Your offerings support both your own practice as well as that of others to flourish. While there are important financial realities in running an organization and operating retreats, we also recognize that a purely transactional model may not support the heart qualities most conducive to dharma practice. Thus, we embrace a hybrid model that combines program fees with dana.

Dana, the Pali word for generosity, is a central teaching of the Buddha. Generosity itself is considered a core spiritual faculty to develop, and we are committed to creating opportunities for this practice within our community.

We offer our work on a dana basis to the extent possible in service of accessibility. For the three-month retreat, we charge fees on a sliding scale to cover operational costs, with abundant scholarships available. Teacher dana is invited at the end of the retreat. We are able to operate with this approach because we run simply, rely largely on volunteers, and deeply rely on donations from the wider community—both financial contributions and participation in work periods. This creates a wide circle of generosity that builds community and supports everyone to be able to practice in a wholesome relational field.

To sustain the year-round work of organizing retreats and leading Boundless Refuge, Milo North receives a small salary, as does an assistant and occasional consultants. Rather than hired staff for retreats, practitioners share in the work of setup, takedown, cooking, retreat managing, and daily operations. This collaborative approach not only keeps costs accessible but strengthens the bonds within our sangha through shared service.