In February, we received $10,000 worth of matching pledges from benefactors. Our priority was to use the monies to make the dharma accessible to all.
We know that sometimes, students hold back on attending retreat for the simple reason of not being able to afford it. Our goal was to enable them to come by providing scholarships. Annually, we award $17,000 in scholarships.
The other side of making the dharma accessible to all is providing qualified teachers. Vajrapani is committed to bring the best teachers from around the world. Each year we support fifteen group retreats led by some of the most realized Tibetan masters and experienced Western teachers. The teachers themselves expect no pay, teaching the Dharma freely as the Buddha taught. Our annual budget to cover travel expenses and teacher offerings is $30,000.
For the month of April, we called out to you, our dear community, to help us make the dharma accessible to all. Every day, we watched as donations poured in. Our excitement grew as the end of April neared as we collectively held our breath, hoping that we would make it. We did: $20,000 and with two days to spare! We thank you, so much, for helping us reach our goal in providing scholarships to students and bringing you the best teachers from around the world.