Dana: Supporting One Another in Mutual Trust and Generosity
The Awakening Forest Hermitage operates entirely on the ancient principle and practice of Dana. Dana may be translated as the spiritual, religious or liberating practice of charity, generosity or giving. In Theravadin Buddhism Dana is one of the three fundamental practices to be cultivated which are: Dana (giving), Sila (moral virtue) and Bhavana (meditation/mental cultivation). These practices form a solid and healthy basis for mental calm and tranquility together with deeper insight (vipassana) and meditative concentration or absorption known as samadhi and jhana. Dana is also one of the paramis or paramitas, the transcendental perfections cultivated by the Buddha himself and all enlightening beings. As the mental quality of dana is one of unselfishness and release, as a practice it is directly counter to the spiritual poisons of greed, attachment, selfishness and clinging. Thus, the mental state involved in dana and the actions that arise from it are closely related to release, liberation and the freeing of the heart, Citta Vimutti. In practical terms, dana is a grassroots method of simply and without much fuss allowing anyone and everyone to be able to contribute as much as they are able, whenever they are able to the teachers, counsellors and the maintence of places of spiritual teaching and practice. Thus helping to ensure the priceless Dhamma be freely available to all at any time, regardless of contemporary finanacial ability. Rather than taking from one another, we live in mutual generosity, loving supportiveness and freedom. All activities at Aranya Bodhi are supported entirely by the generosity of friends. There is never any charge for any of the teachings, programs, retreat time and space or any of the other activities here. Theravadin Buddhist monastics who live by the traditional Vinaya as taught by the Buddha use and keep no money, do not engage in commercial transactions and do not own goods other than their four basic monastic requisites of a set of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine in times of sickness. All of their labors and activities are offered charitably and freely in their practice of generosity. Contact Details: If you are interested in participating in or supporting the existence or development of the Awakening Forest Hermitage, please contact Hermitage Office: awakeningforest@gmail.com or Hermitage Prioress Ven Bhikkhuni Sobhana at: bhikkhunisobhana@gmail.com. Tax exempt donations for the Awakening Forest Hermitage may be made out to "Dhammadharini" and posted to: The Bodhi House 4196 Bidwell Drive Fremont, CA 94538, USA Please make a note in the memo column of your check: "for Aranya Bodhi" or "for Awakening Forest Hermitage" Online Donations: Secure online donations can be made for the Hermitage via DHAMMADHARINI SUPPORT FOUNDATION through Network for Good. The Network for Good donations can only be made by USA residents  Or click here to make a donation through Network for Good Also online donations through PayPal can be made through your debit card linked to your bank account, most major credit cards, or through your PayPal account. PayPal donations can be made internationally from any country. |
