Starting Spiritual Practice
If I originally learned divination from interest and later charge fees, can I still genuinely want to help?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Yes. Charging a fee does not conflict with genuinely helping. What matters remains why and how you do it. Dao Xuan raised a question many people may have: if you begin from interest in divination, learn to read for others and gradually feel you can charge and supplement your income, does that still count as sincerely wanting to help?
In my view, this can also be a job. People need to live and services have costs. However, fees should be reasonable and within a range people can accept and afford. When someone truly faces financial difficulty, first understand the situation and consider how to assist. Do not focus only on collecting money while setting aside the person’s problem.
So examine what you actually do. Are you seriously understanding the person’s questions and using your ability to help? Have you clearly discussed the fee beforehand? To me, helping resolve problems matters, while payment allows the work to continue. Throughout the process, regularly look back at whether you still remember the original wish to help.