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From: johnw@farside.eng.ready.com (John Wheeler)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: The dana tradition
Message-ID: <1991Jun27.233813.5336@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 27 Jun 91 23:38:13 GMT
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Organization: Ready Systems
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Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov

In article 198 of soc.religion.eastern Mr. Mayne writes: 


>>Without contributing to the heat of this discussion, I would like to
>>point out that there are in fact many spiritual teachers and organizations
>>which charge no dues, relying on truly voluntary contributions to support
>>all of their activities - and this is in "the real world". 

First of all, I appreciate your thoughts and experiences about the "economic" 
side of the spiritual path. However, I think a few comments are in order
to clarify the matter. 

>>The tradition I know best which maintains this  kind of practice in nearly
>>pure form is Theravada Buddhism, where it is known as "dana" or "giving".
>>By tradition there is no charge for teaching, for attending temples, or
>>even for food and accommodations for lay people at retreat centers.

I believe you have the concept of "dana" (or giving) inverted. Dana does
not, in my view, have anything to do with whether a spiritual institution
offers "free" instruction, food, or what have you. Dana is the selfless
contribution of financial (or some other form of) support by *you* to help the 
flourishing of the spiritual teaching. In other words, it is not a question
of whether or not you get free rice and lodging in a meditation hut,
it is a question of what you can do and give to support the teaching, and
those who offer it.
 
>>I have seen this first hand in Thailand, where I stayed briefly at a
>>forest monastery. Not only did they supply my needs freely without even
>>asking anything in return, the head monk, who I had written to in advance,
>>contacted some generous English speaking lay people who welcomed me into
                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>their home, showed me around Chaing Mai, drove me out to the monastery
>>(about 2 hours away), and stayed to translate for my first meeting with
>>the head monk and to see that I was settled in. Family could not have
>>treated me better.

As the highlighted test indicates, your experience was not "free" at all.
Someone who valued that particular teaching gave of their time and
financial resources to make your stay possible. This is dana.

>>At least one place, the Bhavana Society meditation center in West
>>Virginia, is actually able to carry on the tradition of not charging
>>at all. Anyone who wants to is welcome  to go there to practice, staying
>>in a private hut and receiving meals and teaching without charge.

Again, this is not an example dana. It is funny that you place the concept
of giving on the wrong side of the equation, so to speak. By the way, I am
curious: what do free food and meditation huts have to do with the Dharma,
anyway? 

>>I am not saying that it is never right to charge fees to cover expenses.
>>Some have had to compromise the pure dana tradition.

It is actually quite joyful to give of one's services and financial support
to a worthy cause. This is my experience. In my view, giving comes from a
a place of "non-ego," and as such, tends to have a happy quality about it.
Those who wail and complain about giving, or want the universe to give them
everything "free" on a silver platter, are usually fairly solidly entrenched
in an ego-oriented position, in my opinion. 

In your comments you have mentioned all that you have received for free
or for a reduced price. I am curious what you have given in return?

I thought I would offer you my two cents on the matter. :-) :-) :-)