Commercialism and Buddhism

Mike

Although there may be other threads/posts here on this topic I feel compelled to discuss this issue. While searching for a monastery for retreat purposes I noticed that the majority of these organizations charge a fee for retreats, meditation classes, lectures, etc. Quite frankly this seems antithetical to everything Buddhism represents.

Yes I am aware that all organizations have expenses. However, it seems to me that these basic needs, very limited needs, could be better met by donations instead of charging a fee to stay at the Buddhist "Inn". One monastery in Oregon charges $500 a month. I suppose in that case the path is available only to the wealthy as most people simply could not afford that fee. Reliance on donations seems to make even more sense to me since the practice of Buddhism actually requires very little with regard to material wants or needs.

Alms are certainly one thing, a sophisticated business operation with Buddhism at it's center is quite another. I am not sure the Buddha would approve.

Jeffrey

I think the question would be: where do my dollars go? Because a hotel with no activities for you would cost more than 500 per month. So exactly where is the money going? Is the guru driving a mazerotti around? What? Where is the money going?

Chances are that 3/4 of the 'employees' are receiving no compensation.

Jason

One of the things that really attracted me to the Thai Theravada monasteries I went to was the fact that their retreats were always free. In fact, I could usually stay there for as long as I wanted. All I had to do was ask. I made donations, of course, but they never asked me for a dime. Those were all in MI and CA, though. I've yet to stay at one in OR since there aren't any near PDX.

Mike

For me a better and likely related question would be: What is the need for a $500 a month charge? I agree with you entirely. Where is the money going? For example, one temple in Colorado charges $35.00 for a meditation class. In my opinion, if the instructor really walks the path, the teaching would be free. Perhaps some donations for gas money, etc. But $35.00 per person? I think they even sell Buddhist T-shirts. I just fail to see how this sort of commercialism enhances one's practice.

I am not anti-American by any means (and I am sure commercialism and Buddhism appear together in other places) but it seems like everything Americans touch seems to be contaminated by the quest for money. As Muir said "anything dollarable is not safe".

Jeffrey

The guru probably has a fair standard of living as judged by plane tickets for example. To travel and connect with other sanghas. They do not have a day job.

But as I said probably 3/4 of the people who work in the sangha are on a volunteer basis.

caz

The idea of a free stay in todays world is rather laughable it costs money to do everything $500 a month would most likely go on helping run the facility, keeping the lights on the place, warm, the food on the table ect. To the place i go they charge a facility fee which is fine a im rather happy with providing some money everything costs alot without my donation of money there would be no place to go.

Mike

The idea of a free stay in todays world is rather laughable...

I think not. In other cultures where Buddhism is considered more mainstream it is commonplace. Donations are welcomed and even encouraged, but charging people is not.

This is a cultural issue first and foremost found primarily in Western countries. Americans in particular simply appear to be incapable of separating the standard business model (applied to almost everything here) from anything.

I never said organizations did not require funds to operate. I also stated that donations seem to be a better way to address this issue. I did say that the amount of money being asked for is unreasonable. For most people it is.

Ask yourself some questions. Is it the path I want or comfortable accomadations? Do I seek liberation or three hot meals a day? Do I seek to end constant rebirth or am I interested in wonderful mountain views from the window of the retreat house?

I am not suggesting for a moment that the only way to liberation is to live a spartan lifestyle with no comforts whatsoever. I like nice things too. What I am saying is that if somebody believes that those things are necessary components of Buddhism they should revisit their motivation for being on this path in the first place.

Brigid

I agree with you completely, Mike.

Dazzle

I don't know about the USA, but if people were running a centre in the UK they couldn't keep it going on occasional and possibly small donations, unless they had regular fairly affluent sponsors. If they didn't charge anything for accomodation or make a small charge for any talks from visiting teachers, how would they run the place?
There's rent, lighting, heating, food, cost of fares for visiting teachers etc.
There would be constant uncertainty about meeting overheads otherwise - should a group of volunteers have that added worry?
The centres with accomodation that I know of myself are certainly not luxury accommodation either.

If one doesn't live in a Buddhist country there simply isn't the automatic support and appreciation from the wider community .


.

Mike

I don't know about the USA, but if people were running a centre in the UK they couldn't keep it going on occasional and possibly small donations, unless they had regular fairly affluent sponsors. If they didn't charge anything for accomodation or make a small charge for any talks from visiting teachers, how would they run the place?

Let's not run any place. Let's meet in somebody's home or weather permitting a park.

There's rent, lighting, heating, food, cost of fares for visiting teachers etc.
There would be constant uncertainty about meeting overheads otherwise - should a group of volunteers have that added worry?

Let's remove these distractions from practice. Bring your own food. If you must have a structure, meet in the home of a Buddhist so these costs are not applicable.

Shakyamuni Buddha was more effective and reached a wider audience by

1. Word of mouth
2. Meeting almost always in public
3. Reliance on the Dhamma

Focus on #3 and the rest will take care of itself.

StaticToybox

Yes, a facility will have expenses that will need to be met. Yes, it's not necessarily realistic to expect them to be able to met these expenses solely off donations....but....$500 per person/month is outrageous. And, quite frankly, such an asking price makes me question the sincerity of those involved. But religion is good business, and unfortunately we here in the west think nothing of a price tag being attached to everything. How much is enlightenment worth to you?

Palzang

Shasta Abbey, a Zen monastery in Shasta, California, doesn't charge for retreatants who wish to stay there for a time. They do accept donations, but they don't require it. When I attended a Western Buddhist Ordained conference there, they refused to take any money from me for my accommodations and food. When I left, I put an offering in their offering box, and they actually donated it to Tara's Babies (our animal rescue organization)! Even their books were free. They believe in dana and practice it. And the accommodations were very comfortable and food (all vegan) very good.

Palzang