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 Dāna. 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 Dāna is provided after every program. Please
give generously to the teachers.
4. A Gift of BCBS Dāna. 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
