The Wallowa Buddhist Temple is a non-profit Buddhist church with 501(c)(3) charitable status. It depends entirely upon donations for its continued existence. Its services and activities are offered without charge in the ancient Buddhist practice of dana (generosity), trusting that those who join in will heed the heart’s promptings as to what may be good to contribute, and how.
If you would like a receipt for tax purposes, please let us know, and include your name and email or mailing address with your donation.
To offer vegetarian food or other items to the temple, please contact the monks about what is currently needed, or see our “alms bowl” list of helpful possibilities, by scrolling below.
In response to inquiries as to what kinds of food donations the temple would find most helpful, any of the following are some possible basic choices:
Seasonal fresh vegetables & fruits
Lettuce & other salad greens
Oats (steel cut or rolled)
Brown rice
Beans
Tofu
Miso
Avocado & olive oils
Butter & cheese
Dried herbs & spices
Home-cooked vegetarian dishes
Other vegetarian foods you may be moved to offer.
With sincere gratitude for all that is offered and received,
_/|\_ The Monks _/|\_
Temple altar with food and garden offerings.
“When we have learned well what the offering of alms means, then we can see that accepting oneself and letting go of oneself are both offerings of alms. Earning a living and doing productive work have never been anything other than an offering of alms. Leaving flowers to float upon the wind and leaving birds to sing in their season will also be meritorious training in almsgiving.”
Dōgen, Shōbōgenzō: On the Four Exemplary Acts of a Bodhisattva
“The two kinds of alms, material and spiritual, Have the endowment of boundless merit: Now that they have been fulfilled in this act of charity Both self and others gain pleasure therefrom.”
– Daily Mealtime Ceremony, Liturgy of the Order Of Buddhist Contemplatives
The Five Thoughts (Mealtime Verse)
We must think deeply of the ways and means by which this food has come. We must consider our merit when accepting it. We must protect ourselves from error by excluding greed from our minds. We will eat lest we become lean and die. We accept this food so that we may become enlightened.
Homemade cherry pie offering on temple altar, in memory of a dear friend who passed away.
“There is no greater joy than that of making offerings to the Buddhas.”
Reverend Master Jiyu-Kennett, Roar of the Tigress Vol. II
