Buddha rupa

Generosity at BCBS

“sabbadānam dhammadānam jināti”


“The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts.”

 

Generosity has been a cornerstone of the Buddhist tradition since its beginning.

On the personal level, cultivating generosity as a mental quality has the effect of opening the heart and mind, and serves to counter the tendency we all have to grasp and hold.

On the collective level, the practice of generosity as a social activity helps sustain the individuals and organizations who are working to preserve, embody, and share the Dharma in our world.

Here at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies we are trying to manifest a commitment to generosity in four important ways:

1. A Gift of Harmlessness. Participants of all our programs are invited to undertake a commitment to follow the traditional five guidelines of appropriate behavior while on campus:

  • Not killing, or intentionally harming living beings.
  • Not stealing, or taking what has not been offered.
  • Not lying, or speaking harshly, abusively, or frivolously.
  • Not engaging in sexual activity.
  • Not taking alcohol, or other drugs that induce heedlessness.

Adherence to these principles while at BCBS gives safety and security to oneself and others, and helps create an environment of integrity for all.

2. A Gift of Helpfulness. Participants are invited (but not required) to volunteer for a “yogi job” while here at BCBS. These simple housekeeping or kitchen chores help us provide a more ordered environment, keep overall costs down, and foster a sense of cooperation among participants.

3. A Gift of Teacher Dana. Teaching the Dharma is inherently an act of generosity. The teachers who come to BCBS travel from afar, offering their time, their energy, and their wisdom as a gift to their students. They are offered a modest honorarium by BCBS to cover their travel and other basic costs, and students are invited (but not required) to help support their continuing efforts by contributing to their livelihood. A box for Teacher Dana is provided after every program. Please give generously to the teachers.

4. A Gift of BCBS Dana. As a non-profit organization, the study center was founded and continues to operate because of the generosity of its community of donors and supporters. Course fees cover about half of our operating expenses; the remainder of what is needed is freely offered at the end of courses or through annual giving.

Please help us keep the tradition of generosity flourishing as a living practice here at BCBS.

You can donate online by clicking here.

Your donation truly helps

  • 25% of the study center’s annual income comes from your voluntary contributions!
  • Your donations buy books for the library, allow us to host a wide array of teachers and programs, provide meals for the students, publish the Insight Journal, and so much more. Your gifts also help us to give scholarships to students who want to take courses here, and sustain the endowment, which helps keep course fees low.
  • All donations are tax-deductable. A letter acknowledging receipt of donations in excess of $250 will be provided for your tax purposes. BCBS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization.

To make a donation, you can:

The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies is a non-profit educational organization incorporated in 1989. It is described under section 501(c)(3) and section 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 22-3058493.

Thank you so much for your generosity!