I Will Never Charge for My Substack

The law of giving is far greater than the law of earning.

Selfless (egoless) action gives you everything — and more.

To my friends still on Instagram, Facebook, or just getting passive emails — join me on Substack. Every day, I invite you to sit with your cuppa, open Substack, and read Notes like these:

Every week, a full post lands in your inbox. I’ve been doing this for over a year, but the only thing missing is you — just a word or a like to let me know you’re there.

Even if it’s not me you end up following, Substack is full of people doing wonderful work. Either way, you’ll be adding something good to your week.

One practical tip: when you sign up to Substack, for your own peace of mind, go to Settings and turn off all notifications.

Now let’s get into why we’re here:

I Will Never Charge for My Substack

Now you might be thinking, that’s not true. Just last week there was a post for “paid subscribers” 👇

Are You Really Awake?

You’re right. But certain content is meant to stay behind a curtain. People who support The Elder Sage gain access because they are already on board with this work and have chosen to support it.

An Elder’s Advice

A wise man once told me:

“There are two ways to earn a living: one is to go out and get paid for a job. The other way is to be selfless and serve a cause greater than your own.”

People wonder how you can earn money by serving others. This is where the ancient practice of Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action, comes in.

Karma means action and yoga means union. So, Karma Yoga means union with the Self through selfless (egoless) action.

Of all the Yogas I have studied, Karma Yoga is the greatest Yoga of all! It is Karma Yoga that will save the world.

— Dr George King

The Law of Wealth

True story: a married woman served a noble cause for more than 30 years while her husband earned a living. He was a little resentful; sometimes even thought she was a freeloader. After all, his earnings paid for everything! Or so he thought.

Over the years, he received promotion after promotion and pay rise after pay rise. The question of how or why never crossed his mind. Totally unaware of the invisible power of selflessness, he was convinced his promotions and pay increases were solely due to his efforts.

The prosperity that came to them was phenomenal. Not only because of his earnings but because of her selfless work.

That is why I never charge for my Substack. My writing and recordings are an offering.

The Attitude of Giving

Many creators make products to sell, like books and courses. But for me, it’s always been about a shift in attitude.

We all work hard. The difference is that most of us work for a salary. I haven’t received a salary for over three decades. Of course, this is my choice.

I believe in selfless work. In doing what’s right, serving something greater than oneself, and contributing without constantly asking, “What’s in it for me?”

This attitude has given me everything I could ask for: peace, security, a wonderful life — and a world-class view (see image above).

The Law of Selflessness

We have been conditioned to believe that the way to create a good life is to earn more money. I don’t believe that for a minute.

I believe another economy is at work: the law of selflessness.

When you serve a higher cause, a noble purpose, something beyond your own personal interests, life has a way of giving back.

That's why I keep The Elder Sage free. Yes, you will find some posts behind a “paywall”, which I like to call a Portal to Knowledge.

But like this post, most of them are free.

I give because I believe in giving — without expecting anything in return.

These essays and videos are my contribution. If you receive them, read them, and they benefit you in some way, then perhaps the right thing is to contribute something in return. Although I will never ask. It is entirely up to you.

But one thing I know about the law of wealth: if your attitude is to take, and keep taking, things will be taken from you. Maybe not right away, but if you constantly think, “What’s in it for me? What am I getting out of this?” — and wonder why you’re still chasing happiness, then perhaps it’s time to look into your attitude.

But if you give freely, the world will repay you tenfold. That’s just how it works.

Look at nature, and you’ll see this law of selfless working everywhere: the sun rises every morning and sets every evening, never once withdrawing its light. The earth doesn’t demand payment before it yields vegetation; it keeps giving, season after season. A cow doesn’t calculate what she’ll receive for her milk.

Nature has never once asked, “What’s in it for me?” Yet nature lacks nothing.

Your New Mantra: Give Back

We’ve been taking from the moment we were born. From the oxygen we breathe, to the food we eat, and the water we drink. My teacher used to always ask, “Have you paid your oxygen bill yet?”

No. Of course not. It’s free. But that’s no reason to take it for granted.

If you visit my archive, you’ll notice that not everything is freely available. A small number of pieces sit behind the Substack paywall (Portal to Knowledge). I put them there because of their controversial content — and because they are a gift I choose to give to those who contribute to The Elder Sage.

Become a Champion

I’ve never been fond of the term “paid subscriber”. Purely because, in the spirit of karma yoga (selfless activity), I prefer deserving — offering my work without charge and receiving what comes back, whatever that may be.

Substack hasn’t yet caught up on this non-trend — it’s all about paid subscriptions. The more paid subscribers you have, the more likely you are to get a little orange tick next to your name, showing you have hundreds of paid subscribers!

I prefer the term champion to paid subscriber, because a champion says “I believe in this and I want it to flourish.”

Become a champion of your own life by giving freely — without keeping score. That’s the law of selflessness. And what you give out returns tenfold. Always.

For 34 years, I’ve tried to live by the same law: writing and teaching without a salary, trusting that what I give comes back in ways money never could.

And so far, it has.

Till next time,
Be Well,
Meredith ∞ The Elder Sage