A Special Note about Teachers

If someone is making a living doing this, there is no way the message being communicated is completely clear. The teacher may be clear himself, but it is impossible for there not to be present some kind of hook, even if it is unconscious on the teacher’s part, to keep you coming back, if a teacher is paying his or her bills with the fees they charge. This hook imparts to you the idea that there is more to do – another seminar required, another all-day meeting to attend – before you can recognize what you already are.

There is no more required! You do this yourself, alone, with a simple look inside. But I won’t go into that here – all of my other essays address the specifics of the message. The purpose of this essay is to warn you to be discerning in what kind of teaching you are exposing yourself to.

There is no way that the message can remain clear and unsullied, if the person delivering it is dependent on the income generated by the sharing of the message. The message itself, when unclouded, precludes the very possibility of having paying “students” who need to return for more!

The true pointing vanquishes the idea of you needing to return and do more, or get more, or grow to the requisite level of openness, or anything of the sort. This is a simple pointing to the truth that is already obvious and yours right now, for free. No one will ever get rich telling the truth, since people only need to be told once.

There is nothing wrong with a teacher asking for compensation for their time, or for something to help defray the cost of a meeting room or website. It should be your pleasure to donate something to someone who spends his or her time with you. They shouldn’t go in the hole helping you. But if you are financing someone’s international travel, that’s another story.

There is also nothing wrong in being with a group of people in a retreat center, or in a beautiful, exotic location, to discuss spiritual things, facilitated by a teacher. Socially, you might find that kind of thing enjoyable and be willing to spend your money on that. But don’t kid yourself that this is what is required to know what you are, and to be done with the search.

If a teacher does not have an express interest in your not needing to come back anymore, then beware. If there is an interest in generating repeat business, notice that this is in direct contradiction to what the non-dual message says!

This timeless message of presence says: THIS is already what you have been looking for. The subtly perverted message says: There is more to do, in order for you to find what you are looking for, and it’s gonna cost you.

If you want to dabble in spiritual ideas and have social engagement around it, fine; this notice does not apply to you. But if you are tired of all the chasing around, spending your hard-earned money only to keep feeling like you haven’t done enough yet, then heed this warning: stay away from the “promise peddlers.”