I was asked the following question:
I have been reading your discourses for almost a year now as my wife follows your group, somewhat. Some of your writings are very good. I have been to India and became an initiate of Maharaj Charan Singh Ji (Surat shabd yoga). In their teachings they say that a perfect saint sat guru will not charge money for spiritual teaching.
This has made it difficult for me to put much faith in your teachings. Could you comment on this for me? I like you and enjoy most of what you say.
To which I respond:
In a perfect world, a perfect Saint would walk into a perfect grocery store and take what food his family needed and not be charged. That is not the way of this world.
However, I do give away a great deal. The website is free as are educational videos, articles, free lectures, online meditation instruction. The list goes on. A number of people with little or no money who live at the ashram at Mount Soma do so for free. But the ashram does require money to run. Those who have money give money. It is simple pragmatics… common sense really. As far as I am concerned, all my teachings are free. Of course, someone needs to pay for the room, food, water, heat, etc.
In closing, please consider that there may be opportunity for exploration in the things I say that you don’t like… perhaps even more than in what you do like.
It is a good question to ask. but I would like to express my opinion about this issue. I have totally oriental background. come from orient, and live in USA for 50 years. It is indeed there are culture difference and different way and thinking doing and see things. I have the same problem like you do in the beginning to join the Mount Soma 10 years ago, In the orient environment, spiritualiy should not and talk about money, should be free. it is the commen sense in orient , it is the culture created long long ago. People treat the spiritual leader with the highest respect, to give support to the spiritual leader willingly, money or any material things donated, with no question asked, and do it as their way to show the respect wih the highest honor and blessings. Spiritual leader do not worry about the money to deliver the teaching ,message and love and very much willing to give to the people in need. there are a lot of temples in orient wherever you go, there are a lot of ways to collect the donations when the time you walk into the temples, I would think it is the same in India temples as well. I have admired Brahmashi has the courage to build a mountain with no definite financial support give the knowledge out . and benefit so many people. to make his ends meet, what is wrong with talk about the fees when Brahmashi get support with money to give out of his teaching in USA not in Orient with the different culture as I have mentioned earlier, If you can measure what you get in return, it has been influence your daily living and your entire beings form life to life time soul level, honestly spseaking , it is priceless. nothing you can give to return. that is my own opinion, hope it can help with the understand of the issue from the soul in orient culture. Thanks.
Beautifully said Lorna, and Brahmarshi.
Jai Siva Sankara
Thank you for the repetition of the word perfect in your first paragraph. It truly defined a type of cross realm projection that is actually a cross culture projection. Operating within the American culture, of course you have to fund a teacher! And the room, lights, etc. We are not sitting under a Banyan tree. I never could get this point across to my shamanic ex-husband who also expected the wisdom teachings free. I will go out on a limb here and ask, to the person who posted the question, do you have such a strong capacity to give? Or only receive?
I work closely with Brahmarshi and can say that Brahmarshi gives away so much. His heart is all about giving. People working with him frequently have conversations with him letting him know he may be giving away too much, for we need to be able to support all the projects we have going.
I also have seen that he is not motivated by money. I have seen him turn down an extremely high-paying job, land, and millions of dollars because they did not support his vision of creating an enlightened city, facilitating the evolution of humanity, and promoting world peace.
One of the things that Brahmarshi emphasizes is integrating ancient spiritual principles with modern life. He is fully committed to bringing Vedic Knowledge out to the world. You could say he teaches real world spirituality – spirituality that makes sense and has practical application in every area of life and field of study.
My understanding is that in India, both the government and the very wealthy support spirituality, ashrams, and temples much more than they do in this country.
September 23, 2001 the Maharishi, from India, asked the Bush administration for 1 billion dollars to engage 40,000 Vedic Pandits to create a unified field for peace globally. A drop in the bucket to a defense budget of 300,000 billion.
Every time I buy a lottery ticket ( I never give up hope) laughable, I say Maharshi Michael will get a big piece of this ticket if it comes in.
Paying our own way to retreat or be apart of the offerings at Mt Soma should be at least expected.
I owe my life to the knowledge. We are all contributing to the cohesiveness of the unified field. Is that not why we are here?
Aren’t the people in most, if not all, cultures encouraged to support their spiritual teachers? I wonder if the tuition amounts I have spent on classes, retreats and other programs over the years actually represent an appropriate percentage of my income, especially if I factor in the programs that I have attended for free or at a discounted rate………
In short..that is where my lottery winnings will be going Joanne:)
If I put a price on how my life has benefited from Brahmarshi’s teachings..I simply could not afford it. If only we could transfer our savings account through each life time…
To my mind this is about our collective belief in limitation. We worry about what energy flows where because we believe that energy (money) is finite. Its anything but. As the worlds consciousness opens, as it is in this amazing time, we won’t even give considerations like this the time of day. This man has learned to model a new form of mathematics that promises unlimited free energy. Matemáticas Vorticiales @ TED Charlotte 2010 – Randy Powell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iw1WNixvds
Once you meet with Bramarshi, hang around all the amazing people in the school, visit Mt. Soma and get a taste of what is going on, the only thoughts of money would be, how do we get more funding to support this Spiritual Master and his incomprehensible Vision. I personally want to thank everyone who has had the ability to financially support Mt. Soma!
Brahmarshi has guided me to a level of understanding of life that I have been looking for my whole life. Personal experience of the depths of my soul has no price tag. Appreciation for his commitment to teaching this precious knowledge is how I feel.
Judging a person before experiencing what he has to offer comes from our western mindset. Come see what Mount Soma is like and then decide how you feel.
Brahmarshi has given me everything that can possibly be given and asked for very little in return. To really think about everything that he has given me is challenging. A home, a family, a community, countless hours of teaching, a true meditation and a group to practice it with, retreats, classes, unconditional love and on and on. When I think about it I honestly feel guilty. What could I possibly give in return? How could I ever repay this debt?
I know that the last thing Brahmarshi thinks about is making money. He would much prefer not to have to deal with money at all. But this is Kali Yuga, and fortunately for all of us Brahmarshi is practical enough to do what needs to be done to build Mount Soma.
After three and a half years in the Ashram I am certain that all Brahmarshi wants in return is us. He wants our commitment to ourSelf, to Mount Soma, and to the World. He wishes for us to allow him to give us Everything. If he wants anything in return it is our identities, our conditioning, that which to which we are enslaved.
Some day I hope to be able to repay the financial support that Brahmarshi has given me, but above all I hope that I don’t let him down. I hope that I can truly give him my self, and I hope that I can take in everything that he has given me.
Brahmarshi, thank you so very much. We are very blessed by your grace. I look forward to the day when it is not longer possible for people to longer project our relationship with money on to you.
Jai Guru Dev
I have not met any person who so deeply sees the value in each person and in all of humanity, as much as Brahmarshi does. And then puts his money where is mouth is, walks the talk, and has SO much to offer.
I remember when Brahmarshi said to me, “You know Joy Anna, you should join the ashram program.” The words that tumbled out of my mouth before I could think were, “I know!” My calculating mind was only a step behind and quickly followed with “… but I don’t have any money.” I took nine months to make all arrangements to leave the life I had been building for the previous 5 years and applied for the work study program, not knowing how the numbers (or lack thereof) could add up to cover my share of expenses. I was accepted nonetheless, and creative solutions along with great generosity and graciousness made it possible.
I still think I am getting the better end of the deal; no amount of money can equal the value of tapping into the source of All within ourselves and in existence–and that is what Brahmarshi offers everyone through his teachings and his life’s work! In this day and age, money can make things happen, and I am eager to see Brahmarshi’s vision of building a community and city that generates harmony into the world–be built to benefit all.
I hope that one day I can not only pay my own way and repay the generosity granted to me, but that with whatever means I have–be they financial or not–I have the honor (and benefit) of participating in this greatest gift that can possibly be given to the world.
Jai Guru Dev
I do not have the words to express how much financially Bramarshi gives to his students and how do you put a price on knowledge of the soul? To have the opportunity to be with a real enlightened being- how rare and how precious. If the world really understood what Bramarshi is offering to all of humanity- mount soma would be fully funded and money wouldn’t be an issue. But they don’t so we have those practical matters to attend to.
Jai Guru Dev!
As many of you know I joined the ashram at 18, straight out of high school. I come from a lower middle class family, most of which isn’t all that supportive, and the other is broke. And yet I’m still here two years later. If money was such a necessary component, its obvious I wouldn’t be here today. Just like JFK said- “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” People give what they can. Some show interest, some give money, some give a week or weekend here and there. And some give their life. And of that life given, what is received on a day to day basis is inexplicably more valuable, than any paycheck i will ever earn. For that i am eternally grateful to Brahmarishi, words will never express how deeply my appreciation transcends. I mean what is money? What is it really worth, does it even matter? From what i can tell, devotion is what matters. And there is no one more devoted than Brahmarishi to his students. It doesn’t matter if you have 10 dollars or 10 million. He will give you 100% of himSelf each and everyday. If that isn’t worth a few dollars, i just don’t know what is. So i guess if the measure of a Saint these days is whether or not he charges, its ok by me. Because in my case that makes him at-least perfect. But to be honest that word is rather limiting.
First of all i would like to thank the person who contributed the original question… since questioning is a useful component of the exploration.
Now as for the money part… I think it is sometimes hard to comprehend, fathom, and perceive how much Brahmarshi actually shares with his students. and if we could see this exchange clearly we would see exactly how skewed it is in our favor compared to what we give back to him.
Upon furhter reflection, I think the greatest gift that Brahmarshi gives to all of his students is “a life worth living.” What a rare and precious thing this is, and how fortunate we are to live “a life worth living.”
All gratitude goes to my Guru… Jai Guru Dev..
It’s simple really.. the teachings and what Brahmarshi gives and creates (ie. Mount Soma, Vedic Shiva Temple, Ashram etc..), and the lives he changes is PRICELESS! How much SHOULD we pay for that?
I keep thinking “If I were MONEY, I’d still want to be here!” 😀
Welcome my son, welcome to the machine…