We are the latest in a long line of stewards and guardians…
Dear Friends of KSC,
As the beautiful autumn leaves, the autumn rains, and the annular eclipse contribute light and darkness to our days, we feel the end of the year approaching.
This is a time we associate with the yearly fundraising project at Kagyu Sukha Chöling, a time when we communicate the purposes and goals of the center that we believe are worthy of your financial support.
It is good to recall that the dharma has been around for such a long time – nearly 2,600 years. We are the latest in a long line of stewards and guardians of one of the many Buddhist lineages in our modern world. This is, no doubt, a big responsibility, and hopefully it is also largely joyful.
As stewards, we give our best energy, and we strive to manage that energy wisely. As stewards, we give of our skills and education. As stewards, we think about the life of this sangha and its individual members, as well as each other’s welfare in the positions of service and responsibility that we step forward to hold.
As guardians, we try to determine what are the best ways we can maintain the branch of the lineage that KSC holds. Part of that responsibility is to make sure the center survives – and even thrives – into the future.
We may aid in cleaning and repairing our beautiful building, to assure its long life. We may prepare food for special events or refreshments for Sunday Sits, as a way to sustain the energy of our very human bodies, as we rely on them to support us in our practice. We may contribute worldly skills to aid the operation of the center, and its staff, and its financial and legal order. All of these gifts of time, energy and expertise are welcomed in human endeavors such as the center, to assure longevity and health.
This fall, we seek $70,000 to support our operations from the financial perspective.
These funds assure all bills paid, as well as modest contributions to invested funds set aside to assure the future. When you make a gift to KSC, you support the dissemination of the Buddha’s teachings. Your generosity makes it possible to:
~Host weekly classes, daily practices, practice groups and retreats
~Run a “Dharma Kids” program for families
~Offer warm clothes to the unhoused
~Invite and welcome Kalu Rinpoche to teach here
~Maintain the biggest Buddhist library from San Francisco to Portland
~Run a tight ship in the office
In addition, we can see that our center, in its 13th year, is beginning to let us know that, like our homes, it will need periodic maintenance and improvements. And since our builder assured us that it will last for 300 years, we can envision quite a bit of caretaking!
This year, thanks to a generous donation, we are painting the burgundy stucco band. We still need to raise funds to maintain the white portion of the stucco and to update the vent flashings on the roof so that water will not leak inside.
As you can imagine with such a tall building, yearly updates will have some expense attached! It’s the kind of good stewardship project that our annual fundraising can beautifully support.
In a way, we contribute to the center’s upkeep for our own and others’ benefit – much as we do our meditations and practice the dharma principles for our own and others’ benefit.
And so, for this and other projects, we ask you to contribute according to your means – and to consider adding just a little bit more as a stretch.
The dharma is long and strong. It will be here long after we are all gone. The KSC center will be here long after we are all gone. Yet even in those days without us, there is no doubt that the dharma will offer the sanity of a peaceful mind, and good principles to live by, to so many beyond ourselves.
We invite you to support the present – and the future – through your donation. And we thank you for the kindness of all you do for the center and all you give as a sangha member.
Lama Pema and Lama Yeshe
Donate Here: https://donorbox.org/support-your-dharma-home