A merit that surpasses that of the four great oceans. Offering dāna to the Sangha is an opportunity to cultivate immeasurable merit. The Buddha taught that a gift to the Sangha is more fruitful than a gift to an individual.
Take this precious opportunity to offer breakfast or lunch to the Sangha at Buddha Meditation Center, or sponsor a meal with an Uber Eats gift card.
New to offering dāna?Bring your meal to the center, or support the meal with an Uber Eats gift card.
Please bring your breakfast offering at 6:15 am, with enough for three monks and one devotee.
Please send a text message to 762 233 3390 the day before your offering to confirm that you are bringing dāna.
You may drop off the meal and leave.
Please prepare enough for three monks and one devotee.
Please send a text message to 762 233 3390 the day before your offering to confirm that you are bringing dāna.
You may drop off the meal and leave.
Reserve your meal date, then buy an Uber Eats eGift card with email delivery.
Include your name, offering date, and breakfast or lunch in the gift message. Send the card before the offering date. No coordinator contact is needed.
Buy an Uber Eats gift cardOffering a meal to the Sangha is a precious opportunity to practise generosity and support the Buddha’s teachings.
5 minutes 32 seconds · Original narration with on-screen key points
In this short guide, learn why Buddhist monks depend on offerings, how giving helps us let go of stinginess, and how you can participate in the daily meal offering at Buddha Meditation Center of Greater Washington DC.
You are welcome to bring breakfast or lunch dāna, or support a meal through an Uber Eats gift card. You may drop off your offering and leave.
May your generosity support the practice of the Dhamma and bring happiness to many.
Dāna means giving freely. A meal offering supports the Sangha, the monastic community, while giving lay supporters an opportunity to practise generosity and letting go.
Following Theravāda monastic discipline, monks live as alms mendicants, depending on freely given support. They do not take up conventional paid work or accept and use money for themselves. Lay supporters provide their material needs, allowing them to live simply and devote themselves to learning and practising the Buddha’s teachings.
The four basic material requisites are robes, alms food, lodging, and medicine. If you would like to offer another requisite or something useful to the monastery, please speak with a resident monk.
Lay supporters sustain monastic life through their offerings. The monks receive these gifts with gratitude, continue their practice, and share the Buddha’s teachings with the community. This tradition of giving helps keep the Dhamma available to others.
Giving is also an inner practice. It helps us let go of stinginess and attachment and cultivate generosity. Offering with a willing heart is a way to put the Buddha’s teachings into practice in daily life.
Following their monastic discipline, monks do not consume substantial food between noon and dawn the following day. Breakfast and the forenoon meal therefore take place before noon.
In this tradition, the first portion is offered ceremonially to the Buddha. The meal is then offered to the resident Sangha.
Yes. You are welcome to drop off your dāna and leave. You do not need to stay for the offering.
Please arrive at 6:15 am to bring the breakfast dāna and prepare the offering. The morning meal offering takes place around 6:30 am.
Bring the lunch dāna at 10:30 am. Buddha pūjā is at 11:00 am, and the monks arrive at 11:15 am. All times are Eastern Time.
Please prepare enough for three monks and one devotee — four people in total.
Choose an open breakfast or lunch slot in the calendar and submit your details.
Please send a text message to 762 233 3390 the day before your offering to confirm that you are bringing dāna.
Yes. Choose an open date and the Uber Eats gift card option. Send the gift card to mahamevnawadc@gmail.com before the offering date. Include your name, date, and meal in the gift message.
Yes. Use “My offerings” on the device you used to sign up, or open your private management link. Select your offering and confirm the cancellation to make the date available again.
For other requisites or questions about monastic practice, please speak with a resident monk. For dāna arrangements, contact mahamevnawadc@gmail.com.
Dāna means giving freely. Your meal offering supports the monks and the teachings they share with our community.
Pick an open breakfast or lunch slot. Choose an available day for your offering.
Leave your name and contact information so arrangements can be coordinated.
Bring your meal for breakfast at 6:15 am or lunch at 10:30 am, or email an Uber Eats gift card to mahamevnawadc@gmail.com in advance.