Are you looking for an opportunity to deepen your meditation and Dhamma practice by spending more time in a monastery or in quietude? If so, Santi Forest Monastery is seeking a suitable, experienced Buddhist meditation practitioner with key practical skills who is willing to commit themselves to engaging in the work/study/practice life of the monastery and its daily routine in the role of grounds and maintenance person.
Santi Forest Monastery (SFM) is a Buddhist Nuns’ monastery of the Theravada Forest tradition. We are situated on 150 acres of forest bordering Morton National Park in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Accommodations are basic and rustic, but clean and adequate.
Ideally, you will be an experienced meditator, perhaps having lived in a retreat centre or monastery before – having completed at least one long meditation retreat (min 10 days or more). You’ll need to be fairly self-contained and self-sufficient in your practice, and able and willing to keep the 8 precepts for the time of your stay here.
We are seeking a meditator with the following practical skills who is willing to take on this role and responsibility, while also being flexible with other needs arising within the monastery that might require your assistance:
Grounds/Maintenance person
Skills and abilities required:
- Ability to maintain and manage a large rural/forest property – incl. brush clearing, use of trimmer and ride-on mower, maintaining forest paths, etc.
- Ability (and preferably licence) to handle and use a chainsaw would be an advantage
- Some handy-person skills in carpentry, building or other related skills would be ideal
- Ability to get on harmoniously with other community members, guests and visitors
- Ability to take direction from the Work Coordinator and senior monastics
- Flexibility with being asked to help in other areas of the monastery
- A driver’s licence would be an advantage, as you may be needed to help with driving on occasion
Other key points to consider:
This is a volunteer position and does not attract remuneration. Of course food, lodgings, and use of other utilities are provided within the monastic environment. Also, there is the opportunity to practice Dhamma and meditation in a forest monastic setting with a good deal of personal time for personal practice.
The daily monastic routine includes 3-4 hours of work for all residents, mostly in the mornings. The afternoons are generally free time for individual meditation practice, study, or related contemplative activities. Currently the schedule includes group meditation and Dhamma teachings 2 or 3 evenings a week, and one quiet day a week with no morning work period for long term residents.
You will need to be fit and healthy, both physically and mentally, to fulfil the above duties and to cope with the somewhat challenging environment here. It can get very cold in winter and occasionally quite hot in the peak of summer. Heating is limited to small wood fires in the kutis (meditation huts). Some of the terrain and the walking tracks are rough, rocky and hilly.
After an initial interview and meeting, a two-week trial period would be required for us to get to know you and for you to develop an understanding of the context here and consider whether it is suitable for you also. If we both agree to proceed after that there would be a 1-month and 3-month review period.
Personal access to the internet will be limited but somewhat negotiable.
Please view our website for more information on the monastery for your consideration.
http://santifm.org/santi/
Please provide a detailed overview of your background, skills/experience, and interest in this opportunity, and direct your enquiries to the sangha at Santi Forest Monastery via email: santioffice@gmail.com
Please note: Santi Monastery cannot sponsor any visas for international visitors for this opportunity.
Download PDF Santi FM – EOI Grounds and Maintenance