While Snow Lion Meditation Community has secular elements, we adhere to the Buddhist philosophy of dana. Dana (Donation) is a Pali word meaning “offering”. Ideally, dana is the natural expression of a loving, open and generous heart. Dana is an occasion where one can mindfully observe “greed,” “pride,” “arrogance,” selflessness,” “generosity,” or any other mental state that arises in the process. It also provides us with an opportunity to develop gracefulness when making an offering. For some, gracefulness while giving comes naturally and brings much happiness; others need to develop it.
Dana contributed to SLMC can be directed to four streams, briefly described below:
- Material Needs
- Retreat Dana
- Teacher Support
- Community Support
How To Donate
If you wish to contribute to SLMC, you may make a donation in any of the following ways:
E-transfer
You can Interac e-transfer your donation from your online banking to snowlionmeditationcommunity@gmail.com and a designated volunteer treasurer will deposit your donation directly into the SLMC account. Please use the ‘note’ portion of the e-transfer to specify the stream the money is intended for, as listed below.
Donation Box
In person at weekly SLMC classes there is also an opportunity to give a donation.
PayPal
Please click a button below to transfer your donation directly. PayPal transactions will be sent via our donations manager, Andrea Paras, for processing.
Volunteering & Non-Monetary Contributions
Please contact snowlionmeditationcommunity@gmail.com if you wish to assist with fundraising efforts or make a non-monetary contribution to SLMC.
Donation Streams
Material Needs
The SLMC has ongoing material expenses: meditation supplies (cushions, cleaning tools, texts), space/rent costs, website, and printing expenses. The material needs fund will be used to cover these expenses on behalf of our community.
From time to time the community also undertakes major initiatives. For example, in 2017 our community came together to raise funds and volunteer time to construct a new retreat cabin in Owen Sound. Supporting these initiatives is a great opportunity to provide improved and expanded venues for each of us to deepen meditation practice in a quiet and safe atmosphere, away from daily routines and responsibilities.
Retreat Dana
Please use this option if you are participating in a group – not personal – retreat. Retreats are a very important aspect of meditation practice. They provide us the rare opportunity to practice for longer periods of time and delve deeper into our practice. Creating the opportunity for a fruitful retreat requires many things including a meditation hall (physical or virtual), food (in some cases), sleeping quarters (for multi-day retreats) and many other sundry items. Retreats are planned and led by our teacher who’s extensive preparatory work and guidance provides great benefit for those choosing to attend.
Teacher Support
Our teacher follows the time-honoured practice of offering teachings without cost to students. This venerable tradition predated the Buddha, reaching back to the Vedic understanding that the teachings are so precious that no price can be set on them. Still today, in countries of their origin, one never comes to a teacher empty-handed. Offerings are often made in the form of food, flowers, incense, shawls or money. The student’s generosity helps to perpetuate the teachings. This generosity supports the teacher and provides an opportunity for the student to express gratitude for the teachings.
These traditions apply equally in our secular community, where offerings of gratitude assist the teacher with the real expenses of life and the expenses of SLMC operations. Teacher support gives members the opportunity to enhance the continued growth of the community and to further the SLMC mission to support mindfulness practice.
How much to give? This is often asked. Give according to your means. One should not give beyond one’s means. It is the expression of gratitude that is important.
What to give? Obviously here in the West a monetary offering is the most convenient.
How to give? Donations to the teacher are anonymous for reasons that are apparent — teachings are freely given and not dependent on any contribution. Thus donations to the teacher are facilitated through SLMC volunteers who will receive your donation and pass it on to Theodore.
Community Support
Through this community (‘sangha’, in Pali), we offer one another a safe and supportive space to share both the rewards and challenges of our mindfulness and meditation practice. It is through this giving and receiving of support that we begin to learn the true meaning of generosity. Support is given through sharing with and encouraging each other, attending retreats, meditating together and sharing material support for members in need. In this way, we learn to open our hearts to one another, our families and our communities.