[blueunicorn6]

“To give a series of paid public lectures” - How much did Jesus charge? Oh, that’s right, he gave away fish and bread. Meditate on that.

[jrg]

“To give a series of paid public lectures”
Yes, usually when Buddhist teachers give lectures or teachings, there is a monetary donation given.
However, at every teaching that I've attended, that money was given back to the presenters as a gift from the teacher. They've never kept the money.
Can't speak for HHDL, since I've only been to a teaching given by him once, and it was free.