Dana & Donations
Buddhist Practice of Generosity
At Lotus Hearts Buddhist Institute, we rely on dana—the Buddhist practice of generosity—to offer teachings and spiritual support without fixed fees.
Your donations help us:
- Keep teachings accessible to everyone
- Support our teachers and visiting monastics
- Maintain our space and community offerings
💗 Suggested donations help us plan, but:
- If you can’t afford the full amount, please offer what you can
- No one is ever turned away for lack of funds
- Every contribution, small or large, is deeply appreciated
👐 Can’t donate right now?
We warmly welcome volunteers! Visit our 'Volunteer Page' to offer your time and energy in service to the Dharma.
🕊️ Why We Don’t Charge Fixed Fees
We do not sell the Dharma. Charging fixed prices risks turning sacred teachings into a business, which goes against core Buddhist values.
By choosing donation-based offerings, we:
- Honour the spirit of generosity
- Keep the Dharma free from commercial influence
- Create a community built on trust, not transactions
Together, we protect the purity of the teachings—accessible to all, offered with compassion.
Dana & Donations
Where Donations Go
As a volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation, Lotus Hearts relies on donations to cover the practical costs of sharing authentic Buddhist teachings and maintaining our community activities.
Your donations help support:
🪷 Visiting Teachers & Monastics
- International airfares
- Visa application fees
- Health and travel insurance
- Local transport
- Living expenses during teaching visits
For example, Geshe-ma Rinchen Pal's most recent return airfare cost $1,479.19, in addition to visa and insurance expenses.
🪷 Online Teachings & Community Programs
- Zoom subscription fees
- Online discussion groups
- Website hosting and maintenance
- Online booking systems
- Domain name registration
🪷 Community Activities
- Meditation groups
- Discussion groups
- Educational resources
- Printing and administration
🪷 Operational Expenses
- Payment processing charges
- Software subscriptions
- Regulatory and compliance costs
Transparency
Lotus Hearts Buddhist Institute & Initiatives Inc. is operated by volunteers.
- Committee members are unpaid.
- Director is unpaid.
- Volunteers are unpaid.
- Donations are used to support the charitable purposes of the Institute.
Every contribution helps make authentic Buddhist teachings accessible to our community.
A single $20 donation may help cover Zoom costs. A larger donation may help contribute towards bringing a qualified Buddhist teacher to Australia. Every contribution matters.
