The maintenance of the nunnery is based on the Buddhist tradition of Dana (= generosity, giving) and the participation in the courses for practice and study is free of charge. There are no fees for the teachings, the facilities and the meals. There are no suggestions for donations. Following the old rule, the teaching should be freely available to everyone, regardless of their financial background.

All arising costs are covered solely by voluntary donations. People who have experienced the benefits of the meditation practice and who wish to maintain and support such offers in the future, can give a donation according to their own wish and possibilities. In this way the courses, activities and offers are a gift from other meditators, previous participants and general supporters.

General monetary donations

If you wish to donate once you can either leave your donation in the dana boxes at the nunnery or make a transfer to the bank account of the association. 

Account: 

Dhammanikhom Vipassana-Meditationszentrum e.V. 

Sparkasse Spree-Neiße

BIC: WELADED1CBN

IBAN: DE83 1805 0000 0190 0676 24

Purpose: donation 

Long-term monthly donation for running costs (standing order)

If you would like to support the association monthly to cover running costs (e.g. electricity, water, heating, insurance, maintenance costs, health insurance), you can set up a standing order. It would be helpful for the bookkeeping if this were on the 1st or 15th of each month.

Currently, the monthly running costs amount to 3,700 €. This includes flat rates for maintenance costs and minor repairs, but does not include food.

You can choose a day of the month (e.g. every 1st or every 20th etc.) on which you would like to dedicate the monthly donation. At the nunnery, we have a list where we write down the donors and then share the merits with them on that day and dedicate the blessing with the donor.

On an annual average, the daily expenses for running costs amount to around €120. You can donate a whole day or a partial amount.

Please have a list at the monthly overview on the German page! 

Account: 

Dhammanikhom Vipassana-Meditationszentrum e.V. 

Sparkasse Spree-Neiße

BIC: WELADED1CBN

IBAN: DE83 1805 0000 0190 0676 24

Purpose: monthly donation 

Donation of food and meals

The nuns and meditators have breakfast at 6.30 a.m. and lunch at 11 a.m. If you wish to contribute something to these meals please contact us at least one day prior to your donation.

If you cannot come on time in the morning (breakfast before 6 a.m., lunch before 10 a.m.) it is possible to leave a prepared meal or groceries in the kitchen the day before. These are then offered by a nunnery guest the following day.

It is also possible to invite the Venerable Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani to the traditional morning alms walk (piṇḍapāta) in front of your own door. If someone is interested in maintaining and supporting this old tradition, please contact us. We can give you more information about the procedure.

If you would like to donate the food for Bhikkhuni Silavaddhani, other nuns, the house community and the meditators on a fixed day every month for a longer period of time, please send us an email. 

You can choose a day in the month (e.g. every 1st or 20th etc.) on which you would like to be a food dana sponsor. In the nunnery we have a list on which we will register the donors and then on the respective day we will share the merits with them and dedicate the blessing for the meal to the donor. 

On average over the year, the daily expenses for food are approximately 25-30 €.

It would be helpful for the book-keeping if the standing order for 30 € can be set on the 1st or 15th of each month.

Please have a look at the monthly overview at the German page!

Account: 

Dhammanikhom Vipassana-Meditationszentrum e.V. 

Sparkasse Spree-Neiße

BIC: WELADED1CBN

IBAN: DE83 1805 0000 0190 0676 24 

Purpose: food dana  

Donations for construction projects

With the support of two architects, for whose help we are very grateful, we have developed a long-term comprehensive plan for the Dhammanikhom (see below).

We are really grateful also for our great craftsmen, who all have their hearts in the right place and always work reliably and on time, despite full order books, delivery shortages and problems with junior staff. Nowadays, they usually have no other choice than "present moment"... ;)

In any case, we also always share a large portion of merit with them - because their work is of course a very central part for the further development and expansion of the nunnery.

Since 2018 we have each year implemented one stage of construction...

From January 2024 to April 2025, the first part of the new nuns' wing was constructed. A staircase was built to create a separate entrance to the nuns' area, as well as an office and 2 nuns' rooms with a hallway and tea corner.

A lot of structural work was necessary and the outdoor facilities with rainwater infiltration and terraces in the nuns' area were also implemented. 

Outlook on the planned expansion measures (comprehensive concept)

The goals are:

Establishment...

• ... of the new, larger meditation hall (2026),
• ... of further two rooms in the nuns' area (2027),
• ... renovation of the ground floor in the nuns' house (2028/29),
• ... renovation of the buffet room, the danasala, the kitchen and the entrance hall as well as expansion of the attic above with additional rooms (2030-32),
• ... renovation of the Dhammanikhom sala (new floor, horizontal barrier, new wall plaster, ceiling renewal
• ... And then...start all over again... ) and maintain. 

Further modernization and renovation measures like e.g.

• ... Removal of moisture damage,
• ... renewal of old lines (electricity, water),
• ... renovation of old buildings,
• ... insulation and thermal insulation,
• ...

We hope that the outer growth will be a healing and beneficial condition for the inner growth of many people and that the Dhammanikhom will be able to provide space for more nuns and aspirants in the future.

Donation of requisites and necessary things

In the German section is a proposal list for things that might be helpful for the Sangha as well as in general for the nunnery. As we cannot maintain two lists please check on the German page!

Donation of time and skills

This can include offering transport or carrying out small gardening tasks, e.g. mowing the lawn. Please ask us what is needed.

For experienced meditators it is possible to do a nunnery stay.