“Remembering our interconnectedness with all beings, we see that benefiting others is no different from benefiting ourselves, and we reconnect with our natural capacity for kindness and generosity toward self and others.”
-Rebecca Li
Dear friend,
A sangha can amplify an individual’s voice when it speaks against injustice, and collective action lends courage to those who may be fearful of standing on their own. But the courage needed to advocate for oneself when the sangha is responsible for causing harm is even more incredible. From there, the sangha must respond with wisdom and without frustration.
When IMCW took over ownership of Seven Oaks Retreat Center in 2024, we were thrilled to have a place to gather as a community, but longtime sangha member, Vanessa Jones, was quick to point out her frustration that Seven Oaks was not accessible to her as a wheelchair user. The campus was originally built on in the 1970’s before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and was full of stairs and gravel paths that were impassible to her. We knew that renovation plans for Seven Oaks would endeavor to welcome students of all abilities, but it seemed that progress toward that goal would be slow.
Then came a lightning strike, and in the spring of 2026, we found ourselves in immediate need of repairing Oak House, one of the residences on campus. Our conversations with Vanessa reminded us that we didn’t need to wait to live our values. We could start today. So, we launched the Accessibility Campaign to raise funds to provide Oak House with a handicap accessible bathroom, wider entrances, and a zero-grade entry to the building. Donations poured in from all over the IMCW and Seven Oaks communities, and Vanessa was one of the first to contribute. When asked why she gave, Vanessa simply said,
“Contemplative practices should be available to all.”
The campaign’s success not only gave us the means to make Oak House welcoming to wheelchair users for the first time, but it also brought in enough money to upgrade the ramp at Center Building and to potentially install a chair lift to access the dining room. The collective generosity of our sangha helped us to take Right Action and begin to repair a wrong.
Right Action asks us not only to avoid harm, but to take meaningful steps to reduce suffering and create the conditions for others to flourish. At IMCW, that commitment extends beyond physical accessibility to making the Dharma available to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, background, or ability.
But living these values requires ongoing support. IMCW depends on its annual Fall Fundraising Campaign to cover a significant portion of our operating budget. Your gift sustains the teachers, scholarships, programs, and communities of practice that make the Dharma accessible, while supporting the people and resources needed to welcome and serve our growing sangha.
Today, we ask you to make a financial gift to IMCW’s Fall Fundraising Campaign. Just as our community came together to open doors at Seven Oaks, your generosity can help keep the doors to the Dharma open for all.
