About Donation Offerings
At the request of several students, we have included a suggested guideline for donations for teachings. Making offerings to the Lama for Dharma teachings is still a new concept here in the West, and many people feel uncomfortable about how much is an appropriate amount. To address this, some Dharma centers have adopted the practice of setting fees for teachings and empowerments. The truth is, you cannot put a price tag on Dharma teachings; not only because they are not a consumer product, and they are not like other workshops and seminars; but because they are really priceless. They have the ability to set us free and be liberated from the suffering of samsara as well as helping others to become liberated as well. There is nothing more valuable that that!
It is up to each student to offer what they feel is the value of the teachings they received. Traditionally, in the past, students made great sacrifices for rare teachings such as these. Now in modern times, these teachings arrive in our own backyards and therefore it is easy to take them for granted. Although suggested donations have been provided here, please use your own sincere judgment in determining what these teachings are worth to you. Make your offerings in the sincerest capacity so that you will not feel burdened.
Used with permission http://www.saraswatibhawan.org/AboutDonations.shtml
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche also gives many wonderful talks on the importance of patronage and sponsorship for the dharma. There is a long and wonderful history of this, the yogi and the sponsor go hand in hand.
It is not simply about supporting lamas and monasteries overseas but for creating an environment conducive to practice here in the U.S. This takes time and an active involvement from all sangha members. These real life transmissions are not the same as reading a book; we will not arrive at the same place as one who actively engages in the merit and karmic activity of one's teacher. As Khachab Rinpoche says, these activities are not done for his benefit, but for ours.