“How much does it cost to come to a retreat?”

“There is no set fee.”

“What do you mean there is no set fee?  How do you operate?"

We are frequently asked what is the suggested donation for retreats at Bhavana Society Meditation Center.  We cannot answer that question because that would be like setting a price.  The Buddha’s teachings are priceless. We offer our service here for Dana. What is dana?  Its simplest meaning is “generosity.”

We practice dana by offering the teachings without a price tag.  You can practice dana by making a donation of money, time and/or labor. Your donation allows us to continue offering the teachings to others. This center was built and is maintained only by the generosity of all of you who value the teachings.

Along with sila (virtuous behavior) dana is considered essential to building a strong foundation in which wisdom can arise through meditation.  It is through the practice of dana that we learn to let go of our greed (be it intense or very subtle).