Fees & Dana (Generosity)

Fees

IMS course fees are on a sliding scale basis that allows participants to pay according to individual means. At the Retreat Center, there are four rates – Sustaining, Mid, Base and Scholarship.

Payment at the Base rate covers less than 50% of what is needed to run our centers. In order to balance our budget and provide wise stewardship of our resources, donations must supplement any fee income received at this level.

The Sustaining rate represents the actual cost to IMS to operate our programs. Payment at this rate lets us direct income from donations towards helping those with lesser means attend our retreats. If you can afford this level or higher, you assist our efforts to offer lower sliding scale rates and ongoing financial subsidies.

Regrettably, we have had to raise our fees for 2008 by a very modest amount, due to the rising costs of basic necessities such as fuel, insurance and food.

If you wish to register at the Scholarship rate, you will also need to complete a scholarship application.

Any amount paid above the Base rate is a tax-deductible donation.

Dana

Dana is a Pali word that means generosity or giving freely. It is central both to the 2,600 year-old tradition of Buddhism and to IMS’ much shorter history. Of this quality the Buddha said, “If beings knew as I know the benefit of generosity, they would not let an opportunity go by without sharing.”

In this spirit of generosity, it is IMS’s heartfelt wish to share the Buddha's teachings with all who are interested, regardless of ability to pay. Our sliding scale fee structure allows payment based on financial means. Happily, donations augment the income from our course fees (which cover only about 50% of our operating costs), enabling us to provide such affordable rates.

At the same time, IMS teachers are courageously adapting the ancient Buddhist monastic tradition of freely offering the teachings to lay life in contemporary Western culture. Most Retreat Center teachers receive no salary and rely entirely on the generosity of course participants for their compensation. IMS pays for visiting teachers’ travel expenses, accommodations and meals while they are in residence.

In the life of a spiritual practitioner, dana plays a significant role. Generosity is the first of the ten parami, or qualities of character, that the Buddha taught his students to cultivate. Such practice develops lovingkindness and compassion, deepens awareness of our interconnectedness and encourages non-attachment. Giving is said to benefit both the giver and the receiver - the giver practices letting go, and the recipient practices acceptance of what is presented. Offering a small favor, a kind thought, a meal, or funds to help sustain a meditation teacher or center is a sincere form of spiritual practice.

Whenever you are inspired to offer financial contributions, your gifts demonstrate that you value our vision of making the Buddha’s teachings accessible to anyone wishing to attend our programs, and that you lend your support to our teachers as they dedicate their life to the dharma.

May your practice be for the benefit of all.

If you'd like to offer a donation to IMS, you can do so here.