Solidarity Economy & Dana (Giving)
We offer our retreats in the spirit of solidarity, and we’re committed to challenging economic marginalisation and exclusion. Consumerism and capitalism strongly condition our relationships with each other and the world. We become producers and consumers, insulated from more responsive engagement with each other. Our relationships become mediated by way of financial exchange and contracts. We want to enter into a wholehearted relationship as co-producers and collaborators in the transformation of ourselves and our world.
We believe that the practice of mutual generosity constitutes a fundamental ethos at the heart of a life-affirming community. Sharing is a basic form of solidarity.
In our course descriptions, we include different rates of suggested contribution. We offer standard, endorsement, and concession & students rates. We run the project as a not-for-profit organisation. It depends on numerous forms of generosity and voluntary labour. If you can offer more than the standard rate that we suggest, then please do. Your offering will help to support the on-going work development and enable the marginalised who are economically less well off to gain access to the work.
When specific fundraising and grants support participation, we can make specific contractual arrangements with organisations. Channelled grant funding can fulfil our aims to offer the work as widely as possible so we are able to allocate at least 20% of our places for free or little charge.
Please look at the suggested contributions and enter into the spirit of the solidarity economy by giving what you can, so that we can support you and others to take what you need. We are also open to discussing donations in the form of skill-sharing and other offers of work to support the project. We look forward to meeting you in the spirit of mutual generosity.
Dāna (generosity) Practice
In the Buddhist tradition, the teachings are given freely because they are considered priceless; in the Buddhist tradition, we also practise dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings for the teachings. Dāna is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart. Your generosity is a gift that supports not just the teachers, but also the Sangha, the larger Dharma community, and your own practice.
With gratitude and blessings
William Fley,
Director