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Offered Online for Everyone. Sunday Retreats can be attended in person.
As the year winds down and the season of giving begins, many of us make donations to support the organizations we care about. Living Generously offers an opportunity to deepen your giving practice, using Zen master Dogen’s Four Embracing Dharmas—Giving, Loving Speech, Beneficial Action, and Identity Action—as a practical guide.
This retreat invites you to explore how your giving reflects your values and worldview, moving beyond routine donations to a more personal, relationship-centered, and transformative approach. Through five sessions, including two half-day retreats, you’ll learn how to infuse spiritual joy, care, and wisdom into your giving, enriching the experience for both you and the recipients.
By the end, you’ll see your contributions not just as donations, but as part of a living practice that connects and benefits everyone. Join us with curiosity and an open heart, and help shape a meaningful group experience. Together, we can turn your giving into a true act of care and connection.
Brian Joshin Byrnes is the guiding teacher of Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community, bringing a warm blend of professional expertise and deep spiritual practice to his teachings. With decades of leadership experience in both small and large nonprofit organizations during the AIDS epidemic and in regional and global community foundations, Joshin understands how giving can profoundly shape both your sense of self and your relationship with social change and community. For him, these aspects are deeply connected—each nourishing the other.
In addition to advising donors and foundations, Joshin has made significant contributions to the field of community philanthropy, including serving on the leadership board of the Council of Foundations Community Foundations group and chairing national conferences. His engagement with thought leaders in the field reflects his commitment to relational, skillful, compassionate, and wise giving.
As a Dharma practitioner, Joshin’s approach to Zen is rooted in the intersections of personal growth and societal transformation. His teachings, grounded in the Zen Peacemaker tradition, bridge economic, social, and experiential divides, making his guidance ideal for those looking to explore giving as a transformative practice in their own lives.
Given the nature of Living Generously, asking for a donation can feel a bit delicate. While we encourage you to consider including Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community in your end-of-year giving, that’s not the purpose of this retreat. If you choose to make a gift, it is entirely up to you whether you share your intentions with us.
In addition to any year-end contribution, we ask that you consider making a donation of $108 for this program—or more or less, according to your means. Your generosity helps sustain our community and offerings.
To register for this program click here
We extend our boundless gratitude to everyone who gives to Bread Loaf Mountain to make our life possible
