Pay-it-Forward

Kailash Ashram is a registered charity managed by the Kailash Foundation. We are able to operate thanks to the generosity of students who have attended our retreats and a small number of private donors.

All earnings are retained in our organisation which exists to serve humanity by sharing the practices of mediation and yoga for the benefit of individual and collective flourishing. The Kailash Foundation also runs programs that support those who serve, including veterans, their families and members of the community in need.

We warmly welcome all contributions, but suggest that to keep the system equitable, those without the means to offer our Access Contribution of $1500 to apply for funding through the Kailash Foundation. 

To sustain the Ashram and to continue provide retreats, we require an average contribution between $1800 – $2200.

Your contribution should not be viewed as an opportunity for a ‘cheap retreat’ but as a chance to connect to the inner feeling of the experienced that has been shared, and if it has brought you benefit to support the Ashrams mission and future students.

Note: In the past we charged a commercial rate of up to $3495 for the Soul Retreat, but found that as our Ashram grew, a commercial pricing model was at odds with our Soul. That said, if current students contributed at this level, we are better able to charitably support those in need.

We honestly welcome contributions of any amount and place the onus upon the individual to decide.

Technically, none!

Our Access Contribution is listed above at $1500 and if all students contributed this amount, we still require additional donations to keep Kailash Ashram running. 

Our Sustaining Contribution is $1800 – $2200 and if most students donated at this level, Kailash Ashram can continue to operate. Where possible, this is the range that we ask prospective students to consider.

For those considering coming on a retreat without the means to support the Ashram, please be aware that our retreats are 5 days and 4 nights of accommodation, food and a life-changing program. We invite you to consider the real world costs of such a program (which are significant) and the fact that if each student did this, the Ashram is not viable. 

 If you are unable to meet the Access Contribution of $1500  you are welcome to apply for the Retreat Access Program with the Kailash Foundation.  

No. The registration fee covers the direct cost in promoting and administering the retreat with a large portion going directly towards online ads.

As such, your $300 Registration Fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable.

You also may wish to consider that the registration fee is your commitment towards attending the retreat (we found without a monetary commitment, many people did not show up.)

As a traditionally oriented Ashram, Pay-it-Forward pricing is in alignment with the spiritual traditions to which we belong where emphasis is placed on the individual to value the teachings they receive.

We also feel, that as a registered charity that operates to serve those in need, that it is important to lead from the front and to embody faith and trust, and to encourage a sense of giving in our students. 

No. Since antiquity, students in many traditions have been expected to pay for teachings. 

Why is this? In a householder tradition like ours (i.e. shared by people who still have a worldly life) charitable giving (danaa) is offered to cover the cost of the guide’s time.

Danaa also helps a student value what is being given.

Some teachers prefer to offer teachings for free, and others on a donation basis, and others commercially. Each has its benefits, and downsides. Commercialisation can create conflicting priorities. Donation can mean a lack of economic viability. Free can mean students don’t value what is given.

We have personally received free teachings, and also paid for teachings and are happy in both instances.

Where accommodation and food is involved, especially for 5 days and nights, such as on our retreats there is significant cost in running a facility and maintaining it.

Kailash Ashram subsists entirely on the revenue generated by our retreats, with all contributions made by volunteers. There is no large wealthy organisation financing or supporting us (yet!)

No. 

As well as the considerable fees involved, we find that many people who start a payment plan do not see it through to the end. This means that our charity is unable to keep it’s head above water.

We acknowledge the significant investment involved in meeting our Sustaining Contribution of $1800 – $2200 and suggest that those wanting to come have access to at least the Access Contribution of $1500 should the retreat bring you benefit. 

After 50+ retreats, we are almost certain a retreat with us will leave you wanting to Pay-it-Forward.

No. David and Raya are the full time Sevadari (service givers) of Kailash Ashram and they offer their time on retreat as an act of karma yoga and devotion. 

All profits are retained within our registered charity, the Kailash Foundation and your donated funds are used to cover both the direct costs of the retreat, as well as the essential maintenance and costs associated with managing a retreat centre. 

We are registered as a Charity with the Australian Not-for-profits and Charities Commission.

Contributions made over the Sustaining Contribution of $1800 – $2200 offset against the shortfall that comes from people contributing less and last minute cancellations.

All earnings are retained within Kailash Ashram to support our charitable mission and purpose.

Yes!

Kailash Foundation is a not-for-profit and is a registered Charity.

Kailash Ashram is grateful for any contribution and makes no judgement towards your decision to contribute.

That said, we suggest you do some background research regarding the cost of 5 days of accommodation and food, and also reflect upon what drew you to connect with us. 

Many people reach out when there is a need and wish to overcome trauma, find stability through significant challenges or to learn authentic practices.

Some level of austerity or sacrifice may be needed to make this a reality, but we feel that it can be a useful way of valuing the experience. 

If you are unable to afford donating at the Access Contribution of $1500, we suggest you apply with the Kailash Foundation to receive Retreat Access funding.

Due to the limitations of 3rd party retreat platforms and providers, we are unable to offer people booking through such platforms ‘Pay-it-Forward’ arrangements.

Thus, we charge a flat rate , plus their booking fees.

For those that this presents an issue to, feel free to book directly with us to access the Pay-it-Forward system. 

Certainly not!

Contributing is as per your capacity and means. Historically, our Ashram requires a contribution of each retreat student to be $1800 to $2200 for us to continue to operate. 

We pray that for every student who cannot afford that amount, that we attract another student that can cover their cost.

We are deeply appreciative of contributions at our Pay-it-Forward Contribution tier of $2400 – $3000+

As well as offsetting smaller contributions, it enables us to support our charitable programs that support service personel, their families and those in need. 

That said, we often arrive in a place of prosperity through hard work, but also a little luck and past karma. The ability to give back to an organisation that is supporting those in need is a precious gift and we should all try and not build the ego around our contribution.

Yes, on the worldly plane of existence, it is. People are free to come, and then not contribute. If all students came on retreat but then did not contribute, we have enough capital to last about a few months.

We are fully trusting that who is meant to come, will, and that those that derive benefit, will pay-it-forward.

(2026 Update; it has now been working for over 2 years!)

No. Our retreat is the same program we used to charge over $3000 dollars for.  

By removing the financial barriers for attendance and moving to Pay-it-Forward, we are trusting that our costs will be reduced, and our time freed up to focus on developing the Ashram’s other activities, but the power and impact of the programs remain.

We suggest those with limited means consider applying for funding through the Kailash Foundation.

No. I hope you can feel that we are genuine in our effort to find a financial model for our Ashram that encourages kindness, charity and alignment with our values and for this to be balanced against the real world costs of operating such an endeavour.

No. We didn’t invent the idea of Pay-it-Forward, other social enterprises have used this method successfully.

In ancient times, Danaa, the act of charitable giving, was common in the spiritual domain. Like tithing to a church, when we offer according to our means, we connect to the inner feeling of offering which benefits us, rather than a more commercial and transactional feeling of ‘purchasing’ or ‘buying.’

As an Ashram, we are committed to a long and prosperous future where we can support Souls achieving freedom from suffering. 

We believe the Pay-it-Forward model is the correct one for us to utilise (as opposed to a commercial on.)

No. Many years ago, we offered donation based retreats because we were indeed afraid to charge our worth (we had yet to see the impact that a retreat would have in our students lives.) 

We teach that people should live in alignment with their nature, and our nature is to focus our energy on what we love, rather than in convincing people of the merit in what we do. 

We feel that by enabling people to have the retreat experience first, and then to determine the value, that it will make for a more balanced and sustainable life for us at the Ashram, and to also allow people the joy in feeling that their contribution is supporting others.

For many, including us, what is shared on retreat is literally priceless.