Dana is the Buddhist practice of generosity. Teachings are offered freely, and dana is a voluntary offering that helps support the teachers, the Sangha, and the ongoing work of IMC-Lewes.

How to offer Dana

Dana may be offered by check or online through PayPal, Venmo, or credit card.

• By check. Please make your check payable to
  Insight Meditation Community of Lewes and mail to:
  Insight Meditation Community of Lewes
  207 East Market Street
  Lewes DE 19958
• Online. Click or tap here to make a Dana donation through PayPal, Venmo, or credit card.

We thank you for your generosity.

Suggested Dana

For our events, the suggested dana is:

• Friday evening dharma talks with visiting teachers — $10
• Saturday morning retreats with visiting teachers — $25
• Saturday day-long retreats with visiting teachers — $45
• Any offerings for Monday meditation sits are welcomed

Limited Income Options

Limited income options are available for all our programs at 50% of our suggested dana, or any amount that you are able to offer. If your budget does not allow for any dana, we welcome your attendance. Simply show up, no explanations are needed or requested.

About Dana

In the Buddhist tradition, teachings are offered freely because they are considered priceless, and in return we practice dana—generosity—by making voluntary offerings. Dana is not payment for services, but a heartfelt expression of support for the teachers, the Sangha, the wider Dharma community, and our own practice. The word dana, from the ancient Pali language, means “spontaneous generosity of the heart.” This generosity is not limited to money; it also includes kindness, attention, and openness—forms of giving that are not tied to wealth.

At its core, dana is the practice of giving freely without expecting anything in return, motivated by compassion and a wish for others’ well-being. It is less about what we give and more about how we show up, cultivating a generous spirit that naturally leads to generous actions. This practice also deepens our connections—with others and with ourselves—by creating relationships between giver and receiver. In this way, generosity helps ensure that our spiritual path remains grounded, relational, and fully engaged with the world.

IMC-Lewes is a small group run entirely by volunteers. All of our expenses are supported by dana.