Dānā Meal Offerings
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 dana day.
You can use our kitchen, or bring a meal that is ready to heat and serve. There is approximately 2 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 2 hours preparation starting from a cold oven; this does not fit into our meal preparation schedule.
Please see our Visit page for more information.
Useful Dānā Items List
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 basement cold room storage area without a Resident Steward present.
Food Items:
- Fresh fruit (other than apples, oranges, bananas)
- Tetra-Pak soy milk
- Dark roast whole bean coffee
- Dried fruits and nuts (walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, raisins, etc.)
- Nut butters
- Butter (regular and unsalted)
- Maple syrup
- Cheese
- Crystallized ginger for teatime
- If you would like to donate tea, please be sure each tea bag is individually packaged and labelled.
- Non-perishable food items are ideal.
Other Items:
- Facial tissues
- White paper towels
- White paper napkins
- Toilet paper (2-ply) safe for septic systems
- Lysol wipes
No Need For:
- We currently have a large abundance of dry legumes, rice, pasta, towels, soap and socks.
- We are no longer are accepting homemade canned goods.
- Please do not bring large amounts of foods that need refrigeration or freezing; our fridge and freezer space is limited.
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 ‘dānā’ (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 Service Road
Knutsford, BC | V0E 2A0 | Canada