In the teachings of Buddhism, three separate forms of generosity are recognized. The first is the generosity of offering material goods. Second is the generosity of offering dharma teachings. Finally, the third form of generosity is the gift of fearlessness. 

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In traditional Buddhist cultures, monks and nuns' offering of the teachings was dependent upon receiving food, shelter, and other forms of material generosity. Although we are a non-monastic sangha, our dharma offerings are likewise dependent upon the financial support of our dedicated community.

 

We have the great fortune to have a teacher who has dedicated and continues to dedicate her life-stream to practicing, realizing, and sharing the teachings of this rare and profound lineage. By offering the fruits of our own life-stream, we express our gratitude to all of the lineage masters and begin to merge our life with theirs. 

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In truth, though, the instruction of our tradition is to go one step further, realizing the "emptiness of the three wheels": the giver, that which is given, and the recipient of the gift. That is how we ourselves embody and offer to others the third form of generosity, fearlessness. Cutting through notions of self and other, we practice the generosity​ that is at the very heart of Chö practice, which literally means "cutting through."