8/13/2019 Dana English
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In the Spirit of Generosity
Dana
Since the time of the Buddha, the local communities in Asia,
traditionally built meditation-
retreat centers and monasteries, provided housing, food,
clothes, medicine and educational materials
for all who sincerely wished to practice meditation. There is a
lot of appreciation for the great value
of these teachings for both the individual and society. Thus,
for more than two thousand years it has
been considered extremely meritorious to offer support to
spiritual practitioners. In the West, wherethis kind of practice is
still relatively new, we haven't quite reached this level of
gratitude and
support.
Yet also in the West all the retreats of this particular
Buddhist tradition are organized on an
entirely non-profit basis. They are made possible only because a
number of dedicated people
voluntarily and freely offer their unpaid services as
organizers, retreat-cooks, secretaries and
accountants.
Also the teachers offer their guidance in the spirit of
generosity, ('dana', in the old Buddhist
languages) since it is considered that the Dharma, the
teachings, cannot be measured in material or
monetary value. They do not charge any fees for their work, but
are dependent on voluntarydonations by the course participants at
the end of the retreat. Teachers offer their time, energy,
experience and understanding. In addition to the time they spend
at courses and retreats, they pass
days and weeks for the preparation of the courses, for
administration, travel preparations, as well as
the writing of talks, articles, books and translations. However,
unless they have the financial support
which allows them to live adequately, they cannot continue to
provide this valuable service. Most ofthem have no other source of
income. Thus they depend on receiving material support in order
to
live in the modern world, with all the expenses of renting
apartments, paying for food, clothes,
dentists and medical bills, as much as for the continuation of
their own spiritual studies and
practice. There is no firm or business behind the organization
of these retreats, sending teachers or
proposing retreats. Teachers traditionally go only where
invited. And they depend for theirlivelihood on the generosity of
the course-participants alone. This way of relying on donations
not
only creates opportunities for the practice of giving but is a
profound statement of trust in the power
of generosity and openheartedness in a culture which advocates
greed and possessiveness as
pathways to happiness. We are grateful for your support which
will help to keep this tradition alive.
The cost of the retreat covers only the actual expenses of
housing and food, organization andadministration, as well as travel
expenses of teachers and staff. Since no fee is charged for the
teachings or for the work of staff and organizers, insight
meditation retreats can usually be offered
relatively inexpensively so that students and other people with
low budgets can attend.
Undertaking such a retreat with commitment and genuine interest
in spiritual inquiry, is an
expression of connectedness with all those who are truly
concerned with a conscious and sensitive
approach to life. May our efforts be for the welfare of all
living beings!
Voluntary, anonymous cash doations can be put in the donation
boxes
at the end of each course.
