A HUGE thank you to the first founding subscriber of this Substack!

Don't Let It Be the Last: Consider Supporting the Posts & Podcasts At Any Level!

Thanks again to the first founding subscriber. You know who you are, but publicly they wish to remain an “Anonymous Admirer of Koyo, Adrienne, Gyomay, and Minnie Kubose."

Please consider supporting the work I do helping spread the Dharma, and specifically the teachings of Rev. Gyomay Kubose, Rev. Koyo Kubose, and the lineage that went before. It would not be possible without donations.

It has become increasingly challenging to fund my time and all the infrastructure involved in producing the new podcast, Words From My Teachers within this Substack; the main podcast, Everyday Buddhism; and maintaining a virtual sangha, book club, and introduction to Buddhism course—all within a private, non-Facebook community.

If you enjoy the podcasts and articles, please consider supporting my efforts, through a subscription to this Substack, as an act of Dana practice for 2024.

The Buddha taught: “If you knew as I know the benefit of generosity, you would not let an opportunity go by without sharing.”

The Buddha taught and practiced, as a way life, giving and receiving. This practice helps us transform greed, clinging, self-centeredness, and attachment. Dana practice is the foundation of Buddhist spiritual development in compassion.

If you noticed, I wrote that it was a practice of “giving and receiving.” From my personal perspective, I have found receiving can be as difficult as giving. I started the Everyday Buddhism podcast in 2018, while I was still working as a career and behavioral coach. I quit coaching in 2019 so that I could devote all my time to communicating the Dharma.

It has been a struggle to do it all, while living only on Social Security, and dealing with the challenges of multiple autoimmune conditions. And, of course, I still have all the expenses of maintaining a household, food, car, insurance, taxes ... plus the expenses of the platforms that support the podcasts and communities.

Please do not consider this a complaint. I have never been happier. I know I am meant to keep doing this but I have had a consistently hard time asking for support. I am going to try to reverse that inclination for 2024.

I will continue giving as freely as I have been, including keeping the podcast Everyday Buddhism free and without ads, and funding those who can’t afford a donation. But I will also use this Substack as a way to increase my giving of the Dharma and a way to feel more comfortable asking for support and graciously receiving.

Thank you for reading and thank you for your support! Happy Holidays!