Spiritual Sellouts?

Originally Posted by earthprowler

i work in a deli and if i pick up on someone who's energy comes through really strong i may tell them something they need to know. i do it with people i work with all the time! it's my passion and i just love to share it, i meet new people (from both sides ) all the time!

Wow, how interesting! Unfortunately I don't have such a gift (or maybe I just haven't developed it yet?) but one day I hope to have the privilege of receiving such insight. Have you always had this gift or did you develop it over time?

i worked extremely hard to get what i have (with a little begging along the way) lol

for me, I too it seems as if spirituallity is not so commercal as expensive. but its what we do or should i say they do. either way, good to see those with a desire to work with the masses.

I would say stay on your own spiritual path my friend. Go in the direction that your heart leads you... it is there that you will find true peace and contentment. I have found that the moment we go outside of ourselves, there is always someone there to instill fear in us, riddle us with guilt or telling us to get down our knees and start paying. It can be very disheartening to encounter all of this. And when you see it enough you do entertain the idea of just throwing in the towl on spiritual things. But when you are led by your own compass and begin to seek out those things that just seem to float up in your mind... well, that's an entirely differnt experience altogether.

There’s no shortage of commercialism w/ organized religion dipping deep into people's pockets either. This tends to be largely institutionalized though, even though this is big business too in related businesses. The organized religion that my parents belonged to expected 15% of their GROSS income, NOT take home pay, as the minimum tithe w/ more being OK. This is quite allot. Any accountants out there who can calculate what % of the take home pay this is?

There are plenty of people on the Internet willing to take your money for as many things as people are willing to give it away for! Spirituality is no different.

There are those who are in spiritually oriented businesses who are legitimate & merit a professional fee. Don’t let those who aren’t legitimate affect how you think about these issues.

[NightSpirit]

I have never asked for money for helping others along the way and I got equal amount back in return over the years.

Most money spinners are just that! ....cranks!

[Gem]

The problem is people look for things which they desire, so they can be exploited, and of course very desirable things cost a lot.

In the world, where I go, it's free, but doesn't come easy, you have to give it your all, and the work strips you down, shakes you up and it hurts. It is grueling. No one desires it, so it's free.

[NightSpirit]

Originally Posted by Gem

The problem is people look for things which they desire, so they can be exploited, and of course very desirable things cost a lot.

In the world, where I go, it's free, but doesn't come easy, you have to give it your all, and the work strips you down, shakes you up and it hurts. It is grueling. No one desires it, so it's free.

true! true!

[Jyotir]

Originally Posted by mattie

There’s no shortage of commercialism w/ organized religion dipping deep into people's pockets either. This tends to be largely institutionalized though, even though this is big business too in related businesses. The organized religion that my parents belonged to expected 15% of their GROSS income, NOT take home pay, as the minimum tithe w/ more being OK. This is quite allot. Any accountants out there who can calculate what % of the take home pay this is?

There are plenty of people on the Internet willing to take your money for as many things as people are willing to give it away for! Spirituality is no different.

There are those who are in spiritually oriented businesses who are legitimate & merit a professional fee. Don’t let those who aren’t legitimate affect how you think about these issues.

mattie, you said it.

There are old-school organized religions with bricks, mortar and collection baskets for their 'professional fee', and there are New Age organized religions with url's and PayPal buttons all dipping deep for their 'professional fee' ("In God we trust - all others pay cash.", lol)

"Spiritually oriented businesses", indeed, spreading truth to those who don't have it - that's the business model, why they need the funds, and God is counting I'm sure.

And, they are all without exception entirely legitimate teachers, guides, flock leaders, gurus, consultants, authors and channelers of Truth - for those customers, followers and believers who see truth in them, who are willing to give "take home" pay to them.

Maybe there is another legitimate 'spiritual oriented business' that for a small professional fee will tell us which other 'spiritually oriented businesses', whether old-school organized religion or new-age organized religion, are legitimate and which are not, so we will know which ones merit our hard earned money. Then we wouldn't need to think about these issues.


~ J

I am an astrologer, which is a type of "reader" and "spiritual guide" [if that happens to be the inclination of the individual astrologer].

Astrology is a professional endeavor. To become a good astrologer you must master mathematics, astronomy, psychology, language [astrology is in effect a language of special symbols] and other "academic" subjects. To become even moderately proficient as an astrologer takes several years of dedicated study.

Now, the young astrologer makes her debut... And is immediately mobbed by people wanting a "reading". She could give readings all day every day, and if the masses had their way that is what she would do.

To properly "read" a horoscope requires an investment of several hours at a minimum (although you can read a chart extemporaneously, of course).

If a reading, of any sort, has value to you...and if you seek a reading, it must be assumed that it does have value (else why would you seek it?), then I see nothing immoral, unethical or un-spiritual in the reader asking for reciprocation. Is not the reader's time, experience and counsel worth something?

The problem is that there are more scam artists than legitimate readers, and their sole intention is to fleece the sheep. Caveat emptor.

The "fault" lies just as much at the feet of the person seeking the reading as it does with the reader. People, more often than not, just want a "reading" but have no purpose or goal in getting the reading. They are not looking to answer specific life-problems or illuminate the dark corners of themselves in the context of present personal situation.

An example of what I mean was discussed briefly in a previous thread. People want to know if some astrological sign is compatible with their own sign. When an astrologer (both eyealec and myself commented on this) suggests that a person should first look at themselves and their "potentials" in relationships [by looking at their own horoscope first] people simply turn away. Most people live in a state of delusion, and when they seek a reading all they really want is for someone to nurture their delusion; they DO NOT want to see the truth of either themselves or life itself.

No one complains when a painter, a doctor, a lawyer, a baker..."earns his bread" by his or her professional activity. Why is an astrologer expected to live a life of austerity, begging a bowl of rice each morning, because his "stock in trade" is spiritual? Is the spiritual less important than our daily bread?