--- In [email protected], "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], anon_astute_ff <no_reply@> > wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], TurquoiseB <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > --- In [email protected], Michael Dean Goodman > > > <Tantra@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Dear Fairfield Lifers, > > > > > > > > In response to the recent discussions on this list about > > > > the TM course fee [Why does T/M cost so much to join? A > > > > little help?], I'll re-post my controversial essay from > > > > a few years ago. I first posted it on this list... > > > > > > Since reposts are in vogue, here's a repost of one > > > of mine, somewhat shorter than Michael's: > > > > > > I entered "learn to meditate" into Google and checked > > > what it costs to learn, from the first page of sites > > > found that listed prices: > > > > > > 1. $0 -- the techniques are provided on the website. > > > 2. $1.65 to $10.85 -- it's a book, sold through Amazon. > > > 3. $59.90 -- a home study course (Yogananda tradition). > > > 4. $0 -- instruction provided online, MP3s of talks > > > provided for free, week-long in-residence retreats > > > that include room and board for $295. > > > 5. $0 -- instruction provided online. > > > 6. $69 to $169 per day -- in-residence instruction that > > > includes room and board from Shambhala Mountain Center. > > > 7. $11.95 -- book. > > > 8. $0 -- instruction provided online. > > > 9. $4.95 -- book. > > > 10. $10.95 -- book. > > > 11. $0 -- Vipassana tradition, free classes. > > > 12. $0 -- instruction provided online. > > > 13. $2500 -- the first TM-related site, > > > http://www.tm.safire.com/ > > > 14. $0 -- instruction provided online (Australian). > > > 15. $240 -- six-hour course in Stamford, CT. > > > 16. $88 to $122 -- London Buddhist Center (4-week course). > > > > > > Does one stand out from the rest? > > > > An insight that may be useful in this discussion is what economists > > refer to as "consumer surplus". It is the difference between what a > > consumer is willing to pay for a good or service, and the actual > > market price. For example, I may be willing to pay up to $300 / > > month for broadband internet access -- it has at least $300 of > > value to me, but I am more than happy to pay just $40 /month to one > > of several providers who offer it for that price. The $260 > > difference is consumer surplus -- one of the great windfalls of > > modern economies. We generally pay a lot less for things than the > > value they supply to us. > > > > Thus, if the argument is that we should be willing to pay up to the > > full value of TM has some merit if there are no "substitutes". But > > if there are equivalent services available, the market cost of > > substitues is much lower than value (willingness to pay). Rational > > consumers don't often pay full value -- they pay market price and > > enjoy the -- often large -- consumer surplus. > > > > Some might argue that TM has no equivalents -- that it is a highly > > "differentiated" product and thus a price equal to or near full > > value is rational. That of course requires that the case for product > > uniqueness can be effectively made -- a growing challenge given the > > evidence provided in prior posts. > > However, you can get precisely the same product for > much less from teachers no longer affiliated with the > organization. > > It's no longer the case that the only place you can > get the product is from the company that developed it. > You no longer have to pay a steep price just for the > proprietary name.
That was my point. Was it expressed that unclearly? Or simply too diplomatically -- allowing for the view of some that there is no substitute for TM. > The whole "The TMO charges too much because MMY is > greedy" argument is no longer relevant. It's gone, > obsolete. > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
