I definitely share your reservations about many of these “spiritual” teachers locking their teachings behind a paywall. Yet I do still believe in some of what they have to say. I’ll never pay to watch their crap, instead, I’ve picked up a book and read for myself (several books…), and preferably those books are ancient enough to not be under someone modern guru’s copyright.

Here’s what I think the point of nonduality is… the paradoxes that so much nondual philosophy leads to can have a therapeutic effect in recognizing the meaninglessness of many of the things that we stress over. The selfishness that you speak of is all-too-prevalent, but the real point is to extend one’s idea of self to encompass all things, that is what’s supposed to breed compassion and selfless action.

The words alone do not alleviate suffering. And they surely don’t alleviate someone else’s suffering. That can only come through compassion and selflessness in real action, not platitudes. And they surely shouldn’t cost a thing.