About our fees

The Burlington Shambhala Center depends on income from member dues, program fees, and cash donations. It’s how we pay rent and other bills, maintain an uplifted space for regular sitting, bring in special teachers and offer all our programs. Our survival now and planning for the future depend on the money we receive from these sources.

Unique and Special

This Center offers our sangha and the greater Burlington community something unique and very special. We want everyone, regardless of financial resources, to feel welcome at all its programs and events. No one should feel he or she can not participate because of limited income. At the same time, the Center needs those who benefit from it to do what they can to help keep it alive and growing.

Paying for Programs and Courses

There is a requested donation for most programs and courses at the Center (this does not include public sitting, monthly Open House or Shambhala Cafe). If you can pay the full amount (or more), we need you to do so. If you can’t, we ask you to be generous in contributing what you can. We trust you to decide how much, if anything, you can afford.

At this time we do not have a direct method for credit card processing so we request that you pay at registration online via PayPal or by check payable to the Burlington Shambhala Center and noting on the check to which course the check applies.

Program Fees

Full Program Fee:
This price covers Burlington Shambhala Center’s actual operating cost for the program (including ongoing costs of running the Center).

Sponsor Program Fee:
This price, in addition to covering BSC’s cost for the program, extends generosity to other participants.  Thanks to you, we will be able to make more scholarships available to support people on the Shambhala path.

Generosity Policy:
Our generosity policy supports individuals who are undergoing financial hardship.  Please contemplate how much you can truly offer at this time (more, less, or the suggested full program fee) based on your circumstances.  The full program fee reflects the minimum cost of offering for this program.  To take advantage of our generosity policy you must contact the program teacher listed on the program page at least one week in advance of the program.  Pre-arrangements are necessary as we cannot accommodate “pay-what-you-can-at-the-door”.