The Practice of Generosity

A Donor’s Story

The teachings of the Buddha become far more than philosophical or theoretical when significant events undermine the structure of our lives and seemingly deprive us of what we most cherish. When Jim Alford's life-partner of twenty-eight years, Oscar Hinojosa, died in 1997, Jim faced the challenge we must all, sooner or later, confront: how do we respond from deep within and use suffering as an opportunity to move wholeheartedly along the path of wisdom, compassion and love? Jim sought insight through the exploration and practice of Eastern spirituality.

When he read Joseph Goldstein's first book, The Experience of Insight, Jim was drawn toward IMS. His interest led him to attend the Three-Month Retreat in 2000. Describing his emotional state at the time as "awash in grief, a sense of betrayal and depression," Jim says he was deeply responsive to the Buddha's teaching on anatta (not self) and to Joseph's direct challenge to him to investigate the empty nature of the self. The experience was a turning point, the beginning of a transformative process.

Since then, Jim has continued to strengthen his practice, cultivating acceptance, freedom and joy. He has learned to relate with deep compassion to his experiences - understanding them as ever-changing, worthy of care, and empty of an identifiable self. He is attending another three-month course in 2005, before entering a long-term personal retreat at the Forest Refuge in 2006.

Recently Jim put his estate plans in order. Recognizing the pivotal role IMS has played in his healing and spiritual development, he decided to make IMS the primary beneficiary of his estate. This is how Jim describes what motivates him: "My partner's life and awesome death left me with an enormous legacy of love and generosity. Oscar was always actively engaged in community life, and he was loved by many people. He was a generous man, and his generosity rebounded to us beyond any expectation on our part".

“Now, I feel blessed with a wonderful sense of planting another seed at IMS through my practice of dana (generosity). I believe that when any of us becomes more present and fully alive, it makes a positive difference for the universe. So, I can think of no place on this planet where that seed has a better chance of growing and flowering than at IMS. I feel blessed simply because I can make this offering. It makes me happy, deeply happy." Jim's sentiments recall the Buddha's teaching to give where the gift will bear the greatest fruit.

IMS is very grateful to Jim Alford and to all those who include IMS in their estate plans. Planned giving is a powerful way to help make certain that the Buddha's teachings will be offered here for many years to come. Please consider joining the community of people who want IMS to span generations.

Please consider including IMS in your estate plans. For more information about giving options, from bequests to gifts of retirement assets, contact our Development office at (978) 355-4378 ext. 230 or development@dharma.org or visit our Planned Giving section.