silver and gold

[Zhang Wuji]

Money is always an emotional topic, especially today, when a lot of self-worth comes down to how much money one makes.

Those who believe that qigong masters should teach their arts for free are entitled to their opinion, of course, but the truth is that nothing is truly free. When I began teaching, I was already fully aligned with the idea that we should charge the right fees for our teaching. A few years later, I am even more convinced than ever.

Then what about those who cannot afford the fees? Are they being denied the healing arts? The question really should be: "what's the value, not the price?"

A lesson from beyond qigong - housing prices have been rising, in fact, shooting through the roof through the years, all over the world. Many well-paid professionals have recoiled from the prices, preferring to wait and hope that prices drop till they buy to invest. On the other hand, those who should not have been able to afford the houses or units the professionals backed away from have been getting rich. Since 2008, many have been burned, but that does not change the fact that those who saw value in those properties have reaped the rewards.These people found a way to raise capital to buy properties that others earning 3 times their salaries did not dare to buy.

Silver and gold, money and assets are merely things you exchange for something else. If you value health more than smelly dollars, or see that the apartment unit will one day be worth ten times more than the credit balance in your bank account, you would be prepared to make the exchange.

[David Langford]

As I said I don't mind paying fees, however personally speaking I am not so sure I could easily be on the other end. I don't even let my friends give me gas money when we are out and about, etc. I really dislike taking money from people, it's a weird phobia. I'm definitely not built to be a business man.

[Zhang Wuji]

As I said I don't mind paying fees, however personally speaking I am not so sure I could easily be on the other end.

I would see this as Yin-Yang harmony. Just like we can only love others if we love ourselves, we should be happy receiving the money that we ourselves we would have gladly paid if we were in that position.

Why should we be unhappy accepting money (or payment in kind) for a job well done, if we are happy paying others for great service? Wouldn't this begrudge the person paying the money of something we would have enjoyed doing (ie, the act of payment)? The need to give in exchange, to reciprocate, is a very powerful, even primal need. People are basically decent and those who want something for nothing are rare. It may be unnecessary, even very cruel to deny anyone that need.

[Anton S.]

Dear Daniel!

It is great you have shared your answers! It it is very interesting to read different perspectives on this sensitive topic!
Very good! Your work will benefit lots of students!

Best regards, Anton

[Guest]

I think for someone who questions the fees, one needs to take a step back, and show trust. Questioning the fees, is also questioning Sifu's wisdom and experience.

Sifu is being more then generous, once you truly understand the value of Shaolin.
Not to mention the extreme generosity of having a full refund without question just one hour before a Course ends.

In the past it was almost impossible for most people to learn Shaolin!
Saying that Shaolin should be available to everyone for just a penny or two, is not only questioning Sifu, it is questioning the whole history of Shaolin.
When Hui Ke wanted further lessons from Bodhidharma, he had to make the snow turn red, and dismembered his arm. This is an extreme example, but it shows how priceless the Shaolin Arts are. Don't take it for granted.

As said before here on this thread; in the past one had to prove himself worthy with sweeping and cleaning, or other chores and tests for over 5 or even 10 years, and then it still wasn't even sure if you would ever be accepted. In China or South East Asia; a traditional School with lineage tracing back to Shaolin, if you are accepted for a low fee or even for free; it could take you more then 10 years (if ever!) to gain the trust to be accepted for Internal training.

Sifu is being more then generous. Now we learn the skills, at the very beginning on a very high level.
Offcourse you still have to put in a lot of hard work and daily practise to achieve your goals and lets the seeds grow.
Ours is real Shaolin. Sifu's Teaching is revolutionary and still traditional to the core.

People who can't afford a Course still can save up money by getting a side-job, getting a loan, or just putting money aside for a year every week.
And even if it takes them more time to get the money; this is much much more easier then what one had to do in the past to learn Shaolin.
In the past 99% NEVER had a chance at all to learn Shaolin! We should be very grateful.

[Daniel Jimenez]

Dear Daniel!

It is great you have shared your answers! It it is very interesting to read different perspectives on this sensitive topic!
Very good! Your work will benefit lots of students!

Best regards, Anton

Thank you very much Sifu Anton. It was a great experience learning from other Sifus around the world.
I have always believed in the healing power of Chi Kung Shaolin and Tai Chi Chuan Shaolin Wahnam.

Hope to meet you some day in one of Sifu's or Sigung's great courses.

Best Wishes.

Dani

[Steve Clarke]

My advice is not to chase students and convince them that your fees are excellent value, but rather put your time and energy into your worthy students, who are happy to attend your class and pay your fees.

Steve.

[Maxime]

In that conversation, my friend constantly refuted my practice, he questionned it, and said this was a business rather than a spiritual art because... spiritual arts "are not charged" ...

In my opinion, this is a perverted view, unfortunately very common among the so-called internal art practitioners (Yoga, Qigong, etc...).

If a prospective student comments about the fees and that 'it is not traditional to pay with money', I will offer him another traditional way to pay - like what some students did in the past:

Wake up at 4.30 every morning, prepare my breakfast, wash my dirty underwears barehand, and work hard at my place until late at night, hoping that I might give once a while a shadow instruction for his progress.

Or go live in the mountains for 3 years (no girls, no entertainement, ect.) and only train, train, train.

I am pretty sure those big mouths complaining about the fees would be the first ones to run away from the training.

The highest teachings have never been for free ... The students had to pay in one way or another (like taking care of the master's daily demanding cores). Ironically, although some people complain, it is certainly much more easy to pay a fee to learn in a comfortable and cosy environement, than to follow the master 'the hard way'.

But the arm-chair practitioner don't see it that way

[David Langford]

Or go live in the mountains for 3 years (no girls, no entertainement, ect.) and only train, train, train.

This is actually extremely appealing to me.

[Maxime]

Dear David,




Actually another thought popped in my mind yesterday after I replied to this thread:

Isn't it ironic that some students who are practicing an internal art (= mastering of the greedy self, practicing compassion toward all beings that are part of this spread of energy called planet earth) are unwilling to give back in return or help their master (= show appreciation) by paying them a fee?

Taking, taking, always taking ... and never give back: wrong spiritual practice, in the name of so-called spirituality!

Finally, even the great masters are not living only from Qi. They need some money to pay their house (or manage their temple), feed their wife and kids (or Sangha), etc...

Such a logical approach ... simply dismissed and brain-washed by the ego and its perverted views. How powerfully manipulating is the monkey mind!

[David Langford]

Dear David,




Actually another thought popped in my mind yesterday after I replied to this thread:

Isn't it ironic that some students who are practicing an internal art (= mastering of the greedy self, practicing compassion toward all beings that are part of this spread of energy called planet earth) are unwilling to give back in return or help their master (= show appreciation) by paying them a fee?

Taking, taking, always taking ... and never give back: wrong spiritual practice, in the name of so-called spirituality!

Finally, even the great masters are not living only from Qi. They need some money to pay their house (or manage their temple), feed their wife and kids (or Sangha), etc...

Such a logical approach ... simply dismissed and brain-washed by the ego and its perverted views. How powerfully manipulating is the monkey mind!

100% Agreed. Plus whether it's money or labor there have been many parables throughout time describing the human flaw of not appreciating stuff we have not earned.