Dear Sangha,
The Buddha called dana—generosity—the first perfection of the heart and the beginning of the path. He taught that when we give with a joyful mind, free of expectation, something extraordinary happens:
We loosen the grip of greed and fear
We taste real freedom right in the moment of letting go
We plant seeds of happiness for ourselves and others that bear fruit now and far into the future
He often said that the happiness of a generous heart surpasses even the happiness of receiving. In the Latthivana Sutta he declared, “If beings knew, as I know, the ripened fruit of giving and sharing, they would not eat their food without having shared it, nor would the stain of stinginess obsess their hearts.” And in one of his most beloved verses (Dhammapada 177), he reminded us:
“The miserly do not go to heavenly realms,
fools do not praise generosity—
but the wise rejoice in giving,
and so find happiness hereafter.”
And perhaps most beautifully, he compared the truly generous heart to a great rain cloud:
“Just as a rain cloud, thundering and pouring down, fills every valley and hill, drenching the entire earth with life-giving water—so too should the follower of the Way give, making no distinction, pouring out generosity in all directions, so that every being is refreshed.”
For 2,600 years, the Dharma has been offered freely because students and teachers kept this circle of dana alive. No price tag was ever put on awakening. That same spirit is what allows Insight LA to open its doors to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. And to offer the Buddha’s teachings in the same spirit of generosity.
This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to keep that ancient promise alive with us.Your gift—whether $5, $50, or $500—directly funds:
Over 80 meditation sittings, classes, and daylongs every month offered from dana
Scholarships and sliding-scale pricing so no one is turned away
Teacher training that grows compassionate, skilled guides for the next generation
Our serene Benedict Canyon Retreat House for an opportunity to do more intensive practice.
Our Santa Monica Meditation Center
This Giving Tuesday (December 3rd), will you help us be that rain cloud together?
Donate here → https://www.insightla.org/donate
Every dollar goes straight to programs and scholarships, and your gift is fully tax-deductible.
With boundless gratitude and joyful hearts,
The Insight LA Teachers & Staff
P.S. Monthly giving lets us plan with confidence and multiplies the good. You can set it up on the same page. Thank you for whatever your heart feels moved to offer.