Supporting our shared practice
“There are these four ways of being inclusive. Giving, kindly words, taking care, and equality.”
-Buddha
Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.32
Membership is people showing up, offering care, and helping to sustain the Buddhist teachings for everyone. Membership is never required to attend our events or participate in the life of the sangha. Choosing membership is one way to help support the No Barriers Zen community and our work.
Together we can maintain the continuity of Buddhist practice and make the Dharma accessible for all. It is also a way to belong — we welcome you.
In the spirit of our lineage founder, Kobun Chino Roshi, we remember that “All beings are our sangha.”
Shānti
(Steadfast Presence)
At the heart of our sangha are our beloved Shanti (or Śānti) members, whose offering is simply to keep returning to the cushion, the zendo, and the shared life of practice.
You do not need to be able to offer a financial or volunteer contribution to be a member of our sangha.
Shanti members commit themselves to practicing compassionate steadiness and clarity. It is their dedication to the practice that strengthens the sangha’s collective wakefulness.
[link for /students/ asking for support?]
Sevā is the heart of actionservice, those who serve with an open hand (heart?) and steady attention. …..those whoe offer time / talent
Please connect with us if you are interested in volunteering your time, skills, (care?) to help sustain the teachings, the sangha our shared space.
sangha, the teachings life and community care. Service is itself a practice of generosity and presence.
Some give financially as well as serve,
Sevā keeps the sangha living and accessible to all.
##…nourishes the conditions for practice and transforms ordinary work into an offering.##
supporting programs, caring for one another — Sevā members embody generosity in action and help sustain the daily life of the temple.
LIST OF SOME OF OUR REGULAR VOLUNTEER NEEDS / “SEEKING SERVICES & SUPPORTS”
Either needs to be a kept list of volunteer needsm or a volunteer for
….
Contact us for
Volunteer needs are.
Want to volunteer with something have and idea.
Dharmapalas
(धर्मपाल Guardians of the Dharma)
Sevā
(Selfless Service)
Dharmapālas stand as keepers of the path — those whose deep generosity shelters the sangha’s future. By offering significant resources or partnership, they safeguard practice, seed visionary projects, and hold the sangha’s life across generations.
Dharmapālas are guardians of the Dharma, offering deep generosity that shelters the sangha’s future. Through significant gifts or partnership, ___, they safeguard the practice, seed visionary projects, and help ensure that the Dharma remains accessible to all.
Dharmapālas are major donors and institutional partners whose substantial support (gifts $10,000+?) sustains long-term programs, property, and endowments. We honor their stewardship and invite them into a covenanted relationship with the sangha.
ANCHOR LINK TO LOOKING FOR A HOME HOME (and edit)
Large gfits. These “benefactors” “sponsors”
Link here also to our land search page in Maryland?
““Those who preserve the Dhamma, preserve me.””
Sampatti
(Resource Patrons)
Sampatti patrons practice generosity by offering the material and financial support that helps to sustain the temple, its programming, and for the continued care for the community.
Any amount you can offer, whether monthly, quarterly, or yearly helps sustain the conditions for practice, accessibility, and care.
If you are already donating on a regular basis then you are a member.
[maybe I will add a link here to our financial reporting, in body text?]