[CicyHannyCeli]

Hi,
I am a Vajrayana practitioner and have yet to be charged for teachings, empowerments or somewhere to stay.
This has included practising with other traditions.
I can only speak from personal experience and how this has occurred for me. I hope my suggestions are useful in some small way to someone.
Firstly I followed my practice fairly carefully and with some small commitment so that when approaching a teacher he/she would see that I was serious and not just 'shopping around.
I approached the teacher/s with specific questions/requests vis-a-vis practice.
I found that they invited me to stay at their homes, monasteries etc and where more than forthcoming. I have never ever been requested for remuneration for food, bills or anything else. I have however chosen (born from respect and appreciation) to give an offering either directly (say food, incense, clothes) or indirectly to charities, those in need or the release of animals in India/Nepal.
I know my offerings have been meagre compared to others and certainly compared to the financial remuneration asked by established courses.

[dupratac]

I am a Vajrayana practitioner and have yet to be charged for teachings, empowerments or somewhere to stay.

Unfortunately this isn't the case for many Vajrayana/Tibetan Buddhist organisations in the west.

A Google search will usually reveal the prices for evening meditation groups, teachings, empowerments, courses and accomodation on the websites for specific centres.

.

[sykanaxer]

Hi Aloka-D,

Unfortunately this isn't the case for many Vajrayana/Tibetan Buddhist organisations in the west. This has happened in the west! Maybe the personal approach to the Teacher has made the difference?

A Google search will usually reveal the prices for evening meditation groups, teachings, empowerments, courses and accomodation on the websites for specific centres. Indeed it will ty. If one chose to approach requesting teachings that way then obviously one will need to pay the price on the menu, as it were.

I was suggesting a slightly different approach to that!
I have found the approach I suggested to elicit a different price structure!
I will have to admit that such an approach does I suspect elicit a different relationship with the teacher to a fixed price menu course.
It may be a relationship that some would rather avoid by making it a financial (services paid for) transaction.
I don't know as I have not experienced it from 'Google fixed price perspective'

[DoctorAlexandro]

I was suggesting a slightly different approach to that!
I have found the approach I suggested to elicit a different price structure!

Maybe that was the case when the Tibetans were first getting established in the west and didn't have organised centres, its changed now. Accomodation, courses and retreats for the seriously commited practitioners cost money too.

A long-term four year retreat, for example cost as follows:

The cost for a four year retreat is approximately £15 per day which we have calculated is just enough to cover the cost of keeping a person in retreat. It is also best to aim to have another £3,000 available for spending money on texts, clothes and anything extra you may need during the retreat

http://www.samyeling.org/index/long-term-retreats

[JackTimQSR]

Hi Aloka-D

Maybe that was the case when the Tibetans were first getting established in the west and didn't have organised centres, its changed now. Accomodation, courses and retreats for the seriously commited practitioners cost money too. I know this to be the case now.
I have teachers outside the U.K. I have practised without the benefit of community (same Lineage) in the U.K.
I needed certain empowerments and teachings and spoke to some friends in other traditions who suggested a certain Lama who was living in the U.K outside of a monastery/community. I spoke to him on the telephone and then spent numerous days/nights receiving the teachings and empowerments etc.
This is only the most recent example.

I also suggested this approach to a friends son who was attracted to a Kagyu lineage but who had not received any formal teachings nor had he any experience of non book or video Dharma.With a little ingenuity and some emails he was invited to a Kagyu Lamas home. The Lama is now his teacher and as far as I am aware he has never paid for teachings. Which is just as well as he is a student and his father is on disability benefit after a debilitating illness.


The cost for a four year retreat is approximately £15 per day which we have calculated is just enough to cover the cost of keeping a person in retreat. It is also best to aim to have another £3,000 available for spending money on texts, clothes and anything extra you may need during the retreat

http://www.samyeling.org/index/long-term-retreats Of course this is retreat in the west, retreats in India, Nepal, Bhutan etc are another matter and not subject to ones purse, other than air fare etc.

Even though I am suggesting an approach and some anecdotal evidence I am aware that it may be more difficult for others.

[lionsiy]

Hello,
to obey the buddhist rule of not eating in the morning is ok. I can follow this rule quite easy. But i have problems in the early evening not to eat anything. It´s like the germans eating lunch between 12- and 1´lock.
Abiding these rule will help body and mind to be healthy, this is the reasoning for it.

anando