Payment to Teachers
Should meditation teachers charge money for their teachings and services?
A Meditator’s Question:
Some people have warned me never to work with meditation teachers who charge money for their services.
Do you think that’s good advice?
Oded’s Answer:
I wouldn’t rule out a teacher simply because they charge money.
Teachers need to pay for food, housing, and other necessities like everyone else. Their time is finite and valuable, and teaching a course or offering individual consultations can involve considerable preparation, attention, and ongoing support. I think it’s reasonable to charge for that work, as other professionals do.
Having said that, I would be wary of teachers who won’t share their wisdom with anyone unless they’re paid.
I believe that teachings oriented toward Awakening should remain freely and unconditionally available to everyone. That includes freely downloadable materials, open forums and events, and opportunities for direct interaction with the teacher without a mandatory fee. People should be able to learn and practice regardless of their financial circumstances.
Culadasa, my teacher and the author of The Mind Illuminated, is a personal example. As his student, I paid good money for his book, a self-retreat at his home, a series of private interviews, and his teacher-training course. Alongside that, he shared his teachings freely, including those presented in his groundbreaking, copyrighted book. I would never have ruled him out as my teacher just because he charged for his time and guidance. He was a householder, not a monk, and I fully support his decision to make a living from the craft he mastered.
I follow Culadasa’s example in my own teaching: I offer free resources and opportunities for direct interaction in several forums, alongside paid courses and consultations.
I’d encourage looking carefully at a teacher’s approach to money and access instead of making payment itself a reason to exclude them outright.
See whether their balance between earning a living and sharing freely works for you, then decide.
With Metta,
Oded
