very straight-forward and at peace with this approach, although this may be in part because I do not plan to instruct as a source of income? I always write my response before reading the others, so I am not influenced by what I’ve just read, so I am curious to go back now and read what everyone else has said—maybe it will change my perspective!

[Kimberly Allen]

Ideologically I would love to be able to barter, trade and live a simpler less commercial life. Realistically, at least in my reality living in today’s world, that’s not possible. I’m not willing to make the sacrifices that would be necessary. If it would even be possible. I’m not sure. I often question the system in which we live that does not support wellness and abundance for everyone.

I am not sure if I will or when I will teach meditation for money. My current plan is to continue deepening my practice. I am working on offering the home I own in Michigan as a flexible celebration and retreat space. I envision providing a container to others that wish to share their practices and healing/spiritual professions. I will offer that space for money. I may offer meditation as something I can teach if it is desired by guests. I will see what unfolds where the matter of teaching comes into my life.

I don’t have a problem with money. It is part of life and I believe having a healthy attitude and relationship with money is important. It gives me safety and security. It allows me to share what I have from time to time. I’ve learned that balance is important.

[Anita Pai]

Hi Kimberly,

Thanks for your reflection. I appreciate how you touched on the importance of balance, and how that balance arises from a healthy relationship and attitude towards money. Thank you!

[Clif Cannon]

Money is so fascinating – a collective belief (there’s no absolute value to currency, other than that we all agree that it IS something). And that construct leads to, or at least taps into deep emotions, greed, hate, and ignorance – of both Teacher and Student.

When money comes into play, the question of price and value come arises – price is what I pay, value is what I get. Value in the mind of the meditation teacher may be much different than that of a new student or practitioner. On one hand the meditation teacher may see their practice as connected through a long and rich tradition and spiritual journey. The new meditation student may see it as an uncomfortable period of (endless 20 minutes) and think “I’m PAYING for this?!” It can quickly become transactional rather than relational in the Teacher/Student relationship.

I am comfortable seeing that offering one’s mastery and expertise is worthy of compensation as a form (as mentioned before) of energy exchange. As a coach, I understand that what I bring may not be “value” in a transactional sense – I do this, you get that. The “value trap” is a trap we can fall into, and that seems like we might be able to fall into in meditation instruction. We provide intentional, true instruction and guidance, the value is what the Student “discovers.”

It seems a clear understanding and discernment – this is what I am offering as Teacher, what are you looking for as Student? Do these meet? The risk in charging is that we have a monetary interest in the Student remaining our Student so that they pay us. This creates a natural tension and possible point of conflict.

Clarity is kind, I agree. And one’s true heart must be clear of intentions and motivations when charging for practices on the spiritual path. Naropa took Milarepa’s gold dust – demanded all of it, and then threw it all on the floor.

[Jo Westcombe]

Hello Clif, Thanks for this helpful analysis. I agree that money is fascinating and complex – also the vocabulary we use to talk about it. I wonder what would happen if there wasn’t any money at all. What motivation shifts would we see?

[Clif Cannon]

I’m sorry, I misspoke, it was Naropa and Marpa, not Milarepa. My apologies for confusion. 🙏

[Jersey]

Clif, thank you for the gold dust story, thank you for this nuance in the discussion around money/value/and spirit. I think the conversation around spiritual value and care is a fascinating one, and something in your essay reminded me to have that conversation with myself, as well. To get really clear in what I’m able to give and what I need to receive (from myself, from my finances, etc) before I set value to any offerings. Thank you

[Anita Pai]

I do not plan to formally teach meditation at this time. I enrolled in this training as a way to deepen my practice in an intentional way. I have not thought much about the money aspect and teaching. That being said, I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s reflections and thoughts around this topic. It’s very personal, but also reflective of the greater community and world we live in. This work of sharing the Dharma with others, of helping others to discover their own personal relationship with the Dharma, is sacred work. It’s work that requires honesty and integrity, and it is work that holds much value. I do not have any problem with money being part of how the work of teaching is valued. If this is someone’s livelihood, then they need to be able to support and care for themselves in order to provide teachings that reflect their mission and their ability to focus on their work.
I also feel that some flexibility might be helpful, especially early in someone’s formal teaching journey. There’s always a bit of a learning curve when we first start an endeavor. We grow in our abilities, our understanding, our perspectives. As we learn and grow we can adjust what we offer and also how we choose to be compensated. As long as our choices come from a place of integrity, reflective of our commitment to our own practice and ethics, then each individual can discover what is right for them.

[Jo Westcombe]

Hello Anita, Thank you for this and for the reminder that teaching (if we choose to go there) is a journey, too. Good intentions are what count. Having fixed expectations or goals at the beginning of the journey might not be wise. What actually happens on the journey might surprise us!

[Sandie Paduano]

At my school we say, “Clear is kind.” I like that. It’s simple. Honest. When it comes to money and teaching meditation, I have feelings. Strong ones. But I don’t actually have a concrete plan yet to teach meditation. My philosophy is still forming. Still evolving. But this question brings a lot of my life experiences full circle.

I’m currently separated from my longtime partner, and money has been the biggest point of contention between us. Not because we have a lot of it. Not even because we had a little. But because we built it together and he unilaterally funneled all of it into his start-up. Experiences like that can shape how one thinks about money. And fairness.

I also grew up working class. First generation. My mom tried to work whenever she could. My dad was a talented craftsman who was exploited over and over again. Watching that was heartbreaking. It stays with you. I learned early how easily good work can be undervalued.

And then there’s my profession. I’m an elementary school teacher. Teachers—especially elementary teachers—are often not seen as professionals. I work at an independent school with no endowment. For hundreds of years it was run by boards and heads of school who believed female elementary teachers didn’t need to earn much because we had husbands who did. Meanwhile we work long hours, and our contracts are year to year. So when I think about offering something meaningful without compensation, I carry a lot with me.

Years ago when I was working on a yoga certification just to deepen my practice, I imagined maybe sharing it with small groups for free. When I told my aunt, who grew up incredibly poor like my dad in southern Italy and later became a teacher in Rome, she looked at me and said, “Perché lavoreresti gratis?”

Why would you work for free? That question has stayed with me.

Meditation came into my life because I was searching for something deeper. Spiritual goodness. Fullness. Wholeness. Sometimes I paid for guidance. Sometimes I didn’t. But most of the time I did, and I was grateful to. So maybe the answer is a middle path. Offer the practice with care. Be clear about its value. Allow generosity and accessibility at the same time.

If I ever teach meditation, I hope the exchange—whatever form it takes—supports both the practice and the people practicing it. When it comes to money, clear is kind.

• This reply was modified 1 week, 3 days ago by Sandie Paduano.

[Jersey]

Hi Sandie,
I related to your essay, here, on so many levels. Thank you so much for writing it and for helping me both nuance and connect my thinking of how my historic, relational, and professional experiences with money and being valued come into play whenever I am setting price/value on anything in my life. I really, really love your grandma’s advice and will keep it with me.
Thank you <3

[Glenn Thode]

As I am contemplating guiding (teaching?) meditation and I’ve grown up in a situation in which we did not have the means to pay for so many developmental opportunities, this subject is a particular challenging for me. I believe ‘being in a pickle’ is a term which can be used. After reading many of the essays, I’ve started to get some basics to form a philosophy on how to deal with this. Central proposition within this philosophy must be the value of meditation. And then the different principles come into play. One which was mentioned last week was to honor your lineage and our teachers. I believe very strongly in some of the pointers given by Susan, like on how to draw lines like never ever mix romantic or erotic aspects into the value proposition and the relationship teacher – student. And then to recall how we live. We don’t have monastic lives, so how do we value what we bring in relationship to what we receive? As money has become the universal trading object, settling on this in our society seems not only fair but the clearest of choices. And I loved the emphasis by many of the shares about clarity in communication about money and price being a sort of kindness or love to others. I’ve never approached it like this coming from myself while I always appreciate it when others do. Thanks to the essays I can now embrace the clarity and kindness aspect. And I learned from the essays which touched on the relativity of different people / students having different financial positions and how to incorporate this into tiered pricing. Many thanks to all for sharing and I believe I now have sufficient clarity to continue working with this subject towards a result which will satisfy value, clarity, individual and social empathy, integrity, morality and spirituality. With these mixed together within the container of being part of a sangha, I may be at peace with this subject going forward.

[Toni Gatlin]

My thinking on this is influenced by a few undergirding truths (at least I believe they are true!):

People value what they invest in; though “investment” isn’t always or solely financial.

People do not typically place a high value on freebies that are handed out to everyone.
People do value gifts when the gift is special or important to them, or when it is given by a special person.

We’ve been trained to give this teaching only to those who ask for it. People routinely ask for and pay willingly for all sorts of guidance: fitness training, piano lessons, guided excursions, life coaching…

Spiritual teachings themselves don’t/shouldn’t/can’t have a dollar amount ascribed to them, yet time, training, and expertise can.

Like Susan, I too want to live indoors and eat food, and not feel “scroungy.” That said, teaching meditation is not something I expect to be my main livelihood but mainly an addition to several other helping modalities that allow me to be of benefit in the world.

There are other important principles that are also wrapped up in this talk of money, principles such as generosity, making (and accepting!) offerings, humility, transmission… I don’t understand all the layers and complexities well enough to articulate, but I do sense enough to move in a general direction with the knowledge that as my understanding evolves, I can adjust my course.

With these truths (fuzzy and otherwise) in mind, here’s the general direction I’d like to go. Offering meditation instruction at an accessible base rate and accepting donations above that (should a student feel inclined) seems a comfortable spot for me right now. I also want to always offer space for free events and scholarships for those who can invest in only non-financial ways (time, study, genuine interest and dedication). I have been the recipient of much life-changing generosity in this life and would be honored to be able to pass on the blessings I’ve been given.

[Jersey]

I’m really grateful for these reflections and an overall reflection is the times I have both offered and been the recipient of a “free” service that didn’t turn out to be free. If a person offers that, but actually has a an unnamed need around their time or finances, it can create tension and even resentment. I have also offered to “help” with a task when I didn’t really have the time to do that and it creates the same tension. Or, I wasn’t able to prioritize volunteer work and so I didn’t give it my best effort. All that said, I think the question of: what helps me to show up as my best and offer my best feels like good ground to start the value conversation with myself in any arena.

[Author]

Posts