OVERVIEW

One of the traditional characteristics of Theravada Buddhism is that the teachings of the Buddha are made freely available to those who wish to receive them. Following this tradition, at Aruna Ratanagiri Monastery, no charge is made either for teachings or for accommodation. The Monastery runs entirely on a donation basis, and depends for its continued existence and development upon the generosity of its lay supporters.

Here is an overview of the various ways of providing financial support to the Monastery, including making a donation, or through offering food, other requisites or service. All offerings are appreciated.

Please be informed this monastery has a policy that funds will generally not be used to purchase animal products. This particularly pertains to food. Exceptions are sometimes made.

The Structure

Monks of the Theravada tradition are expected to live in accordance with the original monastic code - the Vinaya. This prohibits monks from handling or holding personal rights over money. Because of this, the finances of the monastery are stewarded by a charitable body, Harnham Buddhist Monastery Trust - and are administered on a day-to-day basis by the Monastery Management Group and theTrust Secretary. Trustees are friends and supporters of the monastery, who serve in this capacity as an expression of their commitment to the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha). The secretary is paid for her work by the HBM Trust.

The main priority of the Trust is to ensure that the sangha (monastic community) is sufficiently provided for in the form of a place within which to live and practice. However, the sangha itself attaches a great deal of importance to providing a place in which lay people can develop their spiritual life, whether this be formal retreat situations or by individual short-term stays. In order to provide the latter, the Trust has established a retreat facility, Kusala House.

Various Funds

Expenditure associated with providing requisites for the monastic residents and for general running costs of the monastery is met by the General Fund, which is primarily sourced from lay donations made in a number of different forms – for details see ‘Ways of donating’

In addition to this main operating fund, the trustees have designated some funds for specific purposes. These include Reserve Funds, a Publications Fund, a Kitchen Fund, and a Project Fund.
There is also an ‘Ageing Samanas Fund’ which is intended to provide for the potential care needs of ailing or ageing sangha members by, for example, enabling them to remain at the monastery and to be cared for by or within the community.

There are also some Restricted Funds that hold donations that have been given for a particular purpose for example breakfast sponsoring, kitchen supplies or publications. It is possible to donate to these funds or to the General Fund online here

The Endowment Fund was established in order to receive major donations (such as willed bequests) that are invested to provide some regular income to the monastery from the interest. It helps to ensure the long-term future of the monastery and supplement any shortfalls that occasionally occur between expenditure and normal donations. If you wish to donate to this fund then please email secretary@ratanagiri.org.uk

If you would like to help and find these details do not provide enough information, please feel welcome to contact us.

A Little Bit About Puñña

Whilst it is the practice and the tradition that monks recite an anumodana when they receive offerings, it is important that this not be construed as a requirement for puñña (merit) to be accrued. The puñña that is accrued as a result of wholesome intentional efforts made by way of body and mind, does not depend on the recitation of the anumodana. And the dedication made by the donor is a matter of how the donor views their offering i.e. it is not necessary for the monks to make an announcement of the dedication.

Having said that we do intend to continue reading out the dedications and reciting the anumodana.

Partly this matter concerns how we understand the Buddha’s teachings. It is also a matter of how the HMRC defines something as a ‘service’. It should not be understood that the sangha is providing a  service in response to what has been given. The offerings should be seen not as any sort of payment, but  as free-will gifts. The recitation of the anumodana is the sangha announcing that it bears witness to the  wholesomeness that has been generated.

Ajahn Munindo
(Abbot Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery