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The Meaning of Dana, or Generosity of Spirit. From the time of the Buddha, a relationship of dana (generosity of spirit), mutual aid and trust has endured between the laity and the monastic members of the Buddhist Sangha. This reciprocal respect and kindness and depth of commitment to help each other is what enables Buddhism to survive and grow.

Whether we live the homeless life of monks or the life of a householder, generosity makes the heart grow brighter.

As monks we try to practice the Dharma as purely as possible and we offer to share the Dharma through teaching, encouragement and example. We live in and maintain our monastery as a place of quiet refuge for all those who would like to join in our training. Traditionally in order to help the monks continue to deepen their training and offer the Dharma, the laity offer alms and receive instruction on how to put the Dharma into practice to benefit themselves and the world.
Mutual respect and kindness develop between members of the Sangha, and thus the practice of dana assists each of us in making our training a success. There really can be no price put on the Buddha Dharma. Thus, we at Shasta Abbey have chosen not to have fees or even suggested donation amounts. We make an offering of the teaching, and provide a training refuge, putting our faith in the practice of dana.
Shasta Abbey truly lives and functions through lay financial support which provides the traditional "four requisites" of food, lodging, robes, and medicine for monks.

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Shasta Abbey truly lives and functions through lay financial support which provides the traditional "four requisites" of food, lodging, robes, and medicine for monks.

Offering Food

Alms Round

Various Projects Completed
 

We are deeply grateful for the kind offerings which completed the building of the Bodhidharma Hall.


The Bodhidharma Hall is our monks' residence hall; built, heated and maintained through the ongoing efforts an
d donations of the laity.

 

 

When we serve our fellow trainees purely,
hundreds and thousands of lives are enfolded in one single day’s, or hour’s work, which will bear fruit for many lives to come.   

Great Master Dogen, Instructions to the Chief Cook

 

Our Wholehearted Thanks

In our last year's summer project we received over $30,000 for replacing carpet and paint in our guest house. Through the generous efforts of the Sangha the Vimilakirti Hall guest house has been painted and generally spruced up. The carpet was professionally installed. We had a very harmonious month of working meditation doing these renovations. It is amazing what a group of people working togethr can accomplish. From the donations that we received we also ordered 14 new chairs for the common room and spirtiual counseling room. These should arrive in the near future. We hope that you feel that is a good use of your donations.

We are deeply grateful for all the generosity we received for our projects and also our deepest thanks to all who came and helped, not only with Vimilakirti Hall but also in other areas of the monastery.

   
Home Monastery Meditation Dharma Retreats Giving Photos Contact

A Serene Reflection (Soto Zen) Meditation monastery, Order of Buddhist Contemplatives temple, Shasta Abbey offers monastic and lay retreats, Zen Buddhist meditation, spiritual training, and mindfulness practice; central principles are Refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Buddhist Precepts and Bodhisattva vow.