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Last Updated on August 5, 2015

I have noticed what I consider to be a significant amount of confusion within many people who are actively exploring their “spiritual path”, and what it means to be “Enlightened”, “Liberated”, or “spiritually whole” and “empowered”. It is to this confusion that I feel moved to speak in this moment.

I also wish to speak to the Divinity within people currently facing this form of confusion. My intention is to bring some clarity to this important matter. There are many so-called spiritual paths in this world. Within the human scheme of things there are many different perspectives on the nature of life, God, ordinary reality, non-ordinary reality, altered states of consciousness, the mind, what it means to be human, what it means to be “spiritual”, what it means to be enlightened, and how that so-called enlightenment can be attained. There are also a range of perspectives that I see in people with regards to the Teacher/Guru/Master/Healer and student relationship. (N.B. For simplicity I may just use one or two of those labels when in fact I am referring to all four).

The two primary perspectives I meet in people can be summarised as follows:

1) Teacher-student relationships are unnecessary, potentially dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. There might be the inherent belief that there is something negative about this sort of relationship. That it is always about control and subjugation. People with this sort of perspective might also say that “everything/everyone in life is my teacher, so why would I need a specific person to fill that roll?”

2) The Teacher-student relationship is absolutely and fundamentally vital to the students liberation. There are many so-called “enlightened masters” who state that there is no way a person can set themselves free without surrendering to a “qualified teacher” who has already gone all the way to attaining enlightenment. For some there is even the belief that “without this special relationship with a Realised Being there is no way I will make it to my Enlightenment.”

I’ve described these two categories quite loosely. The exact perspectives a person under either category holds might vary, but I think you can get the gist of what I am referring to here. One is for and one is against—for any number of reasons. There is a side issue that comes up within both of these perspectives. This is the question of whether or not a spiritual teacher should ask for and receive money for their services. There are many students that feel that there is no way money and spirituality can be put together. There are also many teachers / healers that feel this way too. In my experience, the general consensus here appears to be that there is something inherently wrong with paying / receiving money for spiritual guidance or support. Money is often perceived to be some kind of necessary evil in the world that must not with something as “holy” and “pure” as spiritual council, assistance, and potential Liberation. We will explore this in more detail shortly.

Which of these two categories most closely represents your view on this matter? Are you for or against?

Perhaps you have an entirely different view, in which case I invite you to post your comments at the end of this article.

Here is what I feel to be true in regards to this matter.

1. As a Divine Being (which you are) you have only one need—namely the need for a “mirror”. That “mirror” can come in many forms. It can take many faces. It will play out most intensely through your relationship with other people in this world. As far as relationships go, this mirroring is likely to play out most intensely through a relationship with a Spiritual Teacher / Master / Guru (a being that is genuinely Liberated from the human condition and has realised the true nature of mind and reality).

2. The idea that there is no way you can reach God-consciousness without surrendering yourself to one particular Guru, Master or Teacher is a spiritual control trip or simply a serious misconception. Having a close and authentic relationship with a teacher is likely to be of great assistance to any sincere aspirant at certain stages along their path, yet I do not for one moment believe that God / Infinity depends on that (this Guru, or you) in order to get you to live the life you were created to live, nor to experience the states of consciousness you are destined to experience, nor to commune with the Divine.

3. It is a natural phenomena within creation for intelligence to be imparted from one “thing” to another. Everywhere I look I see intelligent communication taking place between the many apparent “parts” in creation and in this world. A bee telling the rest of the hive where to get the best nectar. Cells in my body telling other cells how to be healthy and in a place of integrity with the rest of my body. Parents raising children. Animals raising their young. A herb (like Milk Thistle) assisting a failing liver to come back into a state of health. Intuitive knowing informing a person of Truth in a situation, things to say, what to do each day, etc. Intelligent communication/co-operation between the many apparent parts within duality is the very glue that holds this universe together. It is the expression and expansion of that force we call Love.

4. You and I are the totality. There is only ONE. Yet we have the capacity to dream up an apparent reality that experientially differs from that Truth. It is perfectly viable and healthy that another aspect of the totality (another person) might co-operate with me in my desire to awaken to Truth (to Oneness) by imparting the intelligence necessary to make that happen. This other person may have the recognised roll of Guru or Teacher in the human scheme of things. Also, they might not. It really doesn’t matter—the key is the quality of the relationship. The quality of the relationship will be determined by the intention of the Teacher and of the student. The more pure (the more aligned with Truth) the intention the higher the quality of the relationship.

5. Orthodox Christians have completely missed the point when they believe that “only by believing in Jesus as my saviour will I reach heaven”. This is grave misconception that the Churches and priests perpetuate due to their own ignorance and/or their conscious/unconscious desire to remain in a place of power in this world—to be a spiritual authority in the lives of their followers. The historical figure we call Jesus was not showing people how to be devout and pious Christians. Rather he was showing us what it means to be a Christ in this world. He was not a “Christian”.

6. Many Buddhist followers/practitioners have also missed the point when they believe that “my only way to attain Buddhahood” is via some particular Lama, a particular “spiritual practice”, or being part of a particular Buddhist sect, etc. Being a devout Buddhist follower/practioner is very different from being a Buddha. Gautama Siddhartha was showing us how to be the later, not the former. He was not a “Buddhist”.

7. There is nothing inherently “wrong” about a teacher / guru / healer asking for money in exchange for their services. Money is simply a man-made representation of energy, life-force, or value. It is a form of energy the human collective has agreed to use as a means of exchanging value in this world. You value my work and pay me some money. I value eating food and hand my money on to a restaurant or food merchant. Having a healthy and life-giving relationship to this energetic metaphor or symbol called “money” is of great importance to any being wishing to master what it means to live in this world and what it means to transcend an ego-based relationship to life.

8. Money should not, however, be used by a teacher a means of manipulating a student or taking advantage of a student. There should be clear and mutual agreement on how much money is to be exchanged and what it is in exchange for. Your relationship with a truly realised Master or Spiritual Teacher should not depend on the exchange of money. Money should not be the pivotal point in the relationship nor the only thing that makes the relationship possible. I recommend being very mindful of exactly how a so-called Spiritual Teacher or Guru negotiates their relationship with you in regards to money (also in regards to your time and energy on other levels).

In my experience as a Teacher I simply can not avoid sharing what I know with people. The Love and the Truth that I experience simply pours through me and out of me into my world. There is nothing I can do about it. “My cup runneth over” so to speak. If you happen to be in some form of relationship to that Cup and you are thirsty then there is really nothing I can do to stop you from quenching your thirst. Yet, I am also here in the Dream via a physical body, and energy in one form or another is required to keep that body alive at a level you can perceive and be in a human relationship with. This physical body requires food, water, and supportive living conditions. Clothing is nice as it keep my body warm and helps me to fit into my society, and can also be used as a form of creative expression. A car is also useful as it enables me to move this body relatively long distances, which is pretty handy because it would be a long walk otherwise. Air flight tickets might also be useful as it enables me to take this physical body to be in places a long distance from where I am now. I can then share what I share with people in those regions also. I also enjoy having fun with my friends and relations.

All of these things require energy for me to aquire them, and the most basic unit of externalise/tradable energy we have in the human world at this time is “money”. Therefore it is absolutely appropriate for me to ask for an appropriate exchange of money for my services. Of course, I might feel moved by spirit to live the life of a monk. In that case it is likely that all my basic physical requirements will be taken care of, and it is likely I will not have an appropriate reason to ask you for money—well, not for much anyway. It all depends on the situation at hand.

The key point here is that it will be a hindrance to hang onto the perception that any so-called Spiritual Teacher or Healer asking for money is not to be trusted. Personally, I am more likely to be weary of the Healers that don’t ask for money or at least some form of exchange. An exchange is going to take place at some level, no matter what. I’d rather it was a clear open exchange. If it is not taking place in a clean clear way at a physical level then where is it taking place? It is important to be really clear on this point. Over the years I’ve met a number pretty highly realised beings in this world that have a completely disastrous relationship to money and energy exchange. It causes them constant problems and causes their so-called (and invariably short-lived) students a great deal of hurt and disillusionment. The teachers end up sucking people dry on some level, and/or ripping them off. It simply ain’t a nice way to go about things.

9. Be aware that everything in the world of form—including physical form and more subtle form—is the product of a thought-form or a certain perceptual framework. Whether we are talking about the form of a human society (with all its various beliefs and perceptions and world-views) or the form of the many spiritual practices, levels, and Buddha realmes, etc., talked about in a Buddhist spiritual tradition. Both are form and both represent (or are the product of) a particular thought-form or perspective. On the spiritual path we ultimately have to step beyond our attachment and identification with all worldly forms. We also have to go beyond attachment and identification with the our human mind and emotions. What I am suggesting is that at some stage it is also necessary to go beyond the far more subtle elements of any particular spiritual tradition or teaching. This takes tremendous courage.

In conclusion I will say the following:

– If you tend to get into co-dependant relationships then heal this before entering too seriously into a relationship with any so-called Guru or Teacher.

– Once free of co-dependency, be open to having a relationship with a one or more Spiritual Teachers. Under the correct circumstances it is not something to be affraid of—although your ego might fear such a relationship rather strongly.

– Remember, your relationship with a Spiritual Teacher (or with any teacher) must NOT depend on what you exchange with them. Nor should your “enlightenment” or Liberation depend on them. Some Teachers I see in the world try to put across the idea that only through them can a spiritual aspirant get the “right teaching” and get exactly what they need in order to be free. Let’s be real clear that this is nothing more than their limited sense of egoic-self trying to establish a spiritual monopoly (in just the way that most organised religions try to).

-If your Spiritual Teacher puts forward (opennly or through intimation) that only by paying them X amount of money can they assist you or can you attain enlightenment then be-aware. If they try to manipulate you into feeling you have to have a sexual relationship with them in order to access your Divinity then again be-aware. If you are being manipulated by a Teacher, and if they are any good at it (which the quite likely are), then you are unlikely to recognise that this is what is taking place. So the key is to really take to heart that this Spiritual Teacher or Master should require nothing from you in order to assist you on your path. The request or implication of sexual favours, unreasonable sums of money, or giving of time and money you have not agreed to give them, etc., should all be seen as RED FLAGS that something is not as it appears to be.

More than likely the only real teaching they are presenting you with is how NOT to give your power away to a spiritual authority external to your own Divine Presence. Learn the lesson and get out of there !! :-) Know and trust that there are plenty of conscious and spiritually awake people in this world that will happily assist you along your path without manipulating you for their own gain and benefit.

That is all for now. If you have any questions then as always simply ask.

J

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