Building and Sustaining  a Practice Community at Great Tree

Since 2005, when Great Tree first opened her doors, so much has happened and so many people,  have passed through her doors. A great deal of sincere help and  warm generosity has made it possible  for Great Tree to flourish and grow.

The Board of Directors is continually engaged in short and long term planning to meet both immediate needs and maintenance of the facility and grounds. It can sometimes be a challenge, when faced with economic upheaval across a wide spectrum. At the  same time we must have both insight and foresight to  plan for future  growth to insure sustainability with healthy longevity.

One big question is and remains:

What will Great Tree look like in 25 years? in 50 years?

We can imagine many things , of course, and only Time can tell what that form Great Tree will assume, but one  fact remains — for Great Tree  to grow deeply and flourish requires  sustained support from many, the work of  hands and hearts and minds, together.

Because we are able to  imagine and make that shared vision a reality, Great Tree exists purely as an exercise of imagination, right effort and dana — the generosity of  heart-felt gifts. Great Tree is the manifestation of Teijo’s vision and dream and also a real place in time with real, practical every day obligations that need to be met to support and sustain that vision.

Ways You Can Help

• Visit Great Tree, find out more, learn about programs, retreats and practice
• Become a member. Receive our newsletter, updates and visit Great Tree here online.
• Participate in retreats, practice and join in sangha & community activities
• Join in sustaining Great Tree during our Annual Year End Campaign
• Make a monthly or annual pledge during our Summer Pledge Mailing
• Volunteer services or goods – Check our wish list for items or help we can use
• Volunteer time for work-projects and learn more about work as practice and service
• Join the Board of Directors and help with planning and development.

You may sign up securely on-line below or if you,  prefer to send in your donation to the address below.

If you would like find out more, please click here to be added to our mailing lists. Contact us at  info(at)greattreetemple.org if you have questions or need more information.

Annual Fund

Donations or dana made without restriction or conditions are allocated to our general fund. These support and sustain  the entire range of programs, expenses and overhead for Great Tree’s operation.

Conditional Donations

You may choose to indicate your intent and restrict funds to specific use.

• Teachers’ Dana – Dana for Rev. Munnich or guest teachers
• Mortgage Support – Make a monthly Pledge to help pay our mortgage
• Practice Support – Support others who have financial challenges
• Grow Great Tree!

Teacher’s Support

Teachers at Great Tree teach at Great Tree in order to share the Dharma.  Please consider dana for the teacher to help support their continued practice.  If you choose to send dana for Teijo or a guest teacher, here please be sure to make that clear when you send in your donation. Great Tree office helpers will be sure they receive it.

Mortgage Support

The mortgage  and facility operation costs makes almost 45%  of the cost of our overhead at this time, about 2500. per month.  In 2007 , one goal we hoped to meet, was to ask for pledges of $25. per month from 100 people ($300 per year) to meet our operating overhead in a modest way.  Response varied, and some were smaller ($10) or larger ($100), but currently we receive about 40% of that goal monthly, about 1000. per month. If 50 new people would make a pledge of $25. a month and our existing pledges remained stable, we could meet our goal.

Practice Support Fund

Donations allocated  to support practice programs for practitioners, full-time students, and residents who are financially challenged. We turn no one away for financial reasons. The teaching of the Dharma is freely offered. Last year over 200 people participated in practice events at Great Tree.  For many this is vital commitment to deepen and continue practice.

When a sincere student steps forward and wishes to deepen practice through further study, we try in every way to help them on their path. Great Tree Temple alone cannot wholely provide assistance for individuals and may reach out to our Sangha to join hands by sharing some of their burden on their journey.

In September of 2010 we initiated search for funds to support Chimyo Atkinson study in Japan. For more about how to join with Great Tree and  Support Chimyo on her practice path…and soon to be our first long-term resident .

Support for Programs

You may wish to support specific programs, like residency, women and childrens’ programs, or long term retreats. While our menu is modest, kitchen expenses are our largest during long term retreats. Please check our wish list for donations of consumables or consider underwriting a specific program. We’ll will be happy to explore other options. You may designate a project when you donate online. Just let us know your intention.

The Three Treasures

Grow Great Tree!

We are in the process of designing a site plan, including plans for garden, greener infrastructure, for instance, larger gardens, solar hot water,  meditation trails, and finding ways to make the building more accessible for those with physical challenges.

We especially need  to implement safer parking and a better access to the top of the hill. Essentially, this is what might be called “building and grounds” development, but  it is more fun to think about Growing Great Tree. Here, you might also wish to underwrite a specific project, like clearing meditation trails or planting trees. We are working on a developing a list that will require projects that will require sponsorship to implement as they are beyond the annual budget.

Our first project is to have a professional assessment of the property and develop a comprehensive site plan, including a tree inventory by a qualified forest consultant. Since we hope to build and grow Great Tree we want to do it in appropriate, responsible and sustainable way. We need to know if our water source is sufficient for growth and where best to position buildings, gardens  and roads for future growth. Having a site plan will help map our growth.

If you have questions or would like to know more, we will be happy to talk with you about core operations at Great Tree and development.

Send inquiries to: Growing Great Tree. You may donate securely on line. If you choose to do that, please indicate your intention.

Mail checks to:

• Great Tree Zen Temple, 679 Lower  Flat Creek Road, Alexander, NC 28701
• Email us  using “Grow Great Tree” or” Development”  in the the subject line.

We are grateful for all contributions and all are used directly support and sustain Great Tree.

Gassho