Useful Things

May you have every good blessing.                                        Updated February 11, 2020

With deep appreciation ... the items here are useful to our sangha, both at Dhammadharini Monastery and  Aranya Bodhi Hermitage.

The Four Primary Requisites for Buddhist Monastics are Robes, Food, Medicines, and Lodgings

Monastic Lodgings

  • Financial support for repair of monastery roof.  Shingles have reached their lifespan.  $5,000 needed to complete this project in 2020. Thank you for your donations -- this project is funded!
  • Ongoing monthly financial support for lodgings. Recurring donations in any amount will help to fully fund the monthly mortgage expense. 
  • Two 3-tier folding step stools, nice enough to be permanent furniture.  These are to give access to the newly installed fire-escape skylights in our loft sleeping areas.  [Purchase on-line example.  Or make in your home woodworking shop example example]
  • gift certificates for Ace Hardware (sold here for Ace Hardware). These locally-owned stores in our area carry many useful supplies for maintenance, repairs and renovations.
  • 18’x30’ large event canopy (example)
  • Outdoor folding chairs for large events (examples)
  • A high-capacity top loading washer. This is to replace an older washer that's approaching its lifespan.* [example] thank you! -- a washer has been offered!
  • reed privacy fencing 6' tall x 60' to restore two structures at hermitage (example)

Dhamma Books

  • 5 copies of Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide and Translations. This is Bhikkhu Analayo's new book, which will be a focus during our upcoming winter retreat. (Available here) thank you! -- these books have been offered

Monastic Robe Supplies and Monastic Warmwear

  • Long-sleeve robe-color cotton T-shirts S, M, L (example)
  • Polar fleece solid rust fabric swatch (here) pledged -- thank you!
  • 8 yards of 3-layer Gortex fabric for making hermitage rain ponchos and rain skirts
  • Strong windproof large-size rainstorm umbrellas brown (example, example, example) offered -- thank you!
  • Hoodie pullover M rust-brown (example) and sweater M (example)
  • Sweatshirt S, M Coffee Heather (example), Hoodie S, M Gold (example)
  • Leggings: cotton M, L, XL brown (example), fleece-lined coffee-color L (example)
  • Base layer long john set M rust (example), XL brown (example)

Monastic Medicines

  • Clotrimazole 1% cream 1 or 2 oz tubes (example)

  • Ubiquinol 200mg gelcaps (example)

  • Pure Encapsulations 950 (example)

  • Physical therapy ball 33'' (example)

  • Natural colorless lip balm (example, example)

  • B-complex vitamins (example)

  • Calcium- Magnesium- Zinc (example)
  • Probiotics (example)

  • Cold care, Sinus and Bronchial teas (example, example) (Breathe Tea offered  and received, thank you!)

  • Pickled or dried ginger (example, example)

  • Ibuprofen 200mg (pledged--thank you!)
  • Zinc 30 mg
  • Donations to "Monastic Medical Fund" (here)

Monastic Afternoon & Evening Tonics (Allowables)

  • cheese
  • honey
  • dark chocolate WITHOUT added nuts or fruits  [These are allowables:  dark chocolate, dark chocolate w/ salt, dark chocolate w/ ginger, caramel or mint]
  • unsweetened soy milk, almond milk or other nut milk
  • protein powder
  • Ginseng tea (example) and Ginseng coffee (example)
  • regular black tea and coffee
  • Herbal teas such as peppermint, chai spice or liquorice

Cleaning, sewing & household care:

Tools for making and repairing monastic lodgings and furnishings:
  • pipe clamp set for woodworking (example) (example)
  • coat hook hardware (example, example) and cup hooks (example)
  • replacement ceramic filters for hermitage water filtration ("Rio 2000" replacement 6-pack available here) 

Non-food items for Monastery Kitchen

  • "ultra absorbent" dish towels (example) pledged -- thank you!
  • "Bee's Wrap" reuseable alternative to plastic wrap (available here)

Food Items for Monastery Kitchen (maintained by lay friends of the monastic community): 

  • brown rice, black rice, millet
  • gluten free tamari
  • nut butters (peanut butter, etc...) with just nuts and salt
  • nuts and seeds
  • tofu and tempeh
  • powdered milk or Nido™
  • greens (ex: kale, collard greens, chard, dandelion greens, bok choy, spinach ....)
  • durable root vegetables (ex. potato, turnip, carrot)

*Before donating larger items, please email us to discuss the specifications.

To contact Dhammadharini: 
Email: dhammadharini.monastery@gmail.com, phone: 707-583-9522 or 9523
Shipping Address:  Dhammadharini, 6791 Sturtevant Drive, Penngrove, CA 94951