If you’re considering taking a course or attending a retreat this fall, Valley Insight’s dharma study fund can help to pay tuition or travel costs.

The fund was established in 2017 when Doreen stepped down as guiding teacher. This spring, the board voted to rename it in her honor. The board and other generous members of our sangha contributed additional funds to the Doreen Schweizer Dharma Study Fund.

The Fund is intended to affirm and nurture our sangha’s ongoing connection to the Buddhadharma as understood in the Insight and Early Buddhist traditions. Anyone who is part of the Valley Insight sangha can request financial support to attend study and practice programs in the Insight or Early Buddhist traditions, including residential, online, or self-study programs. Since Valley Insight already offers full financial support for attendance of the programs we sponsor, this Scholarship Fund is not used for that purpose.

A small committee consisting of Doreen, Guiding Teacher Karen Summer, and Board President Michael Stoner reviews applications and makes decisions about awarding scholarships. If you’re interested in applying, send an email to one or more of the Review Committee describing the program you’re interested in attending and the teacher(s) involved. We’ll respond to your request in a timely manner.

The scholarship is intended to be used for expenses such as cost of retreat attendance, tuition, books, travel, etc., but not for teacher dana. We believe that the dana practice is one that is between the student and the teacher; it is based, not on a specific required amount, but more on a heartfelt relationship informed and balanced by the student’s own financial situation.

There’s more information on our website here: https://valleyinsight.org/vims-dhamma-study-scholarship-fund/.