Dana is the Pali word for “generosity.” Along with ethical integrity (Sila) and heart-mind cultivation (Bhavana), it is considered one of the three parts of the path. Generosity gladdens the heart, and at the same time it supports the practice of releasing clinging.
IWM depends on generosity for its existence. We employ two very part-time staff and pay for bookkeeping and payroll services. For the rest, we rely on volunteers, who offer dana in the form of their time to serve on the Board and committees, lead open meditation sessions and Kalyana Mitta groups, facilitate Affinity Groups, host events, clean the meditation center, provide tech assistance and other tasks.
We also rely on the financial generosity of the sangha to meet the day-to-day operational expenses of running IWM. When you register for an event, you will see a few different levels of suggested donation. You will also see that no one is turned away for inability to pay. Periodically we hold fundraising events, and Friends of IWM are people who have chosen to make a regular monthly donation to support the center.
In addition, IWM follows the tradition of our Theravada lineage in the practice of teacher dana. Registration donations support only administrative costs for an event. Teachers are financially supported by donations from the sangha. The practice of teacher dana reflects the values that the teachings are priceless, and that no one be denied the teachings. It underscores the teachers’ interdependence with the sangha and is more closely aligned with the spirit of a gift economy than a transactional model. When you attend an event at IWM, you will be invited to make a donation to support the teacher who is offering the event.
We appreciate all the ways the sangha community supports IWM, with time as a volunteer, with financial resources, and with your dedication to your practice, for the sake of all beings.
