At Dharma Gates, we offer all our programs by Dana—on a donation basis, in the spirit of generosity.
“The financial support and how this retreat was framed attracted a lot of young folks who otherwise wouldn’t be able to spend their week in this way ”
“I feel very grateful to have received this opportunity that would not have been accessible for me if there were a cost. I can and am honored to take the lessons I received and go out and share them with those I serve.”
Our Dana Policy
Inspired by the Insight Retreat Center and the S.N. Goenka lineage, we have chosen not to require any charges or suggest specific payment amounts for our retreats. We fully cover all expenses related to the retreat, including meals, housing, rental costs, and any teacher fees. Rather than offering a sliding scale or suggested donations, our intention is to offer the entire retreat as a gift, freely accessible to all participants, without obligation of payment.
What is Donation-Based?
We run all our programs on a donation-basis and so any donation—no matter how small—helps us to continue to offer these retreats to future participants. Depending on one’s life situation, this donation could be $3 or $3,000. For context, the approximate cost per participant for a 7-day retreat, based on a recent event was $550. If you have benefitted from Dharma Gates’ offerings, and you believe in its continued accessibility for all, we kindly invite you to contribute whatever you can to support us going forward. This contribution could be as simple as letting your friends and family know about our work, sharing Dharma Gates programs on social media, helping clean up after a retreat, or volunteering your time in another way; each contribution enables the sustainability of our donation-based offerings. We are grateful for all forms of support!
Why run an organization completely on a donation-basis?
Giving the Opportunity to Give
Generosity is a foundation of Buddhist practice. Traditionally, Buddhist teachings are offered free of charge. By not charging a fixed fee or suggesting a specific donation amount, we allow participants to engage in the practice of giving according to their ability and resonance with the teachings, rather than as a transaction.
Accessibility
Many young people in the United States face significant financial challenges, such as student debt and limited savings. The most common obstacle we hear from young people wanting to pursue deeper practice is the prohibitive cost of retreats—with sliding scales for week-long retreats often starting outside of participants’ price range. By operating on a donation basis, without the additional barriers of sliding scale or scholarship applications, we ensure accessibility for everyone.
“My wish is for these opportunities to be available to every young adult in the country.”
Continuing the tradition of generosity
Buddhism was introduced to the West through the generosity of Asian lineage-holders who often freely shared their teachings without charging fees. By offering our retreats for free, we continue this tradition of giving teachings without expecting financial compensation. It allows us to honor and uphold that spirit. We are grateful to those elders in the Buddhist community who brought Buddhism to North America by Dana.
Creating a culture of Dana
Running an organization on a donation basis nurtures a cycle of generosity. When participants experience the beauty of receiving freely, it often inspires them to give freely as well. This culture of giving fosters abundance and supports our sustainability in the long run.
Thinking About Going Dana-Based?
We seek to support organizations and individuals wishing to switch to offering their teachings or services on a donation-basis, for both Dharma and secular offerings. We’re happy to offer this consultation by Dana—just send us an email!