A Record of Meetings held by P.D. Ouspensky - HolyBooks.com

MR. O. No accounts are given. Only one thing can be said in relationto this—people pay for what they have received, that means one paysafter some time. As to how the money is used—afterwards you maycome to that, even take part in the distribution of money betweendifferent branches of the work. Now other people do this.Q . In certain cases it might be difficult to keep to the same contributionas circumstances might alter.MR. O. If they alter, they alter; certainly it is possible. What I want youto understand is not only the question of contribution, because thatdepends on circumstances. But there is something else that does notdepend on circumstances, and that is understanding—understanding ofthe necessity of an organization and the need of material means for thisorganization. That is what is obligatory. One can easily find oneself insuch circumstances that one can give nothing—but not a single wordwill be said about it, particularly because one can do many otherthings, not only give money. And this is where the centre of attentionmust be.Q . If we could be told about the new basis of organization, I think itwould be easier to see how we could help.MR. O. No. But what do you mean by a new basis of organization? Isaid we might have to limit the number of people who cannot pay: thatis the only new basis—because we have too many people who cannotpay.Q. How can we find out in what other ways we can help?MR. O. This is your work, i.e. quite an individual question, to findyour way to help. It could not be explained in a general way. If youfind, you find; if you don't find you don't find. This is your own workto find it if you can find.Q . Has the paying got anything to do with belonging to the Society?MR. O. No. As a matter of fact we have decided that there will be nopayments in the Society, at least in the first year. Those who will enterthe Society will not pay any fees. Only one organization will remain.The Society will exist on the money coming from one central organization.So the Society will have no financial side. Later on it may perhapsbe organized in the way it was intended with some kind of definitesubscription, but not at present.Q . Should contributions be made at stated intervals or whenever thereis a new group?