What karmic retribution awaits those who make money and profit through deliverance rituals?

First, it must be made clear whether this way of making money is a fair and legitimate transaction. If it is not, its nature is that of deception or fraud, and the offense and its karmic retribution should then be judged according to the conduct and nature of the act of deception. What is a fair and legitimate transaction? It is one in which both buyer and seller each obtain the benefit or advantage they expect. If only one party gains benefit while the other gains nothing, it is an unfair transaction.

Next, let us discuss whether this transaction is legitimate. Whether this matter is legitimate or not should be measured from several aspects: First, does this person have the qualification to perform deliverance rituals? Second, does this person have the ability to perform deliverance? Third, should delivering sentient beings from the sea of suffering be charged a fee, and if so, what is the standard for such fees?

To clarify the questions above, we must first clarify the concept and meaning of the term "deliverance." What is deliverance? Deliverance is when a high-ranking bodhisattva, sentient being, or member of the Saṅgha of high energy, high virtue, and high quality, through the recitation of Buddhist sutras, mantras, and the words of the Buddha, prays to obtain the blessing power of all Buddhas and bodhisattvas, so as to bless the sentient beings of the three evil paths, lighten their karmic obstructions, grant them a certain measure of merit, and lead them to accept and have faith in the Three Jewels, thereby enabling them to escape the three evil paths. Thus, deliverance is accomplished through the combined power of merit, virtue, and compassion of all Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels, together with the deliverer himself, to lift the beings of the evil paths out of the sea of suffering and lighten their retribution for sins.

If the deliverer performs deliverance for the sake of money, then first of all his virtue is deficient, his merit is deficient, and his compassion is deficient. Such a person cannot receive the protection and blessing of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels; all his recitations carry no merit, and the beings burdened with sins cannot gain any benefit. Deliverance itself is not something that can be accomplished by one's own strength alone; it is accomplished through one's personal cultivation of virtue combined with the majestic power of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels. It is one thing if an individual lacks majestic power, but by what right should one use the majestic power of the Three Jewels to make money for oneself? Who has the audacity and the qualification to rely on the Three Jewels to make money and get rich? Is this not making money off the Three Jewels? The money of the Three Jewels—who could afford to earn it? It would mean not only casting aside one's life but casting aside everything.

How could a person who truly understands cause and effect, who is clear about principles, and who is deeply grateful to the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels, dare to—or have the heart to—use the Three Jewels to make money? Bodhisattvas deliver sentient beings out of bodhicitta, for the sake of suffering sentient beings, and in order to repay the kindness of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels; never for their own personal gain. Bodhisattvas never charge fees or make money when teaching and transforming sentient beings. No matter how much effort they expend in writing teachings and books, they provide them free of charge for sentient beings to study.

Because this is a great undertaking that cannot be accomplished by one's own strength alone—all of a bodhisattva's wisdom comes from the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the Three Jewels, and there is not even enough time to repay that kindness—how could one exploit the majesty and virtue of the Three Jewels for personal profit? If one does so, one is not a bodhisattva. Those who make money off the Three Jewels, who profit by selling books and other products related to the Three Jewels, are not true bodhisattvas, not true good teachers. Such ungrateful, treacherous selling is called selling out the Tathāgata. Selling out the Tathāgata is the work of Māra and brings Māra's karmic retribution. Making money by exploiting the Three Jewels is making money off the Three Jewels; the more of this money one earns, the poorer one becomes, and in the end one falls into the evil paths to suffer the bitter retribution of poverty.