ARTICLE: December 2007

Perhaps you've already heard the murmurs about donation-based classes in your yoga community.  If you're a practitioner of Buddhist meditation then you've most certainly been exposed to the practice of generosity as one of Buddhism's paramitas, or perfections.  In this post I will give a brief overview and description of the what and why of donation-based offerings.

Traditionally in Asia all teachings have been offered in an 'open-handed' manner.  That is, they are offered free of charge, and in a way that makes the teachings equally accessible to all who desire to learn and grow from them.  This way of offering teachings is done purely from a place of generosity, with no expectation of reciprocal exchange of any kind.  The benefits of making practices available to all is quite obvious; it is the natural extension of having benefited from them ourselves.

All that we need to do to truly see when teachings are not being offered 'freely', is to take a glance around at the participants in the next class we attend - does the community consist solely of middle-aged participants of European descent?  Nothing ultimately wrong with this per se; but to yoke our practice with the vision of a world that is inclusively free, is to take the next step in helping to create freedom for as many as possible.  And simply put, this is the result of offering teachings by donation.

If we pause here to reflect on what drives most of our daily life, we immediately notice that most of our action are done in the hopes of causing certain results.  Not only that, but the consumer culture we live in is based upon the 'law of exchange'; money for things and services, favors for praise and friendship, etc.  The fact that our world is entrenched with exchange may sound familiar, as this is also the basic description of samsara, or the cyclic existence that mindful practice hopes to liberate us from.  Exchange is in the very fiber of how we live, and often to even consider a 'system' that does not include exchange, can be next to impossible.  Money is not 'bad', but only serves its purpose at a certain 'level', or frequency of living.

Basically the donation-based system of offering classes is 'pay at a level that is appropriate for you'.  What is appropriate?  This is where the donation-based offerings truly shine, as now the student is brought to a more full relationship with the concepts of value, generosity, and support.  Hmmm...  Based on my income, what the practice means to me, how I believe the practice should be made accessible, etc, an amount is then decided upon.  This is not a payment for the class, but rather an opportunity to be generous.

Some people will have the means to give more, some less.  Again, the means is not just a big bank account, but includes things like feeling that one has enough to give.  We've all known some financially wealthy people who consistently thought they were 'broke'; and we probably have also known someone who has very little financial resources, but always seem to have plenty to share.  The practice of generosity allows us all to learn how to 'stretch' our hearts a little bit at a time.

This may sound like playing with semantics; I assure you it is not.  The teachings are given freely... done.  No donation is required, but if the student so chooses, then they can support the propagation of the teachings via supporting the specific teacher.  At first when this new practice is offered, a student may feel obligated to give; thinking, 'I know its donation-based, but I'm sure they expect me to give the going rate'; but as the student's relationship to generosity matures, they then can most clearly begin to feel the benefits of being generous.  The Buddha said, 'If you knew what I do about generosity, you wouldn't allow a single meal to pass without sharing it'.  It is true, generosity feels so very good - so natural.

Conversely, I have been to donation-based classes that were so very close to offering teachings freely, but when it came down to it they really weren't offering them in an 'open-handed' manner.  There was a bit of 'but offer a little bit more... please' energy.  This completely undermines the initial act of generosity, as it says to the student, 'thank you, but your generosity isn't quite enough'.  A person's ability and means to be generous is what it is, and no one can access that for another - that is the beauty of donation-based offerings; each student makes a practice of extending their heart, a relationship that grows over a lifetime.

Because donation-based offerings and generosity are 'outside' of cause and effect, they then exist also outside of time.  An act of generosity can have immense impact, both on the recipient, but also on the giver (and it doesn't need to be money - that's for sure).  Generosity is an affirmation of abundance; it is an expression from the wellspring that is each person's true nature.  Have you ever known anyone who seemed to seldom be generous - with their time, their resources, or else-wise?  How do you think that person experiences the world?  Do you think it is a happy and expansive experience?  Most likely not.  The practice of generosity actively cultivates the freedom that each heart longs for.

As a practice, I recommend doing something generous for anyone - it can be someone you know or someone you do not know.  When performing the act, check in with your intention.  Notice closely if you have any agenda or desire to be 'noticed' or 'rewarded' for your act.  To truly act from generosity is to be free to act in the way nature intended for you.  You'll feel it when you are in line with the truth of who you are.  Enjoy this practice, and the discovery of your truest expressions.