When we live in the spirit of the gift, magic happens. Gift mentality is a kind of faith, a kind of surrender—and that is a prerequisite for miracles to arise. From the Gift, we become capable of the impossible.
Charles Eisenstein, "Sacred Economics"
As someone deeply rooted in the teachings of the Buddha I am inspired by the Buddhist tradition of dāna or reciprocal generosity as well as the philosophy of the gift economy, or solidarity economy.
In line with the Buddhist tradition of freely offering teachings with an open hand, I am committed, as much as is practically possible, to sharing these offerings freely while being open to receiving any support one might be moved to give to help sustain these offerings.
The basic principle of the Dana Economy is, “give what you can, take what you need”.
I believe the teachings of the Buddha to be priceless, of incomparable value. With that in mind, I offer my time, energy and teachings as a gift while inviting any support in return. I feel a sense of duty to the traditions that I have benefitted from to continue this way of offering.
It is not a transactional payment in exchange for an offering but rather a gesture of support that expresses value for that offering and contributes to the continuation of that offering in future.
Instead of a producer-consumer relationship that we are accustomed to within a consumerist and capitalist culture in which persons tend to be regarded as discrete and separate subjects, the principle of dāna invites us to participate in ways that contribute towards a culture of reciprocity in which we are simultaneously giving and receiving. Instead of seeing this work as a service to be bought, I invite contributions to make this work possible.
(I am indebted to the ecodharma centre webpage for its excellent description)
Gifting it forward so that others can partake in the offering.
The teaching of awakening as passed on through Buddhist and other lineages is freely given. It is your birthright.
If you would like to offer support, no matter how small, you can do so via paypal here or Revolut or contact me for bank details.
But there is no expectation or obligation.
Many thanks.
This practice of dana—giving freely—provides a unique opportunity for spiritual growth. Practitioners learn to receive teachings as gifts rather than commodities. Teachers discover the joy of sharing their knowledge and practice without grasping for remuneration. Volunteers find meaning and inspiration in service given freely, without obligation or expectations. And when we encounter our attachments around security, worthiness, and trust in this interplay of giving and receiving, our practice helps us find freedom.
Gil Fronsdal, Founder & Teacher of Insight Retreat Center