My understanding of “dana” comes from attending meditation classes for lay people like myself. Dana, to me, means that the teacher isn’t paid and we, the students, aren’t obliged to pay for the class. The students pay because they wish, out of generosity, and pay as much as feels comfortable — too little and maybe we feel badly, too much and maybe we again feel badly.
When I hear a teacher is supported only by dana, I’m impressed. It can only mean that there are enough people who love that teacher’s message, that between all of them, the teacher makes enough to survive. If the teacher happens to live in New York City, all the more impressive.
I don’t wish to explain dana poorly or falsely, so I’d like to reprint here an explanation from the website Dharma Wisdom.
Dana (generosity) Practice
In the Buddhist tradition, the teachings are given freely because they are considered priceless; in the Buddhist tradition we also practice dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings for the teachings. – See more at: http://dharmawisdom.org/teachings/articles/meaning-pali-word-dana#sthash.LRz9RK8t.dpuf
A definition for “dana” is provided in the on-line glossary “Access to Insight.”
I’ve attended classes from, or listen regularly to the podcasts of these three dharma teachers, who are supported by dana.
Tara Brach (Great Falls, VA)
Peter Doobinin (New York, NY)
Josh Korda (New York, NY)
Evidence of a friendly universe: dana.