Common Ground Meditation Center

Common Ground Meditation Center
3400 East 26th Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55406
(612) 722-8260
email: info@commongroundmeditation.org

The Practice of Generosity at Common Ground

Your voluntary contributions pay for all the center's expenses, support guest teachers, and provide the livelihood for the guiding teacher, Mark Nunberg. You may leave donations in the bowl in the entranceway of the center or let Mark know if you have time and skills that you would like to contribute.

Common Ground exists only because of people's generosity. We can be inspired by this great history of giving, from the example of the Buddha on down to all the people in our community who have contributed their practice, efforts and resources over the years. Each of us in our own way can be part of this tradition of generosity.

At Common Ground your contributions are used to cover all of the teacher's livelihood as well as all of the Center's expenses, (rent, mailings, utilities, equipment, repairs, tapes and books, etc.). When there are guest teachers at Common Ground the donations at that event will be used to pay the guest teacher's stipend. There is no suggested donation for the programs. Every person's situation will be different. Some people may want to leave a contribution after each visit and others may find it more appropriate to come up with a weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly schedule. Contributing by check in this regular way helps to simplify the center's bookkeeping. All donations to Common Ground are tax deductible. All donations by check are recorded and contributors will receive an acknowledgement at the end of the year for tax purposes.

This way of supporting each other is meant to be a source of joy and connection, and an essential step in awakening the heart of freedom. Please feel free to ask questions and give feedback. This is a creative process and we expect that our understanding of generosity will deepen as we continue to practice and talk together.

Dana - the Pali Word for Generosity

Common Ground Meditation Center has adopted the practice of "Dana" as both a spiritual practice for the community and a practical way to meet the financial needs of the organization. Dana is the Pali word for generosity. Throughout Buddhist history spiritual teachings have been offered to people free of charge. In turn, those receiving the teachings supported the monks, nuns, lay teachers and various centers as best they could - completing the circle of giving and receiving. In this way the teachers, students and centers were protected by the spirit of generosity.

Dana as a Spiritual Practice

As a spiritual practice, generosity invites us to explore the effects of giving and receiving freely. Each member of the community is asked to reflect both on the joy of receiving the gift of these teachings and this Center and also on the joy of supporting the Center, the teacher(s) and the community. There is no right way to practice dana except to bring greater and greater awareness to the process of giving and receiving. This is an opportunity to see our fear, greed and confusion as well as the simple joy of a generous act.

Mindfulness provides the necessary space needed to recognize and act on our generous intentions. This is not an easy practice and at times we will feel uncomfortable because we believe that we did not give enough or that we gave too much. Once again, we can simply take refuge in mindfulness. Only by listening can we discover an appropriate level of support.

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