Dana - making offerings for Dharma courses
DANA
Traditionally Buddhist teachings are given free of charge because they are considered priceless – nobody can place a fee on something that brings complete liberation from suffering. Not charging for teachings is also done with the motivation of making the Dharma accessible to everyone, so that nobody is excluded from attending due to lack of funds.
In the Buddhist tradition, however, there is also the practice of generosity by making monetary offerings for Dharma teachings. This expression of generosity, referred to by the Sanskrit term ‘Dana’, is not payment for services rendered; rather it is an offering given freely from the heart in appreciation of the Dharma. It is a gift that supports not only the teachers and the wider Dharma community, but also one’s own practice.
On a practical level there are significant expenses involved in running a Dharma Centre, providing conditions for study and practice, inviting teachers and maintaining a spiritual community.
Therefore, in order to make the Dharma accessible in this way, both now and in the future, Lama Yeshe Rinpoche requests the support of the wider community, through our love of the Dharma, to continue to offer whatever we can afford when we attend Dharma teachings at Samye Ling. To see Lama Rinpoche’s letter in this respect please click here.