Money for Dharma is highly prone to abuse

I strongly feel spiritual attainments should not be linked with money as much as we can help it.  It comes down to the temptation for abuse, and why dharma for money is an especially slippery slope. In the same way I'd advise spiritual teachers not to develop romantic relationships with their students, I say if the teachers want to enjoy wealth, they should find another way to earn their money or at least make explicit the measurable qualities and limitations in what they are providing.

This isn't a direct point by point critique of your article Ken, but I'm compelled to share these 5 points.

1) MANIPULATION FROM INFINITE VALUE

To prevent abuse, I feel we shouldn't exchange tangible tender for something wholly intangible. Tender should be for specific, measurable offerings. Spiritual awakening, enlightenment, and liberation are intangible and not measurable. They by definition have no visible qualities to validate, or aren't really even considered to be experiences for that matter. Thus, it is absolutely impossible to demonstrate that what someone provides directly induces spiritual awakening. Further, spiritual liberation is a path of paradox -- as I like to say, there are no direct paths in the hall of mirrors.

We can pay for a movie ticket, a computer, a car, private tutoring, or even psychotherapy -- we know what we're getting -- certain tools for living in this world, a work of art to appreciate for a couple of hours, certain skills for navigating our job, even certain reflections for insight. However, let's make crystal clear that we are not promising awakening, enlightenment, liberation, moksha, Christ Consciousness, Brahman or Godhead.

Why do I say this? The main reason is that the danger of manipulation. How? According to perhaps most (if not all) awakened folks and seekers, the value of spiritual awakening is priceless, or infinite. Thus, people can, will, and do offer their entire pocketbook in the name of this quest...and there are more than enough wallet munchers to oblige. Since it can never be proven that any one thing is directly related to awakening, and since a genuine seeker will inevitably be able to learn and grow from any experience, it's easy for a corrupt spiritual institution to take advantage of the most sincere seekers.

Master:"Did you profoundly taste the Source during your $25000 5 day retreat?"

Participant:"Of course I did! The retreat was worth it."

Master: "Are you willing to contribute $100000 next time?"

Participant:"I'll give you everything I have!"

(and yes, of course he did, and of course the retreat was worth it...he's a genuine seeker who'd likely find deep value and profundity in any experience...so why not charge him $100000 next time if we know he has the money...he'll find it worthwhile, after all...)

2) MANIPULATION FROM DEEP SURRENDER

Unlike a typical product or service, spiritual attainments involve a surrender of our common protective measures that we would use to critically evaluate any purchase such as a car or TV set. Surrender of some form is a prerequisite for spiritual growth.

There's a reason why sex and money transactions between teacher and student are avoided, and it's not simply because such values are a carryover from a more primitive age. Money and sex transactions bring a massive risk of abuse especially when one party is in a surrendered state. Actually, it's not just a theoretical risk--it's happening before our eyes. I see it, and I've experienced it.

Spiritual attainment requires a level of deep surrender, and the danger comes when we're surrendering to wallet munchers. And we don't have to look too far outside the Integral community to see institutions whose very success is dependent solely on the level of desperation of spiritual seekers.

3) WHERE ARE CHECKS AND BALANCES?

Yes, it's possible for an institution to charge nominal fees. Still who's going to keep these institutions in check, and prevent them from rolling down the slippery slope of abuse?  And if we're the institutions, what force is gonna keep us in check from the utter temptation of extorting money from those who give infinite value to spiritual growth?

4) GENUINE COMPASSION? ARE WE SURE?

Do the marketers of spiritual products and services warn against the danger?  I've rarely seen this, even among the Integral affiliates. I don't trust many of them with my growth, and I won't trust many of them with managing my growth. There is a strong intuitive sense that a good chunk of them don't really care about my best interests: Their marketing doesn't warn of the dangerous of getting too caught up with their product or service or teaching. Their marketing doesn't offer an 'off-ramp' but rather obligates a long term or lifetime relationship. Their marketing doesn't tease apart who should and who shouldn't participate. Intuitively, I'm left to conclude they more than anything want my $$$ and my long term dependence.

5) THE PUNGENT ODOR

Money-for-spirituality simply smells bad. Doesn't sound like an argument, but if we give weight to our innate intuitive sense, we might very well find exchanging money for the promise of spiritual attainment simply smells bad. For me, this is enough reason alone to keep them separate.
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I hope this entry provides some comfort and support for those who still don't feel comfortable transactionalizing spirituality. As seekers, I hope this brings clarity that our own journey might very well be more sincere than the institutions we might otherwise have considered as guides. Most importantly though, as promoters, I hope we understand the inherent dangers and temptations of linking money to the spiritual process.

I do appreciate you bringing up these issues Ken. This is an important topic for us all to discuss.

@dustmapper
(I'm on Twitter)