Dana Generosity (Donations)
Dharmawheels is supported entirely by volunteers and our events are offered freely. We ask for donations of funds, food, and supplies. Since our first Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage in 2002, we have dispersed thousands of dollars to the many dharma centers and monasteries we’ve visited. Below, read about some of the special projects we support.
Dharmawheels Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, Federal Identification Number 75-1664779. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Your contact information is confidential and is not shared with others.
Thank you for your generosity!
How to donate funds?
We don’t charge fees for registration, camping, or support, but if you have the means we ask for monetary support. You can donate via PayPal, Venmo, or Check.
Your contributions help other participants who might not have the means.
Paypal
Venmo
Venmo donations get routed through the account of Peter Crimmin, President of DharmaWheels. We’re working to change this directly to Dharmawheels.
CHECK
Make checks payable to Dharmawheels Foundation and mail to: Dharmawheels Foundation, 2150 Fawn Place Ukiah,CA 95482.
How to donate food and supplies?
When you register for an event, we’ll tell you about any needed food or supplies.
If you’re a registered pilgrimage, you’ll get a link for donations. For everyone else, send email to ask what we might need for our next pilgrimage.
2023 Supported Projects
We have a list of recipient projects this year as we offer support to Aloka Earth Room, Dhammadharini Monastery, Abhayagiri Monastery, Stone Creek Zen Center, Dharma Realm Buddhist University, San Francisco Zen Center, and Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
We have an ambitious list of recipient projects this year:
Abhayagiri – we’ll direct donations towards construction of 4 kutis (monks cabins) in the isolated hills above the monastery. How cool is that?!?
Aloka Earth Room – This is a new monastic setting for Ayya Santacitta after the closing of Aloka Vihara nuns monastery. Dharmawheels will donate to the Saranaloka Foundation, the steward organization for Aloka Earth Room. Another great way to offer support is to bring meal dana, please click here for more info.
Dhammadharini Monastery – We continue to support this vibrant community of nuns where. Abbot Ayya Sobhana guided our pilgrimages throughout the pandemic years.
Dharma Realm Buddhist University (City of 10,000 Buddhas) – We’ll donate towards the renovation of a dormitory used for student and retreat housing.
San Francisco Zen Center – Beginner’s Mind Temple/City Center Renovation. It’s a big project and final fundraising is still in progress. City Center is the magnet and epicenter of SFZC activity and the most permeable of the three main centers. It’s a big deal that it has to close for renovation and definitely worth getting right the first time.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center – We’ll make an “unrestricted” donation to allow SRMC to use funds where it is needed most.
Stone Creek Zen Center – We’re making our first visit to this center in Graton. Their approach to dana wonderfully simple: Stone Creek Zen Center relies on your support to continue to be a place to share the treasury of Zen teaching offer a source of practice and refuge in the world.
Previous Years
2022 Supported Projects
Dhammadharini Monastery – two target projects. One is to increase the number of recurring donations for food and lodgings. A second is for fire abatement tree-work at the Aranya Bodhi Hermitage. This project has the potential to protect the buildings and assure the safe evacuation of people from Aranya Bodhi, in case of wildfire. Donate through Dharmawheels (see link above) or directly here.
Abhayagiri Monastery – these words courtesy of Nyaniko Bhikkhu – Our main project right now is Santi Vihara, our new Elder’s Residence across the street from Abhayagiri. We plan to have it as a comfortable residence for older and dying monks in the future. Donations could go toward that. That is our most immediate need.
2021 Supported Projects
Dhammadharini Monastery – Dhammadharini is a spiritual destination for women to train as monastics in the Theravada tradition and lay visitors to practice and volunteer in Sonoma County.
The nuns look to create a safe refuge in a future that is frequently hot and smoky with power outages. Our dana is directed to a fledgling project to renovate their HVAC system while reducing its environmental impact.
North Mountain zazenkai – is a satellite zendo affiliated with San Francisco Zen Center. There are no major projects underway, but our gifts help with the supply incense, zafus, and zabutons. For an overview, see this Hoodline story.
2019 Supported Projects
Abhayagiri Monastery – these words courtesy of Nyaniko Bhikkhu – There is a very special project we are just starting this year – the Abhayagiri Chedi. It is located at a very remote site near our ridge, and we will be carving the first access into it probably in November. It is a 5+ year project, a structure where we will enshrine relics of the Buddha and great Ajahns of the past. In terms of sila (virtue) and building a foundation for our practice, dedicating the offerings to building the foundation of the chedi seems appropriate.
Sae Taw Win II – Dr. Thynn is constructing a scaled model of the Shwedagon Pagoda (Yangon, Burma) and the center is always looking for operating expenses. Your DharmaWheels gifts aid both efforts.
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas – DharmaWheels will contribute to Dharma Buddhist Realm University. This is a particularly appropriate match between our 2019 theme (sila) and the DBRU emphasis on moral virtue and spiritual development.
2018 Supported Projects
Abhayagiri Monastery – Last year, the October 2017 Redwood Valley fire nearly consumed Abhayagiri —fortunately, all the structures survived. In the aftermath of the devastation on adjacent properties, the monks expanded their fire safety measures: cutting/clearing brush, widening trails to improve firefighter access, and enlarging the defensible space around the many kutis (cabins) scattered throughout the forest. DharmaWheels donations in 2018 will support ongoing maintenance and improvements to these fire safety measures. The Abhayagiri community hopes that by caring in this way for the monastery and its forest, they might honor the generosity and faith that have created Abhayagiri as a refuge for all who wish to spend time there and devote themselves to the Buddha’s path of liberation.
Sae Taw Win II – Dr. Thynn is in the process to constructing a scaled model of the Shwedagon Pagoda (Yangon, Burma) and is working hard to complete the project. Also the center is always looking for operating expenses. DharmaWheels hopes to aid both efforts.
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas – DharmaWheels will contribute to Dharma Buddhist University. Instilling Goodness Elementary School and Developing Virtue Secondary School merge the best of contemporary and traditional methods and of Western and Eastern cultures. Due to the emphasis on moral virtue and spiritual development, in addition to the required academic curriculum, courses are offered in ethics, meditation, Buddhist studies, and so on, giving students a foundation in virtue and guiding them gradually to know themselves and to explore the truths of the universe.
Spirit Rock – After more than 25 years, Spirit Rock has established an international reputation as a center for Dharma in the West. Situated on 412 acres of spectacular terrain, the center has outgrown the original buildings and is reconstructing with a long-term vision. DharmaWheels will support this effort with a donation to the General Fund.
Two Rock Church – For many years this Christian Presbyterian church has donated access for a DharmaWheels rest stop, asking nothing in return. This is a congregation that values service. Its members actively support the work of the Cents-Ability Hunger Program of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Two Rock School, the Two Rock Volunteer Fire Department, Petaluma People Services and Christmas Cheer. A donation from DharmaWheels will aid their efforts.
2017 Supported Projects
American Buddhist Seminary Meditation Center - Sacramento, CA
Currently the ABS Temple operates in two small old buildings, main House (1,300 Sq. ft) is used for Monks’ living area and many other activities/services and the other building (783 Sq. ft) next to the main house is used as Buddha/Meditation Hall. However, ABS Temple provides many services for various communities in Northern California with immense difficulties due to limitations in space and facilities. Some of these services include meditation classes/retreats, Dhamma talks, Dhamma classes, Sunday school, family services, spiritual counseling sessions, major religious services.
Their goal is to build a new facility to improve current services, provide additional services and to accommodate the growing communities. The new building consists of Buddha hall/meditation hall, class rooms, multi-purpose hall, reception/lobby, kitchen, public rest rooms, verandah on the first floor (7,358 Sq. ft) and monks’ residence on the second floor (1,858 Sq. ft). There are 35 parking spaces associated with the temple to meet the requirements of the City.
http://www.abstemple.org
Dieu Nhan Zen Convent Nun Convent
Dieu Nhan (Wonderous Cause) Zen Convent
Dieu Nhan (Wonderous Cause) Zen Convent is located in Northern California. The benefactor’s family (Luc Hoa): Mān Tù Tri, Mãn Tù Huê and other siblings donated the homes and land area of nearly 11 acres located on the hill to Zen Master Thich Thanh Tu. With the Master’s approval and directives this place was established into Dieu Nhan Buddhist Meditation Association Inc., under the management of View Chieu Zen Monastery (in Vietnam) on July 4, 2002. Four months later, the Master came to perform the stone laying ceremony and started the building of the Meditation Hall on November 16, 2002. At first the monastery consisted of a house and a car. Until now, the place is renovated into a spacious hall which can accommodate up to 60 Zen practitioners to practice sitting meditation.
http://dieunhan.weebly.com/english.html
Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery
Aloka Vihara Construction
Aloka Vihara Sisters
The Aloka Vihara sisters are a community of bhikkhunis (fully-ordained nuns) dedicated to practicing the Buddha’s teaching in the style of the Theravada Forest Tradition. Their practice emphasizes simplicity, renunciation, service and an orientation towards learning from the natural world – all held within the context of the Buddha’s teaching. The sisters are embracing and integrating the realities and challenges of contemporary society into their practice.
Their focus now is on renovating the nuns’ living quarters to allow the resident community to grow and flourish.
- Converting the master bedroom & sun-room into four private bedrooms to accommodate growing number of nuns
- Installing low flush toilet & two sinks in existing nuns’ bathroom
- Converting a storage closet to half-bath for women guests & residents
- Bringing existing house up to code.
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