Dana
What is Dana?
Teachings and meditation retreats that are offered by Melbourne Insight Meditation are offered on the principle of dana. Dana is an ancient Pali word meaning "generosity", "giving" or "gift." It is directly related to the Latin word donum and through this to such English words as donor, donate and donation.
Dana is intrinsic to the 2500 year-old Buddhist tradition. Going back to the days of the Buddha the teachings were considered priceless and thus offered freely as a form of dana. The early teachers received no payment for their instruction, and in turn, the lay community saw to it through their voluntary generosity, their dana, that the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medicine were provided for these monks and nuns.
Beyond the practical dimension, dana also plays a crucial role in the spiritual life of a Dharma practitioner. It is the first of the ten paramitas, or qualities of character, to be perfected. The act of giving itself is of immeasurable benefit to the giver for it opens up the heart, diminishes for a moment one's self-absorption, and places value on the well-being of others. The simple gesture of offering a flower, an act of service, a kind thought or a simple meal is in fact a sincere form of practice.
Teacher support
We do not have a strong monastic tradition in the West however our Insight teachers still follow the ancient model of dana (generosity). Teachers do not receive any payment from Melbourne Insight Meditation. Retreat fees cover only the cost of your accommodation, food, retreat management and the teacher's airfare. Teachers receive financial support solely by voluntary donations (dana) given directly to the teacher by students at the retreat. Many teachers are dependent almost entirely on dana. We ask you to consider that these teachers invest the bulk of their time serving the dharma and that they have the same living expenses, rent/mortgage, transport, education, that we all do.
During the retreat there will be a dana box where you can contribute to the teacher via cash or cheque. Our teacher's paypal and bank details can be found here.
Suggested amounts
You are free to give any amount dependent on your financial situation. The following is a guide for those wondering how much to give.
EVENING TALKS
Suggested base dana* $10-$20
Suggested supporting dana** $20-$50
DAY RETREATS
Suggested base dana* $60
Suggested supporting dana** $100
Suggested strengthening dana*** $140
MULTI-DAY RETREATS
Suggested per day base dana* $70-$100
Suggested per day supporting dana** $100-$200
Suggested per day strengthening dana*** $200 plus
*supports the teacher for the time taken to prepare and present the teachings
** supports the teacher for the time taken plus support their day to day life to dedicate to the buddha dharma
*** supports the teacher for the time taken plus to support their studies with other teachers to further grow and support the flourishing of the buddha dharma
Please know any amount is more than welcome.
Find our teachers' dana details are here
Supporting MIM Financially
To support MIM as an organisation donate via paypal or bank transfer
BSB: 313-140
Account no: 12207815
Supporting MIM By Volunteering
Melbourne Insight Meditation is run through volunteers. We need volunteers to support our weekly sits. This may be by way of helping set-up and pack-up, facilitating and/or general support. Please email us if you are interested in being involved.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Your support is deeply appreciated. Dana helps keep Melbourne Insight Meditation and the teachings alive.
More about Dana
Here are some links about dana:
Insight Meditation Society - Generosity
Bhikkhu Bodhi selected essays - Dana The Practice of Giving
Dharma Treasures
To continue with this heart practice of generosity, one-off and monthly dana can be offered directly to teachers. Please email us for further details.
From "The Joy of Giving" by Gil Fronsdal
“The practice of giving, or dana in Pali, has a preeminent place in the teachings of the Buddha. When he taught a graduated series of practices for people to engage in as they progress along the path, he always started by talking about the importance and benefits of the practice of generosity. …Once a person had awakened, the Buddha often instructed him or her to go out to benefit others, to be of service. Service can be seen as an act of generosity, so the Buddhist path begins and ends with this virtue.
Dana refers to the act of giving and to the donation itself. …An act of generosity entails giving more than is required, customary, or expected relative to one’s resources and circumstances. Certainly it involves relinquishment of stinginess, clinging, and greed. In addition, generosity entails relinquishing some aspects of one’s self-interest, and thus is a giving of one’s self. The Buddha stressed that the spiritual efficacy of a gift is dependent not on the amount given but rather on the attitude with which it is given...
…The consequences of giving are quite wonderful in the present moment; if we are present for them, we can receive these wonderful consequences during the act of giving.
The Buddha emphasized the joy of giving. Dana is not meant to be obligatory or done reluctantly. Rather, dana should be performed when the giver is “delighted before, during, and after giving.”
Although giving for the purposes of helping others is an important part of the motivation and joy of giving, the Buddha considered giving for the purpose of attaining nibbana as the highest motivation. For this purpose, “one gives gifts to adorn and beautify the mind.” Among these adornments are nonclinging, lovingkindness, and concern for the well-being of others.”
Teachings and meditation retreats that are offered by Melbourne Insight Meditation are offered on the principle of dana. Dana is an ancient Pali word meaning "generosity", "giving" or "gift." It is directly related to the Latin word donum and through this to such English words as donor, donate and donation.
Dana is intrinsic to the 2500 year-old Buddhist tradition. Going back to the days of the Buddha the teachings were considered priceless and thus offered freely as a form of dana. The early teachers received no payment for their instruction, and in turn, the lay community saw to it through their voluntary generosity, their dana, that the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medicine were provided for these monks and nuns.
Beyond the practical dimension, dana also plays a crucial role in the spiritual life of a Dharma practitioner. It is the first of the ten paramitas, or qualities of character, to be perfected. The act of giving itself is of immeasurable benefit to the giver for it opens up the heart, diminishes for a moment one's self-absorption, and places value on the well-being of others. The simple gesture of offering a flower, an act of service, a kind thought or a simple meal is in fact a sincere form of practice.
Teacher support
We do not have a strong monastic tradition in the West however our Insight teachers still follow the ancient model of dana (generosity). Teachers do not receive any payment from Melbourne Insight Meditation. Retreat fees cover only the cost of your accommodation, food, retreat management and the teacher's airfare. Teachers receive financial support solely by voluntary donations (dana) given directly to the teacher by students at the retreat. Many teachers are dependent almost entirely on dana. We ask you to consider that these teachers invest the bulk of their time serving the dharma and that they have the same living expenses, rent/mortgage, transport, education, that we all do.
During the retreat there will be a dana box where you can contribute to the teacher via cash or cheque. Our teacher's paypal and bank details can be found here.
Suggested amounts
You are free to give any amount dependent on your financial situation. The following is a guide for those wondering how much to give.
EVENING TALKS
Suggested base dana* $10-$20
Suggested supporting dana** $20-$50
DAY RETREATS
Suggested base dana* $60
Suggested supporting dana** $100
Suggested strengthening dana*** $140
MULTI-DAY RETREATS
Suggested per day base dana* $70-$100
Suggested per day supporting dana** $100-$200
Suggested per day strengthening dana*** $200 plus
*supports the teacher for the time taken to prepare and present the teachings
** supports the teacher for the time taken plus support their day to day life to dedicate to the buddha dharma
*** supports the teacher for the time taken plus to support their studies with other teachers to further grow and support the flourishing of the buddha dharma
Please know any amount is more than welcome.
Find our teachers' dana details are here
Supporting MIM Financially
To support MIM as an organisation donate via paypal or bank transfer
BSB: 313-140
Account no: 12207815
Supporting MIM By Volunteering
Melbourne Insight Meditation is run through volunteers. We need volunteers to support our weekly sits. This may be by way of helping set-up and pack-up, facilitating and/or general support. Please email us if you are interested in being involved.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
Your support is deeply appreciated. Dana helps keep Melbourne Insight Meditation and the teachings alive.
More about Dana
Here are some links about dana:
Insight Meditation Society - Generosity
Bhikkhu Bodhi selected essays - Dana The Practice of Giving
Dharma Treasures
To continue with this heart practice of generosity, one-off and monthly dana can be offered directly to teachers. Please email us for further details.
From "The Joy of Giving" by Gil Fronsdal
“The practice of giving, or dana in Pali, has a preeminent place in the teachings of the Buddha. When he taught a graduated series of practices for people to engage in as they progress along the path, he always started by talking about the importance and benefits of the practice of generosity. …Once a person had awakened, the Buddha often instructed him or her to go out to benefit others, to be of service. Service can be seen as an act of generosity, so the Buddhist path begins and ends with this virtue.
Dana refers to the act of giving and to the donation itself. …An act of generosity entails giving more than is required, customary, or expected relative to one’s resources and circumstances. Certainly it involves relinquishment of stinginess, clinging, and greed. In addition, generosity entails relinquishing some aspects of one’s self-interest, and thus is a giving of one’s self. The Buddha stressed that the spiritual efficacy of a gift is dependent not on the amount given but rather on the attitude with which it is given...
…The consequences of giving are quite wonderful in the present moment; if we are present for them, we can receive these wonderful consequences during the act of giving.
The Buddha emphasized the joy of giving. Dana is not meant to be obligatory or done reluctantly. Rather, dana should be performed when the giver is “delighted before, during, and after giving.”
Although giving for the purposes of helping others is an important part of the motivation and joy of giving, the Buddha considered giving for the purpose of attaining nibbana as the highest motivation. For this purpose, “one gives gifts to adorn and beautify the mind.” Among these adornments are nonclinging, lovingkindness, and concern for the well-being of others.”
