In the Vedic tradition, a Guru Dakshina represents an open and willing synergy in the Energy Exchange from both parties. It is understood up front, accepted and embraced in order to create a flow of exchange. One might think of it as a form of initiation into receiving.
It is irrelevant what tradition one might identify with, what symbolism or words and labels are used, the understanding of this exchange is by everyone globally no matter the terms. Everyone knows what an offering is.
In my years of service in various spiritual communities, I have come across some individuals claiming that spiritual service should only be offered for free, however the receiver of knowledge/healing/benefit must show their full dedication to receiving as much as the Guru/Healer/Guide shows their full dedication to giving. Otherwise, the exchange is out of balance. Trying to cheat your way out of the exchange means you are not ready to receive.
We all know that even in regular relationships, the balance must be maintained. When one only gives and the other only receives, it is an unhealthy dynamic and usually ends unfortunately. The goal of all relationships is to strive for win-win situations.
Depending on where we are in the world, the Guru/Healer/Guide will ask for a fee, or service, or an item of value. Mostly these days, Guru Dakshina is understood as a monetary fee given to the Guru/Healer/Guide. However, I have also been asked by my Gurus in SE Asia for:
~a specific (high in my standards) monetary donation to an orphanage of my choice (providing a symbolic proof of doing so to the Guru) or an orphanage or women's shelter of their choice - I understand that the amount requested did equal to the amount of the fee I would have to pay the Guru directly if they requested a monetary fee directly to themselves,
~engaging in a particular devotional service to others, ceremonial rituals or pilgrimages (not for purpose of any religious doctrine) I had to prepare by paying for everything myself (this included specific foods & cooking, flowers, ceremonial items, transport, flights, hotels, outfits etc); everything was instructed by the Guru/Healer/Guide,
~giving willingly out of my heart to the Guru/Healer/Guide my own time, energy and support in what they needed from me.
These were things I was asked to do that did not directly benefit only me. I had to direct my energy and resources outwardly, as directed by the Guru/Healer/Guide who in turn could proceed in fully giving in my direction.
This is my devotion to my own transformation.
~Agnes
What is the purpose?
"When the student/seeker is able, willing and ready to consciously be fully receptive to receiving the teachings, the knowledge itself transmutes from merely being information to wisdom. The Guru can only work with how much the seeker's conscious receptivity has been opened sufficiently. Without openness, a seeker may become charmed by the power that is implicit in knowledge and merely extract select fragments of the teacher’s wisdom. Fragmented knowledge is not wisdom, it is what I call, “Information Banking – (taking in massive amount of knowledge without integration) which is not what the transformation of the Self is all about. (...) When worthy enquiry is present in the student, the flow of knowledge from the Guru can become complete and unbounded, without the worry of fragmentation.
One way a student demonstrates worthy enquiry is by their willingness to offer Guru Dakshina – the exchange of energy and information between student and teacher that triggers transformation in the consciousness field. Guru Dakshina mostly refers to a fee and/or a service that is called for by the Guru; it is the means to enliven reciprocity. Activating the energy flow of giving and receiving.
The willingness of a student to offer support to the Guru is a crucial indicator of worthy enquiry. Beyond this, the offering of Guru Dakshina is an exchange that should be given from one’s heart to another. The student has to be ready, willing and fully believe in the worth of this exchange which is essentially about awakening one’s soul and activating the individuals human potential. The student is literally investing in themselves, their own personal spiritual awakening and the quality of how they are going to live their lives through the integration of the wisdom of life. When the student gives abundantly it allows for them to receive abundantly. It opens the student’s heart and mind to the field of all possibilities. This allows for new knowledge to flow in as well inviting expansion to occur.
A Vedic master and/or Guru has mastered the capacity to win the support of all the laws of nature and, therefore, always will be provided for amply. Self-sufficiency is an attribute of enlightenment. In the Vedic tradition, it is considered a great blessing and honor when our offerings become one of the means whereby nature provides for the Guru. It is more than normal for the Guru to call for a monetary course fee before any teaching commences. The reality is we live in a modern society which functions off money being the energy exchange of almost anything and everything. The greater the resistance and/or sacrafice one has with the parting of money the more powerful the monetary offering becomes. This allows for an individual to take the teachings on with more discipline, meaning, etc. Surrendering money and time as an offering of Guru Dakshina has a powerful effect on the student allowing for them to pay more attention to what they have invested in.
Aside from the Guru Dakshina offering which is an exchange for receiving the teachings, students are asked to demonstrate worthy enquiry by complying with a daily practice, attending knowledge meetings, and by showing respect through listening to the Guru’s lectures and showing observance of the Guru’s rules and guidelines. Our experience as Vedic masters is most students are absolutely willing to give on the level that is asked for and rarely dispute the value of the teachings. These students are the one’s who express the largest impact of the teachings most quickly.
If one hesitates to offer or tries to bargain over Guru Dakshina then perhaps one might consider money’s outer material buying power to be more valuable than awakening the infinite organizing power of the inner Self. Or simply one considers their money’s value to be greater than the Guru’s knowledge demonstrating that the time to receive such Supreme knowledge is not conducive to that very moment.
To a master, any of these implied attitudes would be a warning sign of a lack of worthy enquiry; teaching someone under unworthy conditions could cause the teaching to become lost to future generations.
Therefore, for our own benefit, and for the benefit of all, it is good to do our utmost to meet all the conditions set by a Guru. To do so clarifies our own intention; demonstrating our worthy enquiry stimulates the flow of knowledge, and it brings support to oneself and to the Guru’s plan to offer enlightenment to the world."
(Quote Credit: welcomeearth.tv)
See also: The Law of Worthy Enquiry