Volunteer Positions at PPI
Full or part-time volunteer positions are available at the Padmasambhava Peace Institute (PPI) for those wishing to support the activities PPI focuses on – spiritual development, responsible land stewardship and creating a beautiful retreat space for oneself and the community at large.
We are located on 485 acres of coastal redwood hills in Western Sonoma County about two-and-a-half hours north of San Francisco, 40 minutes from Guerneville and a few miles inland from the coast.
The center is home to a community practising Tibetan Buddhism, but you do not have to be Buddhist to live at PPI – our volunteers come from all walks of life. Together with the full-time residential staff, volunteers can focus on personal growth and awareness in a supportive community while experiencing the joy of serving others and nurturing the environment.
Room and board are offered in exchange for an agreed number of work-hours per week. Accommodations are single or shared clean, carpeted rooms with adjacent bathroom facilities.
Volunteers work alongside the residential staff during the day and in their free time can stay on the property or explore further afield.
Spiritual instruction and support are available from the lama-in-residence Tibetan Buddhist master Jigme Rinpoche, and volunteers are welcome to join in the group daily practice and make use of the center’s shrine-room and library. In terms of outdoor leisure, there are many beautiful places to hike around the property and we are located 30 minutes from the stunning Sonoma coastline and the Russian River resorts. Just over an hour away are the towns of Santa Rosa and Sebastopol which offer a full range of cultural activities from traditional to alternative.
PPI has a licensed contractor on site who has decades of experience training volunteers in many different areas – this is a great opportunity to get experience in some very valuable skills.
The center maintains an organic vegetable garden which operates along principles of permaculture as much as possible and twice a year PPI hosts Earth Activist Training courses under the direction of Starhawk and other eco/spiritual leaders.
Work includes gardening (landscaping, maintenance and organic vegetable garden), painting, cleaning, cooking assistance, general construction and shrine-room maintenance. About once a month, usually at the weekend, PPI hosts a rental or Buddhist event which volunteers also help manage. Volunteers are able to attend PPI’s Buddhist events free of charge.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, age, education, religion and sexual orientation, and are looking for volunteers with:
- a commitment to community life
- an interest in supporting the center as a place of retreat for themselves and others
- concern for the environment and interest in land stewardship
- the ability to work with clear direction alone or as part of a team
- the ability to communicate clearly with others
- a responsible attitude towards handling their workload
- willingness to carry out tasks to the best of their ability and able to work flexible hours on occasion (eg during big events)
- good physical health and stamina
6.00am or earlier -- personal practice (optional)
7.00am -- group puja with Jigme Rinpoche (optional if not following center practice lineages)
8.45am -- breakfast
9.15am -- cleaning and making beds in dormitories
10.15am -- gardening / building maintenance
12.30pm -- lunch with Jigme Rinpoche
1.30pm -- gardening / building maintenance
5.00pm -- cleaning butterlamps
5.45pm -- helping prep dinner
6.15pm -- dinner
Evening free (sometimes in the run-up to events some light work is done before bedtime, eg setting up the shrine-room, cleaning etc)
Please download and complete the Volunteer Application Form (PDF format), and mail to: Volunteer Program, Padmasambhava Peace Institute, 23125 Fort Ross Road, Cazadero, CA 95421.
Please note that all decisions on taking on volunteers are made after group discussion by staff and with the approval of the center’s director Jigme Rinpoche, not by any one individual. We aim to respond to applications within a week; sometimes if Rinpoche is away traveling it may take slightly longer.
Once staff have reviewed the form and want to follow up by meeting the applicant, prospective volunteers are encouraged to come and visit PPI for at least a day to get a feeling for how the Institute operates. If both sides wish to proceed with the placement, there is then a one-month trial period during which time mutual agreement is reached as to whether there is a good match between the volunteer and PPI.
WE ALSO WELCOME NON-RESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEERS
TO HELP WITH ANY ASPECT OF OUR WORK!
If you are able to spare a few hours a week or a month, we particularly appreciate assistance with gardening and general maintenance. Please meet with a member of staff to discuss how you could help.
We look forward to welcoming you to the PPI community!
This page was last updated on:
November 10, 2008
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Yoga class -- every Weds afternoon. 