Since the time of the Buddha there has been a tradition that those who offer the teachings are supported directly by their community. They do not ask for this, it is offered freely. In Asia, where it is understood that the practice of generosity (dana) forms the bedrock of spiritual practice this tradition has evolved into a system where the interdependence of those who teach the Dharma and their community is implicit. Those who devote themselves to teaching are held in great respect, and their communities take seriously the reciprocal responsibility for supporting the teacher and the teachings. In turn the teacher upholds the responsibility of living an exemplary life, and making the teachings readily available. It is understood that to support the teacher is to support oneself.

The act of intentionally sharing one's energy, material wealth or time is understood to enhance one's capacity of letting go of attachments. This letting go is a central facet of the path of freedom from suffering. Support of the teacher takes the form of preparing food, providing transportation and medical care, constructing and maintaining shelter and providing all the requisites of life for him/her. This allows the teacher to devote him/herself to practice, study and deepen his/her ability to realize and share the Dharma.

As we introduce Buddhism to the West, teacher support is inevitably evolving into different forms. Those who teach are frequently householders who support themselves, and often a family, without a center or monastery. Their community is often geographically dispersed. They participate directly in the cash economy, taking care of their own needs. As householders, their teachings may be particularly relevant to us because they are living lives of the dharma amidst questions of money, relationships, sexuality and raising a family.

A "Dana Basket" is provided to give the community members the opportunity to support their teacher financially. It can be understood as a conduit for the stored energy of money to supply the requisites of the teacher so that he/she can focus on teaching. This system of teacher support is radically different from that of most Western schools of training and personal growth where there is a fixed fee. The fact that there is no fixed fee leaves the responsibility with the individual to decide what amount of support is appropriate for them. It also guarantees that the teachings are available to persons of all economic levels. Dana invites each individual to develop his/her own capacity to be generous in a context that directly assists his/her own spiritual growth. As in Asia, to support one's teacher is to support oneself and to help make the teachings available to others.

People often ask for guidelines concerning dana. The dharma is priceless, so how can one possibly be guided? There is no obligation to give. However, if the gift of the dharma is experienced as precious there is the opportunity to participate in the support of the teacher and teachings. One guideline is perhaps: to give until your heart feels full, to do your utmost to return what has been given. One may also seek guidance by looking at the fees that are charged for similar events or workshops in our culture. Evening events and lectures commonly cost $15 and movies now cost $7. Leaders of workshops are typically paid $30 - $50 per person per day. The decision of what to give is deeply personal. Those with lesser means are free to contribute less, and those with greater means may offer more according to the direction of their heart.

The dana basket invites us to reflect upon what is really important to us and to direct some portion of our financial resources to support the dharma. We are invited to transcend our capitalist-materialist conditionings which encourage us to get the best deal at the lowest possible price, and to seek happiness through the satisfaction of desires. The practice of dana provides us the opportunity to support teachings that help us realize that true happiness arises with non-attachment.

Generosity, as the foundation of our spiritual life helps us recognize and practice our natural interconnectedness. As life gives generously to us, so we give generously back to life. We belong to what we support, and we are nourished by it.

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion

It is easy in solitude to live after our own

The great person is the one who in the midst of the crowd can hold with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

Emerson