Dana & Ubuntu
An Economic Paradigm Rooted in an Ancient Principle
Dharmagiri has been made possible through generosity.
Teachers and staff at Dharmagiri share their time and teachings freely since they are considered beyond monetary value. To support teachers and the centre team, we rely on dana (free will offerings/generosity).
Dana means ‘generosity’ or ‘free will offering‘ which follows the ancient practice of the Buddhist lineage where teachings are offered freely. Dharmagiri has been made possible through the generosity of others and likewise the gifts of our guests make it possible for future practitioners to benefit from their time at Dharmagiri. In this way, Dana allows those who have few resources access to the teachings and practice at Dharmagiri.
This understanding is also within the ancient African principle of Ubuntu which states “we are who we are through others.” As the consciousness we engage with conditions the societies we live within, the practice at Dharmagiri encourages overcoming the mindset that seeks self benefit at the expense of others.
The Practice of Giving and Its Results
In the act of giving we develop our ability to let go and cultivate a spirit of caring.
An act of generosity can be a spontaneous outpouring due the heart being touched or the desire to support that which we are aligned to. However generosity is also a practice that undermines grasping and helps us move beyond self centeredness. On a larger scale generosity enables a stable and cohesive family, society and world.
When you make an offering it is encouraged to do so with mindfulness, with a heart that lets go, with a heart of loving kindness and with no manipulation or agenda regards the result. This doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be careful monitoring of the results of sharing our resources and consideration of wise gifts, but in the moment of actually offering, free the heart from grasping and wish for the welfare of the other.
The karmic result of generosity is to live with abundance, to live fearlessly and to live open heartedly with a strong sense of kinship and interconnectedness within the web of life. May it be so for you!