Dana Paramita: The Perfection of Giving

Dana or generosity is the first of the perfections or paramitas, the excellent or noble qualities of an awakened being. In Buddhism, the Zen practice of offering dana to wandering mendicants harks back to the time of the Buddha, when monks begged for their daily meal in return for chants or blessings. To this day, this type of exchange is a reminder of the symbiotic relationship between monastics and lay practitioners, teachers and students—a relationship without which Buddhism would not exist. Although the dharma itself is priceless, Buddhist monasteries, temples, centers and their teachers all still rely on the generosity of practitioners whose support makes possible the widespread dissemination of the teachings.

The Cost of Our Programs

Running a sangha—even a virtual one—takes time and resources (as well as some technical expertise), so the fees for our group programs cover the cost of this work. Zuisei does not receive any compensation for her group teaching (all our communal sits, classes, and intensives), so if you’d like to offer her some dana, you can use the button below. We strive to keep the costs of our group programs low, and our tiered pricing allows participants to offer what they’re able. Please know that whenever you choose the Benefactor tier, you make it possible for others to attend programs they would otherwise be unable to afford. If you ever need to offer a different donation or have questions about our pricing, just reach out to us. We’ll be happy to help you.

Thank you for your practice and generosity.

 *Banner photo by Ekarin Apirakthanakorn