Dana/Donations
Dana is the Pali word for Generosity and is the traditional way that the monks who dedicated their lives to sharing the Dharma (teachings) were supported by the laypeople who received them so that they could continue to study and share.
Wikipedia: (Devanagari: दान) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies…In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, dāna is the practice of cultivating generosity.
Traditionally in these Indian traditions, the teachings are given freely by monastics who have dedicated their lives to the study and sharing of such, and in turn they are supported by the offering of Dana or generosity. Very unlike our modern culture of consumerism/capitalism we are unfamiliar and oftentimes, uncomfortable with this form of energy exchange.
Your donation helps to support the teacher’s livelihood, decades of studies, and administrative costs to continue studying and offering these teachings in our contemporary times. Your generosity above any suggested amount, also helps to provide access to those who may not be able to donate at all.
By giving generously when we are able, we all contribute to keeping the teachings alive and the Sangha (Pali word for community) well and thriving. Thank you for your generosity.
(Please NOTE: Sliding Scale options are different but similar to Dana/Donation in that they give the receiver of services agency over how much they will donate within a range of options.)
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Dana/Donations can be made via any of the following:
Cash for in-person events or
Venmo @LGTahoe (requires a Venmo account, no credit cards, friends/family only)
Paypal to lauri@lauriglenn.com (does not require a paypal account, can use credit card)
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Most of us aren’t sure what to give when the option is Dana/Donation based and while an amount might be suggested, it isn’t always. That is for a reason too. Dana (donation) is not a monetary exchange in which we assign a value to an object and then if someone cannot pay that fee, the object is inaccessible to them. Instead, with Dana, offerings are made (teachings, classes, etc) accessible to everyone and the receiver of the offerings makes Dana from the heart based on what is sustainable for them. Sustainable means giving as an expression of generosity, appreciation, and at the highest amount you can that will not cause you harm (IE: make you unable to feed yourself, pay your mortgage, clothe your children etc). So, the way a Dana system works (aka: is successful) is when those who have more, give more, so that those who have less are still able to access the resources. There will always be times when each of us has “less” or “more”, when each of us is helping someone with less financial ability to access the services/teachings. Dana is not a fixed rate, remember.
When I go on retreat, I pay the retreat center a set fee for the lodging, food etc and then I pay an additional amount of Dana that goes directly to the teacher. When I first started doing this, it was quite uncomfortable for me. I wondered things like what amount was appropriate, what are the “teachings” actually “worth”, how much is the teacher getting overall, will I seem “cheap” or “excessive” depending on what I give etc. All my attachment to money came up, so to speak. So, I asked a senior retreat goer and they helped me with the following suggestion:
“Figure out what amount would be really comfortable and easy to give, then what amount would feel excessive (for my own financial stability) and then find a middle point where it just gently pushes against the edge of complete comfort but is not harmful to you. Give this. This is generosity.”
This gave me a good guideline. And while sometimes I stay in the real comfort zone and give what is “easy”, more and more I have found myself giving more generously and touching that edge. And you know what? It feels good. It feels good to give, especially when receiving something valuable. In a way, it deepens the value of what I’ve received because I am reflecting that value with what I offer. It feels good to know I am putting a form of energy (money) to help further these teachings and support those who have dedicated their lives to study, practice, and sharing these gifts. My generosity has grown over time and what I’ve found is what the Buddha and many other wisdom traditions teach: That when we give generously from the heart, we receive just as generously. I have found this to be true.
Donations can be made via any of the following:
Cash for in-person events
Venmo @LGTahoe (requires a Venmo account, no credit cards, friends/family only)
Paypal to lauri@lauriglenn.com (does not require a paypal account, can use credit card)
Thank you for your generosity, Lauri Glenn & Widespread WellBeing
