Teach for free? You can all go.....

[BaguaKicksAss]

.... volunteer all day everyday .

 

So recently I hit burnout again from answering questions and teaching and helping a myriad of people. I also got behind at work from this too. And half of y'all think I should always do this for free? Do you realize how many people I *already* turn down each week? At least the ones that pay help me to take a little time off of work after so I can recuperate. You really think teaching is just about writing or saying words? Really?

 

You wouldn't beleive how trashed on I get sometimes when I say no to people who ask for me to do stuff for free for them! Trade, that works out 10% of the time, the rest never come through with their half, or the hours end up being 4 to 1.

 

Also I don't see you doing your job for free. How do you pay rent?

 

Now I think there should be sliding scales (though I have found people sometimes lie a lot about their income when you do it that way), and not charging 10x what the standard rates are, but that is just me.

 

I'm most definitely good with someone finding a different teacher if they feel my rates are to high . Teachers are a dime a dozen these days with the internet and all.

 

OK rant over, I do teach for free 80% of the time, but I don't feel I would be doing anything wrong no matter what % it is, nor other teachers being wrong for charging for teachings. I know some people do teach for free, a few hours per week all together. There are others who teach for free many hours, that is awesome too. Then there are those who teach for donations, that works out pretty well sometimes and not so much other times. All is good, there shouldn't be any YOU HAVE TO police.

 

Sure I wrote this from my perspective, but just imagine the teachers who are actually well known and famous.. I figure they get 10-100 times the amount of requests and emails I do!

Edited July 1, 2014 by BaguaKicksAss

[C T]

So recently I hit burnout again from answering questions and teaching and helping a myriad of people. I also got behind at work from this too. And half of y'all think I should always do this for free? Do you realize how many people I *already* turn down each week? At least the ones that pay help me to take a little time off of work after so I can recuperate. You really think teaching is just about writing or saying words? Really?

 

You wouldn't beleive how trashed on I get sometimes when I say no to people who ask for me to do stuff for free for them! Trade, that works out 10% of the time, the rest never come through with their half, or the hours end up being 4 to 1.

 

Also I don't see you doing your job for free. How do you pay rent?

 

Now I think there should be sliding scales (though I have found people sometimes lie a lot about their income when you do it that way), and not charging 10x what the standard rates are, but that is just me.

 

I'm most definitely good with someone finding a different teacher if they feel my rates are to high . Teachers are a dime a dozen these days with the internet and all.

 

OK rant over, I do teach for free 80% of the time, but I don't feel I would be doing anything wrong no matter what % it is, nor other teachers being wrong for charging for teachings. I know some people do teach for free, a few hours per week all together. There are others who teach for free many hours, that is awesome too. Then there are those who teach for donations, that works out pretty well sometimes and not so much other times. All is good, there shouldn't be any YOU HAVE TO police.

 

Sure I wrote this from my perspective, but just imagine the teachers who are actually well known and famous.. I figure they get 10-100 times the amount of requests and emails I do!

Yeah, but do you realize also that these teachers hardly read nor answer the mails themselves? They have a team of assistants doing that for them due to their 'celebrity-like' status.

 

I once wrote an email to Adyashanti, just expressing how grateful i was to have stumbled on one so young and wise. Two weeks later, i got a reply from his assistant, saying 'thanks', with a footnote to remind me that Adya is an extremely busy teacher so please excuse the fact that he could not reply to every piece of mail personally. I thought to myself, "Sure, why not. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts."

[GrandmasterP]

" The labourer is worthy of her hire."

( Christian Bible: 1 Timothy. Chapter 5: verse 18).

Charging a reasonable tuition fee to cover time, costs and expenses is not unreasonable.

It is unreasonable for students who can pay not to offer to pay and the teacher shouldn't really have to ask.

We charge £5 for 15-minutes for sittings at our centre 1-2-1 or £20 for 50-minutes.

Meetings and circles ( lessons) are £3 for members £4 for non members.

Half day courses £15 full day £25 ( tea and biccies only) or £30 (buffet lunch included).

Healing is free but we have a donation box and people are very generous.

Some shyster on here was advertising a one day gig for $450 per ticket.

That's beyond obscene.

Edited July 1, 2014 by GrandmasterP

[Marblehead]

When I turned 65 years of age I stopped doing things for free for others and I have almost stopped completely doing things for others. I figure the first 65 years I gave of myself so the next 65 years is time for others to give back to me. (I haven't received much yet. But then I never expected much.)

[Stosh]

Couple comments

Generally folks value less , that which they didnt have to pay for.

There's no right or wrong in payment for services when everything is aboveboard elswise,

the thing remains that there is a teacher -student relationship which is a non-specific flexible arrangement.

There are those who I wouldnt charge anything for anything , and those I would charge , it just depends on the relationship.

When a person does something for themselves , payment isnt really important , its moot , you got what you wanted out of it, but then, one is serving their own ends ,

and so , perhaps agreed payment is better , since clearly BKA isnt doing this stuff entirely for herself, and the student isnt there to serve BKA's ends, but their own.

The happiest arrangement , is when both parties get stuff they want , and money is a nice means to accomplish that end.

In close relationships, you can have a situation where theres so much interaction that , it really makes no sense to worry about keeping score, you just maintain a basic level of mutual good-bringing , but then an individual really isnt available for large numbers of people as a close partner.

 

And like I said at the beginning , every post Ive ever written was a pearl

and no one ever offered to pay, ( sad but true!)

So either I say this stuff because I like to hear myself talk (in writing) or ... or ...

Edited July 1, 2014 by Stosh

[centertime]

.... volunteer all day everyday .

 

So recently I hit burnout again from answering questions and teaching and helping a myriad of people. I also got behind at work from this too. And half of y'all think I should always do this for free? Do you realize how many people I *already* turn down each week? At least the ones that pay help me to take a little time off of work after so I can recuperate. You really think teaching is just about writing or saying words? Really?

 

You wouldn't beleive how trashed on I get sometimes when I say no to people who ask for me to do stuff for free for them! Trade, that works out 10% of the time, the rest never come through with their half, or the hours end up being 4 to 1.

 

Also I don't see you doing your job for free. How do you pay rent?

 

Now I think there should be sliding scales (though I have found people sometimes lie a lot about their income when you do it that way), and not charging 10x what the standard rates are, but that is just me.

 

I'm most definitely good with someone finding a different teacher if they feel my rates are to high . Teachers are a dime a dozen these days with the internet and all.

 

OK rant over, I do teach for free 80% of the time, but I don't feel I would be doing anything wrong no matter what % it is, nor other teachers being wrong for charging for teachings. I know some people do teach for free, a few hours per week all together. There are others who teach for free many hours, that is awesome too. Then there are those who teach for donations, that works out pretty well sometimes and not so much other times. All is good, there shouldn't be any YOU HAVE TO police.

 

Sure I wrote this from my perspective, but just imagine the teachers who are actually well known and famous.. I figure they get 10-100 times the amount of requests and emails I do!

Hi,

I am new here. I do not know you.Can you tell me about yourself?

What do you know? What can you teach?

What is your expertise? Do you have summary about yourself?

Edited July 1, 2014 by centertime

[GrandmasterP]

Even in Greek those questions would come across as abrupt and potentially rude buddy.

See that PM that I sent to you earlier..

 

 

Nice edit.

Much better.

 

Edited July 1, 2014 by GrandmasterP

[KenBrace]

If I ever become advanced enough to teach, it will be after my retirement. I doubt I'd be teaching many people though. Only the one's I deem worth my time and there aren't many of those.

[centertime]

I

Even in Greek those questions would come across as abrupt and potentially rude buddy.
See that PM that I sent to you earlier..

 

 

I think it depends on who you are. Everybody reacts differently on the same questions. One may be offended, others simply may answer the question patiently. And there may be people who just would dismiss it.

The number of possible reactions are many.

How can I tell? How can you tell?

To be exact, there are group of people who would react the way you say, another would react differently.

It is difficult to see what she does exactly. I do not know her that is why I asked.

Just because many people know you , It does not mean everybody knows you.. Who is famous should take that into account.

I have communicated with many people. It is hard to predict what happens.

How she reacts will define her and you.

Edited July 1, 2014 by centertime

[BaguaKicksAss]

Now one argument *for* people always teaching for free that I have heard, and I can see how it might be valid....

 

When someone is not making money from the teaching, they will not be tempted to teach people they shouldn't, or information they shouldn't, nor water down the information to make sure their students keep coming back. Also some people are suspicious when things are given for free (I've run into this, I just like to help everyone sometimes). I'm sure we've all heard of the various "gurus" and cults... not all of them involved money.

[RiverSnake]

80%?......I think you should subtract that too about 0%.

 

My 2 cents, Peace

Edited July 1, 2014 by OldChi

[BaguaKicksAss]

Couple comments

Generally folks value less , that which they didnt have to pay for.

There's no right or wrong in payment for services when everything is aboveboard elswise,

the thing remains that there is a teacher -student relationship which is a non-specific flexible arrangement.

There are those who I wouldnt charge anything for anything , and those I would charge , it just depends on the relationship.

When a person does something for themselves , payment isnt really important , its moot , you got what you wanted out of it, but then, one is serving their own ends ,

and so , perhaps agreed payment is better , since clearly BKA isnt doing this stuff entirely for herself, and the student isnt there to serve BKA's ends, but their own.

The happiest arrangement , is when both parties get stuff they want , and money is a nice means to accomplish that end.

In close relationships, you can have a situation where theres so much interaction that , it really makes no sense to worry about keeping score, you just maintain a basic level of mutual good-bringing , but then an individual really isnt available for large numbers of people as a close partner.

 

And like I said at the beginning , every post Ive ever written was a pearl

and no one ever offered to pay, ( sad but true!)

So either I say this stuff because I like to hear myself talk (in writing) or ... or ...

 

I have 2 awesome students I do trade with, and they are wonderful at keeping up their end . This is actually my preference, especially if the person is having trouble making ends meet (it's amazing how people who make quite a bit can still feel they are in this category).

 

I have found that it sometimes gets difficult with friends, they don't realize that their dozens of questions over coffee are sometimes like work for me. (I'm still having trouble figuring out why sometimes this is a great joy and othertimes it feels like work, I do realize I have some personal stuff to work on with this too).

 

But friends where you both help one another, and especially help each another to advance in life and spiritual practice, are just awesome!

[BaguaKicksAss]

80%?......I think you should subtract that too about 0%.

 

My 2 cents, Peace

 

Sometimes I feel that way lol.

 

But....

 

(and we are an entire board of compassionate people here)

 

When someone comes to you to teach them, and they have more natural talent than you have ever seen before, and can just tell they are a perfect fit for the path....

 

or

 

When someone is in a place in their lives where they can suddenly barely make ends meet, ere worried if they will be able to pay their rent, are going through saturn return, and barely even ask for help....

 

or

 

The spirits you work with say "teach this one" and you find out they make minimum wage

 

or

 

They are a fellow TTBer and they are homeless and going through hell... (don't tell me that any of you would have turned down that particular person ).

 

*sigh*

 

However; there are so many hours in the day, and one only has so much energy, sooooo

 

The out of towners have to pay, since I have to travel, and they tend to have incomes which are at least double mine .

[BaguaKicksAss]

Hi,

I am new here. I do not know you.Can you tell me about yourself?

What do you know? What can you teach?

What is your expertise? Do you have summary about yourself?

 

I live in Canada, British Columbia. It's awesome here, especially during this time of year . I've been practicing some neat magic stuff for awhile. I'm sort of cranky sometimes (as you can tell by this post) lol. I make jewelry as a hobby and as a job, and spend most of my time making jewelry and practicing Baguazhang. Oh I practice medical qigong as well; it is awesome.

 

What do I know, hmmm... Did I mention I'm currently pretty busy and not looking for students? I know some neat stuff about magic, a little about Bagua (and teach that to locals sometimes, hope to get back to that soon; it's nearly free as I get to practice too. I tend to teach what the person *needs*. People come to me thinking they want something, but after a few students a teacher starts to be able to tell what a person actually needs to work on, instead of what they think they want that minute because it looks all fancy and impressive. I guess I will start out on what they think they want, but that doesn't last long. That's with the local students. The distant ones where one or both of us travel for lessons, we figure out beforehand in email what the teachings will be.

 

It's all fun, I've just been overworked lately.

 

My expertises, well I'm sort of private, and I don't talk much about on these forums. If you read my past posts you might figure it out . Though really, honestly, not hunting up more students .

 

Btw, read your other post, I am far from famous, even if I used my real name, no one would have heard of me. That is actually why I got to thinking that the famous teachers must have people asking for teachings and help about 1000 times what I do.

[centertime]

Now one argument *for* people always teaching for free that I have heard, and I can see how it might be valid....

 

When someone is not making money from the teaching, they will not be tempted to teach people they shouldn't, or information they shouldn't, nor water down the information to make sure their students keep coming back. Also some people are suspicious when things are given for free (I've run into this, I just like to help everyone sometimes). I'm sure we've all heard of the various "gurus" and cults... not all of them involved money.

ok, there is woman on internet who teaches eye improvement methods for free. I think she did it because she follows Jesus.

She wrote she would like to be greeted well by Jesus in heaven.. She wanted to reach larger masses.

Another argument... Teaching for free good karma? You advocate communism? You weaken commercialism.

If you teach for free, you can choose out of more people,

Teaching for free - you are helping the poor. (and the rich). Though you may not know who is really what.

Teaching for free - if you make a mistake who can complain? They did not pay for it.

Teaching for free you get many friends.

I had the impression, some people taught for free to protect themselves from becoming too materialistic and egoistic. As if having a large amount of money would corrupt them.

[RiverSnake]

"Notice those who stick in the mud, and observe how they call others to their aid so as to console themselves with a companion in misfortune. They seek some one to help them to bear misfortune, and often those who turned the cold shoulder on them in prosperity give them now a helping hand. There is great caution needed in helping the drowning without danger to oneself." The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian

 

My 2 cents, Peace

Edited July 1, 2014 by OldChi

[BaguaKicksAss]

Large amounts of money from teaching ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL I need to stop laughing before I can reply to the rest of this .

 

I know a LOT of teachers. I don't know any teachers who are rich. Of course they do exist, and I think they usually do the newage seminar circuit, but most teachers, so not rich. I would say that most do it because they like to help others.

[zerostao]

i think its just as hard to find the good student as it is to find the good teacher.

and there is the aspect of mutual benefit to consider. the tao has a way of bringing the right student to the right teacher

or the right teacher to the right student. teaching for pay is ok (til the tax man caught up with it, but i digress lol)

volunteering is also ok. sometimes its good just to have someone else to play around with with this stuff.

if you enjoy teaching,(and what you are teaching) it isnt just about the pay is it?

 

what are you teaching?

[flowing hands]

From my experience it is better to take on just a few students and teach them for free so to speak and leave it at that. You can quite easily wheedle out the ones that are not any good and devote your time to the ones who are treasuring what you are teaching. If you enjoy teaching and seeing people develop then there is great joy in it. Seeing loads of people not particularly getting a great benefit out of what you are teaching is discouraging, whether for pay or not.

[joeblast]

its what I like about my recording studio not operating as a business. anyone who walks in the door, invite only.

 

teaching...well, to the extent that there's those willing to learn...can suggest and nudge a bit but you cant make anyone do anything, so long as you take that into consideration and dole out tie accordingly, it should prevent you from going crazy about it

 

I might add that with helicopters, soon as you can fly the darn thing they have you teaching the newbies.

[GrandmasterP]

its what I like about my recording studio not operating as a business. anyone who walks in the door, invite only.

 

teaching...well, to the extent that there's those willing to learn...can suggest and nudge a bit but you cant make anyone do anything, so long as you take that into consideration and dole out tie accordingly, it should prevent you from going crazy about it

 

I might add that with helicopters, soon as you can fly the darn thing they have you teaching the newbies.

 

That last sentence resonates.

Back when I was nursing and nurse tutors were in short supply if a new procedure came in the saying went...

" See one. Do one. Teach one."

[BaguaKicksAss]

OK that's it, never taking a helicopter flying lesson or going to a hospital again... LOL

 

Though good plan really, teaching is the best way to learn... people ask questions you hadn't thought of. Also they are good mirrors "oh crap, was I really doing it like that?"

[GrandmasterP]

One of the quickest ways to learn something really well is knowing that you have to teach it to others.

[joeblast]

that was the big thing that made me change my mind wrt teaching

[BaguaKicksAss]

One of the quickest ways to learn something really well is knowing that you have to teach it to others.

 

So so true!