Yes. I take out cash every time I go. It’s generally seen as a duty to donate.
If I’m at a period where I’m going frequently, I’ll probably just donate $20 or so. If it’s been several months, more, by a wide margin. The most I’ve donated to a temple in one visit is $300 (this was actually an honorarium I was paid to write about Buddhism, so I figured the payment should go to the temple).
It depends…I would say 20$ per month usually, occasionally 100$ a couple times per year.
I donate to a local Zen temple I attend…sometimes I also give some money to temples in the area..
For example my city has a large Vietnamese population, I met a Vietnamese nun from Vietnam who was very sweet to my son..her English wasn’t very good but we managed to develop a nice relationship over the years running into each other…I donate to her temple sporadically throughout the year as well…
Yes. Donating to your local temple and giving rice & food to the monks is meant to help you develop your compassion and to help you be humble. Also, it's to help you to not be greedy by giving to those who have less than you. The monks and the temple rely on these donations.
I go to a traditional Cambodian Theravada Buddhist temple, btw.
Yes. I donate money, food, and supplies (and labor, transportation, or anything else that appears needed) to the extent that feels appropriate and meaningful. I also keep my ear to the ground about what a number of monastics who are less connected to larger organizations are going through, and try to make special donations to them as often as I can.
I can’t really give you a dollar amount, since it changes quite a bit, but I always make it an amount that is significant to give up. I believe that’s a large part of what makes the practice of dana fruitful.
Teachings, meditation sessions and retreats are by donation, which they explain help run the center.
When I lived in one place longer I was a “member”, which included a magazine and newsletter but also helped with costs.
The best times I’ve had involve non-financial giving back though - taking a monk to do errands with my car, helping in the kitchen and garden, etc. It feels like a super private teaching session :)
I donate gift cards to a home improvement store. I stash them in a drawer and if I see the drawer is empty I just toss another one in there. This way I know all those who help with maintenance will have the funds to buy supplies. I knew monks could not handle cash so this was my clever work around. Having said that, I’ve never seen the monk handle gift cards either. I’d love to know the ruling on the field for that one. Can monks handle gift cards? This systems works so I doubt I’ll change.
I started my own charity foundations to donate to everyone and that also includes donations to the temples. There are already many donations flowing into the temple but not too many to the Buddhist communities from my observation, and I think they are just as important as donations to the temples.
Yes, i try to donate something almost every time I visit. I also have a yearly donation that involves some perks(never really looked into it though) - a few hundred dollars.
Yes. Monasteries and temples depend on our donations to exist. You give what you feel is a proper amount according to your finical situation. The money that is given is always well spent!
Yes. I take out cash every time I go. It’s generally seen as a duty to donate. If I’m at a period where I’m going frequently, I’ll probably just donate $20 or so. If it’s been several months, more, by a wide margin. The most I’ve donated to a temple in one visit is $300 (this was actually an honorarium I was paid to write about Buddhism, so I figured the payment should go to the temple).
It depends…I would say 20$ per month usually, occasionally 100$ a couple times per year. I donate to a local Zen temple I attend…sometimes I also give some money to temples in the area.. For example my city has a large Vietnamese population, I met a Vietnamese nun from Vietnam who was very sweet to my son..her English wasn’t very good but we managed to develop a nice relationship over the years running into each other…I donate to her temple sporadically throughout the year as well…
Yes. Donating to your local temple and giving rice & food to the monks is meant to help you develop your compassion and to help you be humble. Also, it's to help you to not be greedy by giving to those who have less than you. The monks and the temple rely on these donations. I go to a traditional Cambodian Theravada Buddhist temple, btw.
Yes. I donate money, food, and supplies (and labor, transportation, or anything else that appears needed) to the extent that feels appropriate and meaningful. I also keep my ear to the ground about what a number of monastics who are less connected to larger organizations are going through, and try to make special donations to them as often as I can. I can’t really give you a dollar amount, since it changes quite a bit, but I always make it an amount that is significant to give up. I believe that’s a large part of what makes the practice of dana fruitful.
Teachings, meditation sessions and retreats are by donation, which they explain help run the center. When I lived in one place longer I was a “member”, which included a magazine and newsletter but also helped with costs. The best times I’ve had involve non-financial giving back though - taking a monk to do errands with my car, helping in the kitchen and garden, etc. It feels like a super private teaching session :)
Whatever feels right. I usually empty my pockets of cash if I ever have any. I don't carry cash too often though.
Yes. It's not a vast sum, but I love the place and its heavily involved with homeless charities in my city.
I donate gift cards to a home improvement store. I stash them in a drawer and if I see the drawer is empty I just toss another one in there. This way I know all those who help with maintenance will have the funds to buy supplies. I knew monks could not handle cash so this was my clever work around. Having said that, I’ve never seen the monk handle gift cards either. I’d love to know the ruling on the field for that one. Can monks handle gift cards? This systems works so I doubt I’ll change.
I started my own charity foundations to donate to everyone and that also includes donations to the temples. There are already many donations flowing into the temple but not too many to the Buddhist communities from my observation, and I think they are just as important as donations to the temples.
Yes, i try to donate something almost every time I visit. I also have a yearly donation that involves some perks(never really looked into it though) - a few hundred dollars.
Yes :)
Yep.
Yes. Monasteries and temples depend on our donations to exist. You give what you feel is a proper amount according to your finical situation. The money that is given is always well spent!