Offer a Dana Meal On-site
Preparation of a whole meal is always welcome and considered a very meritorious act. Please email us (bookings@birken.ca) to book a date well in advance. We will give you an approximate headcount one week before your planned dānā meal day.
- Upon arrival to Birken, dānā items may be given to a Kitchen Steward, or brought to the main kitchen area. Please do not enter or leave items in the upstairs pantry storage area without a Resident Steward present.
- You can use our kitchen, or bring a meal that is ready to heat and serve. There is approximately two hours of prep time available to prepare the whole meal on any given day (the main meal is served promptly at 11:00am or 11:30am during Daylight Saving Time).
- Preparation of a single dish using our kitchen is sometimes possible; please consult with the Kitchen Stewards before using any kitchen resources.
- If you are bringing a main dish to serve a substantial number of people, please ensure that it can be reheated quickly. Many commercially prepared items require more than two hours preparation starting from a cold oven; this does not fit into our meal preparation schedule.
Please see our Visit page for more information.
Virtual Dānā Meal
If you are interested in offering a dānā meal in honour or memory of a loved one without visiting the monastery, we invite you to contribute to our Virtual Dānā Meal Fund. Please see our Support page for more ways to give.
Other Non-Monetary Donations
Physical labour or skilled labour are also valued forms of dānā. If you have particular skills you’d be able to contribute to the monastery (e.g. carpentry skills, plumbing expertise, etc.), please email us to inquire about possible opportunities to help (meditate@birken.ca). While you are here for a visit, your help with various volunteer ‘yogi tasks’ and the general upkeep of the monastery is also greatly appreciated.
Food Items:
- Tetra-Pak clear juices (without fruit pulp)
- Coffee-mate (non-dairy creamer)
- Nescafe or Starbucks Instant Coffee
- Dried fruits and nuts (walnuts, raisins, cranberries, etc.)
- Nut butters (peanut, cashew, almond, tahini, etc.)
- Jams
- Crystallized ginger for teatime
- Gummy candies for teatime (made with clear juice; no fruit pulp or puree)
- Individually wrapped dark chocolates for teatime (plain)
- Non-perishable food items are ideal
Monastic Requisites:
- None at this time – Anumodana!
No Need For:
- We currently have a large abundance of batteries, ground coffee, tea, paper towels, white rice, pasta, towels, soap and socks.
- We are no longer accepting homemade canned goods.
- Please do not bring large amounts of foods that need refrigeration or freezing; our fridge and freezer space is limited.
Virtual Dānā Meal Fund
Our Virtual Dānā Meal Fund is an opportunity for families and individuals to make a financial contribution towards Birken’s meal offerings in memory of loved ones without visiting the monastery. The meal will be cooked by resident stewards at the monastery and offered as either breakfast or our mid-day meal on the day of your choosing (subject to date availability). Any portion of your donation that is not spent on your sponsored meal will either be used for a meal at a later date or for general kitchen expenses.
We invite you to fill out our ONLINE FORM (also shown on this page) to schedule your Virtual Dānā Meal. You may designate your donation in the name of someone and/or select a preferred date for your dānā meal. If you have a preferred date, your request must be made at least two weeks in advance of your preferred date. Please note your preferred date under your selected donation amount where it says, “Write a private message to us (optional)”. For those requesting a specific date, we will reply within one week to confirm if it is available. Whatever giving method you use, please be sure to note “VIRTUAL DANA MEAL FUND” on your donation.
Should you have any questions about our Virtual Dānā Meal Fund, please email us for more information.
May the blessings of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha guide and protect you. We rejoice in your generosity and great merit – Anumodana!
Anumodana to our many supporters – we rejoice in your generosity and great merit!
Support the Monastery
Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery is a registered Canadian charitable society and is supported entirely by donations or ‘dāna’ (generosity). All teachings, accommodations, and meals are offered free of charge. It is left to the good will and discretion of visitors and well-wishers to decide how they might support the work of the monastery.
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Mailing Address:
Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery
7000 Smith Lake Forest Srv Rd.
Knutsford, BC | V0E 2A0 | Canada