Taiwan
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Experience the quiet life at a Buddhist monastery while volunteering with in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Learn how to practice Chan (called Zen in Japan) meditation during your stay at our temple. We always need help from fit and healthy 16 – 65 year olds, especially over weekends and for big events like Chinese New Year!
We invite you to join our morning chanting, evening meditation sessions, formal meals, as well as use our beautiful quiet meditation and calligraphy halls. We also have a small library where you can sit and read from our English range with a cup of tea and a bowl of congee.
Our monks, nuns, volunteers, and students are very friendly and helpful – even if they cannot speak much English.
This is an active monastery, the home of a spiritual community committed to a celibate lifestyle. Volunteers are expected to act appropriately and modestly while living with the community, and comply with the rules of the monastery.
Charity Work
Language practice
Teaching
Gardening
Help around the house
General Maintenance
- Learn about Chan Buddhism
- Experience a formal meal with mindfulness
- Live a structured lifestyle
- Practice your Mandarin
- Stay in a peaceful and quiet area
- Easily accessible from Kaohsiung and Tainan
- Experience life at a modern Buddhist monastery (interact with monks and nuns and other people living here)
We ask for a minimum stay of 2 weeks. This allows time for orientation, training, and the opportunity to participate in some of our monastic practices. We also ask volunteers to plan to arrive on Monday , before 8pm.
Volunteering opportunities include:
Housekeeping, Gardening, & Maintenance: pruning, sweeping, cleaning rooms, dishwashing, pressure cleaning footpath, etc.
Elementary level Mandarin is convenient but not necessary.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Twi: Fluent
Chinese (Mandarin): Fluent
This host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
We offer full board (male and female dormitory accommodation with shared bathroom and 3 vegetarian meals) for free.
Getting to the Monastery:
Public Transport:
*From Kaohsiung International Airport, take the Red Line of the Kaohsiung MRT to Zuoying High Speed Railway Station.
*From Zuoying High Speed Railway Station, take either the Eda Bus 8501 (義大客運8501）or the HaFo Express (哈佛快線）
*From the bus station in front of Kaohsiung Railway Station, take the direct Kaohsiung Bus 8010 (8010高雄客運)
*From Fengshan Train Station, take the Dashu Bus (大樹祈福線)
*From the Jiuqutang Railway Station, take a Kaohsiung Bus or taxi.
*Summary of non-shuttle bus routes: Kaohsiung Bus routes 8009, 8010 and 8050/ Dashu Bus (大樹祈福線）
Driving Directions:
*Southbound: National Hwy1 → National Hwy 8 (East bound) → National Hwy 3 (North bound) →National Hwy 10 (East bound) → Qishan/Dashu Interchange (turn right) → Provincial Hwy 21 → The Monastery.
*Northbound: National → National Hwy 10 (East bound) → Qishan/Dashu Interchange (turn right) → Provincial Hwy 21 → The Monastery.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
More than two
5 hours/day, 5 days/week
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
