There is no way that the Dharma can survive as a living principle unless it can be offered and received as a gift,
in an atmosphere where mutual compassion and concern are the medium of exchange,
and purity of heart is the bottom line.
Thanissaro Bhikkhu The Economy of Gifts
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. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and generosity of all kinds in helping us to maintain this place of training.
Shasta Abbey is supported entirely by dana. If you would like to help support us by sending a donation by check please feel free to mail to it to us at Shasta Abbey, 3724 Summit Dr., Mount Shasta, CA 96067-9102.
If you would like to support us by a credit card donation, please scroll down the Giving menu and click on Donations. Shasta Abbey is a 501C-3, non-profit corporation and all donations are tax deductible under the United States tax code. We issue tax receipts for the previous year’s donations in January of each year. We are deeply grateful for your support.
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.