A major goal of The Peace Practice is to make the practice of meditation and other nurturing activities available to all who are interested, and members may join at any time. After paying a membership fee (see the chart below), members may participate in any of the activities offered at the center.
There are four types of membership:Full-Time Students, General Adult, Partnership (2 members from the same household) and Family (3 or more members from the same household). If they prefer, members also have the option of paying a monthly membership fee (see below). Membership benefits include a monthly e-mail newsletter, discount on retreats or other special events, and library check-out privileges. Also, voluntary activity donations are gratefully accepted according to the participant's ability to pay, and the amount of any donation is left entirely to the individual's discretion, done in the spirit of "dana", which is a Sanskrit and Pali term meaning "generosity" or "giving". It also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity, ultimately characterized by unattached and unconditional generosity, giving and letting go, in the belief that giving, without seeking something in return, leads to greater spiritual wealth and reduces acquisitive impulses that ultimately lead to further suffering.
Donations are used to develop our programs as well as supporting peaceful causes in the larger community. In deciding a fair amount for a donation, members are encouraged to weigh four considerations: 1) a reasonable value for the activity, 2) the personal value to the individual member, 3) basic operating costs, and 4) an affordable amount for the individual or family. Again, activity donations are voluntary and self-regulated, but a suggested amount is $5 for non-members and $2 for members. This $2 amount is suggested because it equals the daily amount that half the world population survives on, and an activity donation, in whatever amount, serves as a reminder to practice gratitude and help those less fortunate.
The annual and monthly Membership Fees are illustrated in the chart below.
