Dāna

How can guests support the monastery?

The maintenance of Dhammapala Monastery is based on the principle of dāna (Pāli for ‘gift’), or voluntary giving. Dana, the culture of giving, is praised in the Buddha’s teachings as an important aspect of spiritual practice – both for the development of one’s own mind and for the material sustenance of the Sangha and the maintenance of places of practice for all.

It is an ancient tradition in Buddhism for lay people to provide for the material needs of monks and nuns who live according to their monastic rule and who, among other things, have no financial resources of their own, do not use money, and have few personal possessions. It is also traditional for monastic communities to provide a place for interested people to deepen and implement the Buddha’s teachings and to give instructions on how to practise them, whether in the form of a day visit, a longer stay or a course.

We ask you to bear in mind that the material expenses which make the existence of our monastery and the monastic community (and thus your stay with us) possible are not insignificant. The daily expenses for guests, including tourist tax, amount to at least 15 Swiss francs per person. We are therefore grateful for donations of food, utensils, and money. The monastery does not buy food (except for the courses). For food donations during your stay, local grocery stores (e.g., Coop, Volg, TopShop) are available. Thank you very much!

If you would like to support us on a regular basis, you can do so by setting up a standing order to the Dhammapala Trust or by food order delivery. For more information, please visit our website at https://dhammapala.ch/dana/. You will also find a list of items required at the bottom of the page.

May these guidelines help to make your stay at Dhammapala as pleasant and fruitful as possible.