Employment and Volunteering

Working and Growing

We are first and foremost a spiritual community committed to helping retreaters and staff develop their minds. By joining our team you will

 

  • Offer your talents and skills to an organization dedicating to serving others
  • Nurture a sense of service within yourself
  • Participate in a mindful and contemplative work culture
  • Stimulate your mind by having access to our regular program

 

“I feel as if I have found a precious little oasis, where I have the opportunity to work, study and practice amidst an enchanting redwood forest. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and serenity, which I find are very good conditions to cultivate a peaceful mind. Serving a Buddhist community feels very rewarding.”

– Cristian

Our Community

Living in community in an isolated place creates long-lasting friendships and a real sense of teamwork. Co-workers feel more like family. Everyone contributes what they can above and beyond what is required. The “family feeling” Lama Yeshe spoke of still lives on and prospers at Vajrapani Institute.

 

What We Are Looking For

Ideal candidates will

 

  • Possess strong communication skills
  • Be content with rugged and rustic conditions
  • Be comfortable with prolonged relative isolation
  • Have a mature personal spiritual practice
  • Possess an attitude of altruism and generosity
  • Be proactive and organized

Being a Buddhist is not a requirement for working here. We welcome practitioners from all traditions.

Study the Dharma

Our staff and volunteers are welcome to attend any of our programs if it doesn’t conflict with their work schedules. Make sure to mention ahead of time what programs you are most interested in so we can try to make arrangements for you to attend. We have an extensive library with many out of print books, as well as a video library of teachings and documentaries. We have senior practitioners on the land and on staff that are available for interviews and discussions.

Volunteer Program

Our Volunteer Program  offers an opportunity to experience living and working in the richness of a Dharma Community.

 

Here are the details:
  • In exchange for a 28-hour workweek, volunteers are provided with a campsite, nutritious vegetarian meals, and the ability to attend some of the courses offered at the center free of charge.
  • A 3-month minimum commitment, with an initial 2-week provisional period.
  • As a volunteer you have the opportunity to be an integral part of our staff that hosts spiritual group retreats and supports individuals on private retreats. 
  • Depending on your interests and aptitudes, you may be asked to support in the following areas:  housekeeping (preparing the facilities for guests), caring for the land, assisting in the kitchen, and various other tasks that may arise. 
  • Ideal candidates have a desire to better themselves, are service-oriented, have an innate flexibility of mind and a willingness to pitch in when and as needed. 

Living in the Forest

Camping is the main option for  volunteers. We have a number of campsites that ensure relative comfort and privacy. The weather from May to September is usually quite warm and temperate.

 

Please note:  Due to our wet winters, our volunteer program only runs from April-October each year. We happily accept applications from February-July, we will not be  reviewing any applications outside of those months.

Employment Opportunities

Housekeeper
Our full-time Housekeeper takes the lead in keeping our center organized, tidy, and clean. We believe that our ability to keep VPI well kept and cared for is a direct reflection of our values. Duties beyond basic housekeeping may include supervising volunteers on occasion, and trips into Boulder Creek for off-site laundry drop off and pick up. This is an integral role to the functioning of the center.
June 23, 2023

Upcoming Retreats

Online: Bodhicitta, Mind Training and Mahamudra

Venerable René Feusi

May 9 - November 7, 2023
ZOOM CLASS ONLY When Tuesdays, 9:00am – 10:45am (Pacific Time) Begins Tuesday May 9 and will repeat every Tuesday for several months (ending date TBD)     Hosting & Registration Please note this program is being advertised here but hosted by some volunteers outside of Vajrpani Institute.  To register simply fill out the google form at this Registration Link. Once you register you will be added to the email list and the zoom link will be sent out through that list.  Additionally, a reminder will be sent before the session with information on how to access the Zoom meeting. Please…

Six Session Guru Yoga

Bhikshuni Lozang Yönten

July 7 - 9, 2023
The six-session yoga practice is a way of helping us to fulfill our commitments from anuttarayoga tantra initiation, by reminding us of the vows that we’ve taken and also the nineteen samaya to make a close connection with the five Buddha-families, which deal with the various aspects of Buddha-nature.   The Six Session Guru Yoga practice is given to those who have taken a highest yoga tantra empowerment — with the mandate to do it for life. But why is this practice so important, and how do we keep it alive and fresh day after day, year after year?  …

Our Blog

  • Spring has officially arrived and with it a sense of renewal, a spark of hope. Trees are leafing and blossoming. So many wildflowers dot the hillsides. Bees are buzzing and early morning birds chatter like townsfolk exclaiming the beauty of this valley.  Living a quiet......

Vajrapani Institute is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition www.FPMT.org