The Practice of Dana
Support Ayya Marajina & Bhava Nirodha Nilaya
Your generosity sustains monastic life, the Dhamma teachings, and the growth of the Sangha of bhikkhunis in Latin America.
Your generosity sustains monastic life, the Dhamma teachings, and the growth of the Sangha of bhikkhunis in Latin America.
In the Theravada tradition, dana (generosity) is the first of the ten perfections (paramis) that every practitioner cultivates on the path to liberation. By offering material support to monastics and the Sangha, you not only sustain the contemplative life but also sow seeds of merit (punna) for your own well-being and spiritual progress.
Ayya Marajina Theri is a Cuban-American bhikkhuni based in Fort White, Florida, who shares the Dhamma locally and through her teachings in Spanish across Cuba and all of Latin America.
Choose the way you prefer, then the channel. When you write to coordinate your donation, name the way you have chosen: if none is stated, it goes to monastic requisites in general.
Two ways, sharing the same channels. The only thing that tells them apart is the name you state:
1. Sanditthiko Vihara Cuba
Supports the four requisites of sāmaneras: food, robes, lodging and medicine. Medical care in Cuba is no longer free.
3. Theravada Cuba
Supports the island’s lay Buddhist community, which is living through very hard times: long blackouts and shortages of food and medicine.
Channels: Tocopay (cash or classic card), online purchase of food and hygiene supplies, and internet and data top-ups.
One way:
2. Sanditthiko Colombia
Supports the four requisites of ten-precept renunciant Nekkhamma Sīvālī, who lives in Colombia and stays at Sanditthiko during her visits to Havana.
Channel: Western Union agencies. For the transfer you will need the recipient’s details; write to us and we will share them.
If you wish to offer donations directly to the Venerable, the channel is Givebutter, and the current requirements for her practice are listed on her hermitage’s page. Direct contact: bhavanirodha@me.com.
She suggests directing donations to Cuba and Colombia, and currently redirects there what she receives.
Because of the US embargo and its sanctions on Cuba, monetary donations for the island are coordinated through the international dāna coordinator, who is outside the United States. Once a donation reaches a destination inside the US it becomes subject to the legalities of the embargo, hard to navigate without legal assistance. This is why we ask that, as far as possible, donations for Cuba not be sent to US addresses. Please write directly to the Dāna coordination if you have any questions or would like to explore the ways of supporting us.
These are the channels confirmed by the Dana coordination team of Theravada Cuba, so that your generosity reaches the sāmaneras and the lay community on the island directly. To complete your gift you will need the recipient's details in Cuba; write to us at nicolasardila.tc@gmail.com and we will gladly share them to coordinate your donation.
Help the community with food and essential household items. Non-perishable foods are recommended, due to frequent power outages in Cuba.
To support the requisites of Nekkhamma Sīvālī, who lives in Colombia.
A money transfer to Colombia. To complete it you will need the recipient's full name and city; write to us and we will share them.
Request the detailsSo that Venerable Ayya Marajina can maintain communication with practitioners in Cuba and share the Dhamma teachings, these are the current connectivity needs.
Internet connection for virtual teachings and communication with the community.
~50 USD approximately
Phone line for direct communication with practitioners and project coordination.
~45 USD approximately
So the sāmaneras, the Director and the Co-Director can stay in touch with Venerable Ayyā Mārajinā and with the rest of the community.
To coordinate specific donations for Cuba, write to us at:
nicolasardila.tc@gmail.com"Generosity, kind words, beneficial action, and impartiality... these four bases of sympathy are like the axle of a moving chariot."
— Anguttara Nikaya 4.32
There are several ways to offer your generous support to the monastery and Dhamma activities.
Make a one-time or recurring donation through our secure platform on Givebutter. We accept credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers.
You can directly offer the requisites necessary for monastic life: food, medicine, utensils, and materials for monastery maintenance.
Offer your time and skills to support monastery activities: translations, technical support for livestreams, maintenance, and more.
Donations to this project directly support Ayya Marajina, her monastic requisites, and her base at Bhava Nirodha Nilaya (Hermitage) in Fort White, Florida, as well as her teachings and local activities.
As a bhikkhuni in the Theravada tradition, Ayya Marajina depends on the generosity of the laity to sustain her monastic life dedicated to study, meditation, and teaching the Dhamma.
The Dhammadharini Support Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. (EIN: 37-1518402)
In the tradition of the Buddha, monastics depend on four essential requisites. Your generosity makes this contemplative life possible.
Food offerings for the monastic community, including prepared meals, groceries, and non-perishable food.
Cloth for monastic robes and appropriate clothing for life at the monastery.
Support for the maintenance, repairs, and improvements of the Bhava Nirodha Nilaya hermitage in Fort White, Florida.
Support for medical needs, medications, and healthcare for the monastic community.
Equipment for livestreams, internet, and digital tools for virtual Dhamma teachings.
Support for transportation expenses related to teachings, retreats, and Dhamma activities.
To specifically support the work of Ayya Marajina sharing the Dhamma in Cuba, and her other Dhamma activities in Spanish, visit the page dedicated to the Dhammacari Spanish & Theravada Cuba project.
This project includes the establishment of Theravada communities on the island, translations of sacred texts into Spanish, and the training of practitioners in the tradition of the Buddha.
Learn About the Cuba ProjectDonations made through Givebutter are channeled by the Dhammadharini Support Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity registered in the United States. Its EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1518402. Those donations, made by U.S. residents, may be tax-deductible as permitted by law. Donations sent directly to Cuba or Colombia do not pass through the foundation. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
"If beings knew, as I know, the result of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having first given, nor would they allow the stain of miserliness to overcome their minds."
— Itivuttaka 26
May the merit of your generosity be a cause of well-being, peace, and liberation for all beings.
See the Ways to Give
English — Tuesdays 6:00 PM ET
Spanish — Sundays 11:00 AM ET
Copyright 2025, Bhava Nirodha Nilaya. May all beings be happy and free from suffering.
