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GIVING

Dana

Donations

Alms Round

Making Food Offerings

Bequests

Friends of Shasta Abbey

Volunteers


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

 



Giving

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.

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.

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.

 

Alms BowlAugust Alms Bowl
We would be grateful for your offerings of:
Nut Butter
Honey
Granola/Cold Cereal
Canola Oil
Pillow Cases (White, Cream, Tan)
Bath Mats (White, Cream, Tan)
Cough Drops
Zicam for Colds
Antacid Tablets

Contentment is the greatest wealth.
A healthy mind is the greatest gain.
A trustworthy friend is the best of kin.
Unconditional Freedom is the highest bliss.

Dhammapada