About Volunteer

About Volunteering

We all have the seed of Buddha—the potential for awakening—within us. This seed can grow into a tree of awakening, but we need to cultivate it skillfully and with care.

The Buddha taught three essential practices for this cultivation: Dāna, Sīla, and Bhāvanā—generosity, moral conduct, and meditation.

Staying as a volunteer at Santipada is an opportunity to put these three practices into action. Through giving our time and energy, living harmoniously with others, and cultivating mindfulness and meditation, volunteering can become a meaningful practice on the path toward awakening.

 

 

Daily Time Table for Volunteer

 

5:00 – 5:30 am – Morning Chanting

5:30 – 6:30 am     – Group Meditation (Dhamma Hall)

6:30 – 7:00 am     – Breakfast

8:00 – 11:00 am   – Working Meditation

11:30 – 12:00     – Lunch

After lunch, no food is allowed.  Beverages are okay at any time.

1:00 – 2:00 pm     – Dhamma Discussion (Dhamma Hall)

2:00 – 4:00 pm – Working Meditation

6:00 – 9:00 pm     – Evening Group Meditation (Dhamma Hall)

9:00 – 10:00 pm     – Individual Meditation

10:00 pm     – Lights out

If you stay as a volunteer, food, accommodation and spiritual guidance will be available and freely shared with you.
All initial volunteering at Santipada Monastery is for a minimum of two weeks. If you would like to extend your scheduled stay, please ask the head monastic at the end of that period.

Some points to keep in mind

• Cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs (including marijuana), music and musical instruments are strongly prohibited.

• The burning incense or candles in your rooms are prohibited due to fire hazard.

• No vanity accessories, make-up, or perfumes allowed

• Going out to manage private matters is not permitted during your stay in the monastery. Please arrange to have all your private affairs in order prior to arrival at the monastery.

• Only volunteers who stay for more than one month may leave the monastery grounds for personal reasons and only with permission from the monastic teachers.

During your stay, the 8 precepts below should be kept all the time. Please send us the application form only if you are able to keep 8 precepts.

The Eight Precepts:

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from killing living beings.
2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. Abrahmacariya veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from any kind of sexual activity.
4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect (false or harmful) speech.
5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.
6. Vikalabhojana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from eating at the wrong time ( not eating after lunch meal, only beverages are allowed)
7. Nacca-gita-vadita-visukkadassana mala-gandha-vilepana-dharana-mandana-vibhusanathana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments, wearing jewelry, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics.
8. Uccasayana-mahasayana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
   I undertake the precept to refrain from indulging in excessive sleep.