Learning the Dharma should always be free and initiations and transmission of dharma cannot be sold. One can only receive initiations and transmitted dharma if their spiritual foundation or karmic affinity is sufficient.
Erroneous View #20: THE VIEW THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO PERFORM AN INITIATION OR TRANSMIT BUDDHA-DHARMA IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY
There are those who immediately perform an initiation for someone after receiving that person’s offering of money. To do so is to follow an erroneous view. Whether an initiation is performed or not should be based upon the recipient’s spiritual capacity and roots of goodness. It is not the case that an initiation may be performed simply based on the offering of money. Disciples should make offerings to their master. Of course, I am not saying that you should make offerings to me. I already said that I do not accept offerings. The key point is that there must be a clear understanding of the following: one should not receive an initiation just because one paid money, and one should not receive Buddha-dharma just because one paid money. An initiation performed upon the payment of money is a false initiation. This also means that those who perform an initiation upon the payment of money are false masters. If you do not believe this, then have such a master take the six-division test of a master’s qualifications. You will see right then and there whether that master is a genuine or false master.
Erroneous View #79: THE VIEW THAT MONEY MUST BE PAID IN EXCHANGE FOR LEARNING DHARMA OR LISTENING TO DHARMA
This kind of phenomena has existed from ancient times to now. Based on this view, one must first pay money before one is allowed to learn dharma, listen to dharma, or enter a temple. Thus, one cannot learn or listen to the dharma without the payment of money. I previously encountered this type of situation when I was in certain temples. People in the temple would often say, “Did you bring an offering today? Do not enter the temple unless you brought an offering. If you did not bring an offering of money, you are not allowed to listen to the lecture on the sutras and dharma. Today only those who brought an offering may enter the temple! Only those who make an offering may go into the dining hall to eat. Others are not allowed.” That is very bad. There are wealthy people and poor people. We should care for the well-being of all of them. If they truly are poor, we should even give them money. We should not say that they must offer money before they are allowed to learn dharma, listen to dharma, or eat. That would be incorrect and absolutely impermissible.
Add comment