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aloha
April 2009 
Spirituality and compensation
Posted on Jun 15th, 2008
by 
Alika
Alika
Aloha everyone!
I wanted to write about something here because I imagine there are a lot of other people in the Gaia community who are in similar situations that can relate and provide excellent feedback.
I live every day doing my utmost to share what I call an Aloha Life with the world. It has become more than just something I do in my spare time - it is what I do all day, every day. I do this through an online presence here and on other sites, I do it through free lectures and workshops I do on college campuses, I do this through working with various non-profits I am associated with, and I do this through my books, DVDs and CDs.
It was this last category that apparently has upset someone recently. I received a very angry email asking me if I "was selling happiness or inner-peace or what?" I replied to this person, letting him know that in my opinion, you cannot buy those things, that what I do is offer up a method that works for me. He responded to this even angrier and informed me that if one charges to share their knowledge, than that is criminal and I should be ashamed.
Of course, this person chose to direct some anger at me that is coming from somewhere else but it got me to thinking, how do we find the balance between living our lives from a generous, healthy place and still live in a commercial world.
My feelings on it are similar to my good friend the musician Ried Kapo Ku. I believe in the abundance of the Universe - that the Universe was set up to take care of us abundantly. It is a shame that some people equate abundance negatively as I believe that abundance is a good thing and I am grateful for the bounty that is my life.
I am all for the Universe compensating me in many ways - money, gratitude, health, a kiss, a kind thought, being able to take the next breath, and the next...
For me, I know the way I operate must be pono (fair, just, conscious) and I expect the same from everyone I interact with. It is true - I sell products, I conduct workshops and I teach classes and I am compensated for this. I balance this with free events, donating time and money to charity and trying to do what I can to keep the Aloha flowing freely throughout the world to everyone.
Aloha is much bigger than me, bigger than any of us. First and foremost I share it with everyone I meet. I am just very blessed that I am also able to make spreading the Aloha my career as well as my life. I would be very interested to know how others find this balance in their lives.
Ke aloha wale, ka mahalo wale
Alika
I wanted to write about something here because I imagine there are a lot of other people in the Gaia community who are in similar situations that can relate and provide excellent feedback.
I live every day doing my utmost to share what I call an Aloha Life with the world. It has become more than just something I do in my spare time - it is what I do all day, every day. I do this through an online presence here and on other sites, I do it through free lectures and workshops I do on college campuses, I do this through working with various non-profits I am associated with, and I do this through my books, DVDs and CDs.
It was this last category that apparently has upset someone recently. I received a very angry email asking me if I "was selling happiness or inner-peace or what?" I replied to this person, letting him know that in my opinion, you cannot buy those things, that what I do is offer up a method that works for me. He responded to this even angrier and informed me that if one charges to share their knowledge, than that is criminal and I should be ashamed.
Of course, this person chose to direct some anger at me that is coming from somewhere else but it got me to thinking, how do we find the balance between living our lives from a generous, healthy place and still live in a commercial world.
My feelings on it are similar to my good friend the musician Ried Kapo Ku. I believe in the abundance of the Universe - that the Universe was set up to take care of us abundantly. It is a shame that some people equate abundance negatively as I believe that abundance is a good thing and I am grateful for the bounty that is my life.
I am all for the Universe compensating me in many ways - money, gratitude, health, a kiss, a kind thought, being able to take the next breath, and the next...
For me, I know the way I operate must be pono (fair, just, conscious) and I expect the same from everyone I interact with. It is true - I sell products, I conduct workshops and I teach classes and I am compensated for this. I balance this with free events, donating time and money to charity and trying to do what I can to keep the Aloha flowing freely throughout the world to everyone.
Aloha is much bigger than me, bigger than any of us. First and foremost I share it with everyone I meet. I am just very blessed that I am also able to make spreading the Aloha my career as well as my life. I would be very interested to know how others find this balance in their lives.
Ke aloha wale, ka mahalo wale
Alika
Access: Public
Hi Alika! Yes, I share your sentiments and passion about entrepreneurship.
I believe that you're following your heart. and doing something great. While you will have your supporters, there will be a few others who will criticize you and what you do at their own level of awareness, but listen from your heart to know the intentions behind them, then do as your heart tells you to.
Found this blog from the Gaia Team which you might want to read and delight in:
The Business of The Good, The True, and The Beautiful
I saw your movie intro on Aloha Life. Well done!
Aloha and Namaste`!
We must practice non-judgement… choosing a career where once can be of service to humanity is a beautiful thing.. you wake up each day living your life's purpose. Your website is great.
Sat Nam
I do see the challenge that you bring up in this post. The way I see it …. we are all invaluable and if we use our own love, happiness, and devotion to create something to share with others… well, then the exchange of energy is only “right” … and for most people the most accessible form of energy to readily exchange is our dollars … it's just energy… it's just exchange… it's those who hold it to be something other than energy that create thier own attachments to what is valuable … subjectively, of course. I believe (and am working towards) that people should do what they love to do for work… and get paid to do that, enough so to keep them doing what they love *in* this commercial world that you mentioned.
You are most certainly deserving of this… just as much as am I … as is the bank teller… as is the baseball player … as is anyone doing what they love to do.
And then my “balance” is also choosing where my dollars (energy) goes … conscious capitalism … I choose where my money goes and feed the light by my choice.
Exactly, as Kelli says.I think it's time to allow money to flow into spiritual endeavors or conscious capitalism; so that those who follow pono as you put it, Alika, in business are compensated as well…
This is indeed something many of us have faced and dealt with in different ways.It is an evolving field and as pioneers one has to face the fears of older energy. Alika, how well you took that person's attack! Beautiful . Energetically, just took yourself away from it.
I think we've to stop seeing spirituality as separate from everyday life. It is happening.