Volunteer Experience

THE ODIYAN EXPERIENCE

Odiyan is a dynamic community of 30 to 40 volunteers who range in age, background, nationalities and commitments. The residents work in service of peace and harmony for all life, through the creation, preservation, and activation of ancient wisdom symbols and teachings.

Our lifestyle is active; both physically and mentally strenuous. It includes a diet of mostly organic vegetarian food, hard work, and cultivating beauty within the Odiyan mandala – and within ourselves.

Join our unique Buddhist sacred art projects, or our organic vegetable gardens. The Work-Study program includes Buddhist classes and practices, mantra, Tibetan yoga and more.

We are now taking applications for January 2025 and beyond.

Contact Us to get started!

Our work is much more than “just work”. We follow guidance from our cornerstone text : Skilfull Means. Our work not only supports Odiyan’s mission, it produces beautiful inner results. This is a job that cultivates inner growth of our potential as we engage the workplace daily.

Odiyan has its foundations in Tibetan Buddhism, however, no religious affiliation is required.

Benefits:

Housing – comfortable room, one roommate, overlooking the temples, ocean, vast sky.
Vegetarian meals.
Stipend – $200 per month, $300 after one year.
Skill development in a range of trades and traditional arts, organic gardening and landscaping.
Opportunities for study, meditation, mantra and Buddhist practices.

What do we do at Odiyan?

Work activities:

vegetable gardening and landscaping
construction
welding and concrete casting
metalwork, foundry and woodworking
cooking and food preservation
sacred art in various mediums – wood, metal, fabric, concrete, clay, painting, gold leafing, sublimation.
animal care and managing horse sanctuary
care and maintenance of temples

Work-Study

The Work-Study resident volunteer program is a coordinated program of work on our many projects, along with Buddhist studies and practice.

Program length: We prefer a commitment of 8 months, or a minimum commitment of 4- 6 months depending on the project. Entry dates are anytime after January 3, 2025

Who should apply?

We are seeking people who:

Have a sincere interest in learning about and engaging the fundamental practices of Buddhism.
Eager to explore work and daily life as a path to inner freedom.
Can work independently, are self-motivated and enjoy a full schedule of work and learning.
Good at working with your hands, have some experience with physical work and working with tools.

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