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16 Jan 2025
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Description
Our meditation center is an international Buddhist retreat center. It is located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains two-hours north of New York City near the Delaware River Gap. We offer a traditional Buddhist Temple situated on 100+ acres of grounds complete with serene hiking paths, living and dining accommodations and a cafe. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a peaceful environment, to participate in the many classes and programs offered throughout the year or to take a quiet hike on our wooded trails.
Our Workaway Program is a great way to learn about Buddhism and meditation, to experience life in a retreat center, and to put your compassion and love into action. In exchange for volunteering, Workawayers receive access to General Program classes and retreats when not volunteering, dormitory accommodations, and three vegetarian meals daily.
Our Workaway projects include:
* Gardening and yard help
* General cleaning
* And many other projects
We look forward to hearing from you! We will try to respond quickly to all inquiries!
We are including our application link for your convenience!
Best wishes!
*registered 501(c) (3) non-profit organization,Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco ProjectsGardeningDIY and building projectsCreating/ Cooking family mealsHelp around the houseGeneral MaintenanceCultural exchange and learning opportunities
Our meditation center is part of an international spiritual community dedicated to achieving world peace through following the Buddhist path. Our community consists of residents who live onsite, including ordained monks and nuns and others who live locally. You will find a warm, friendly community striving to exemplify Buddhist practice through public service. This includes providing everyone regardless of background, experience or belief, the opportunity to learn how to achieve inner peace and happiness through meditation.
The Temple also houses our cafe and bookstore and gift shop. The cafe offers locally roasted coffee, loose leaf tea, cold drinks, snacks and light meals. The bookstore and gift shop carries a range of unique gifts, cards, meditation accessories, Buddhist art, and books on Buddhism and meditation.
Meditation is an ancient technology that has been used for thousands of years by people wishing to deepen their spiritual understanding and grow on the spiritual path. In modern times, people have become increasingly interested in meditation as a way to promote physical and mental well-being amidst their busy daily lives.
Meditation can help to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression and for developing calmer, happier minds. If we want, it can even take us to our highest potential, full enlightenment. By cultivating positive minds such as love, patience, compassion, and wisdom we naturally begin to develop a light, happy mind. Eventually, we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.Help
The help at our Center varies depending on the season as well as the skills of our volunteers. Nonetheless there is always cleaning that needs to be done to maintain our accommodations so that all can enjoy them. Our volunteers work in small teams which makes their volunteer stay and tasks more efficient and enjoyable. We also have outdoor raking and gardening in the warmer seasons
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
Volunteer visitors stay in our intimate dormitories which are furnished with bedding and a towel. Bathrooms are private, but are shared by visitors and guests. There rarely is a wait.
All meals are vegetarian. Breakfast is self-serve and lunch and dinner are community vegetarian buffets. There are vegan and wheat-free options as well.What else ...
Volunteering visitors have the opportunity to receive free meditation classes and teachings throughout the week when not helping and weekends.
There are also several hiking paths at the Center, and many waterfalls and many scenic areas that workawayers can explore after volunteer hours and on the weekends.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (130)
One of the highlights of my stay was participating in the silence retreat, which was a transformative and… read more
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One of the highlights of my stay was participating in the silence retreat, which was a transformative and… read more
Delfina is such… read more
The accomodations were more than adequate and the food was phenomenal.
the work itself was simple, within reason and efficiently coordinated by Delfina the onsite coordinator. All in all 5… read more
However, for the 5 hours of work requested, it would be nice to have activities offered by the temple (apart from meditation) and also to have shuttles… read more
The filtration process ensures that the volunteers who eventually get… read more
To begin with, the Center and the setting in the Catskills are gorgeous. The dorms are clean, comfortable and well stocked :)
The truly amazing pieces are the people! Delfina, the working visitor coordinator, is simply one of the most compassionate and kind people I have ever met!! And much of her attitude is shared by the… read more
helped remind me of how beautiful and precious life is, how much there is to be grateful for, and how you truly… read more
I had the opportunity to learn a lot about Buddhism. They welcome you very well and make you feel at home.
The only thing I recommend is that maybe it is an hour less than volunteering .
Thank You very much, to the entire team for so much love.
hugs!
Namasté
Fue una experiencia… read more
I'm truly grateful to meet everyone and dedicate myself to this Meditation Centre! I sincerely appreciate Gregory and the whole team, who accepted and believed in me!
I've learned many and been greatly inspired during my work and… read more
I was able to learn so much from you.
Everyone is super friendly and I immediately felt like I was in I can't say anything other than that I'm extremely grateful for the time! I hope I can visit you againgood hands.
Before I came I thought a month would be long, but after four weeks I quickly realized that I would have liked to have… read more
Daniel was able to work long hours on projects that others might find… read more
Shirley is a quick learner, caring and… read more
This place is truly incredible, by far one of the best workaway stays I've ever done. The warmth, accommodation, kindness, and love shown from the residents, fellow workawayers and visitors of the center completely floored me. I spent a week here, and I only wished I could have stayed for much longer. Jeremy is one… read more
The environment of this place is with very good vibes. The people that live in that place is so friendly, kind and amazing people. They cook everyday lunch and dinner with fresh vegetables and delicious food.
I would like to come back some day.
Thanks so… read more
Jeremy (the volunteer coordinator) was wonderful and a great communicator who was always there to help.
I liked that it didn’t feel as though the volunteers were constantly watched and monitored, instead we were trusted to get the job done. and Jeremy always took our preferences into consideration.… read more
The place itself is gorgeous. It's surrounded by forest where you can take different short hikes through, and there is chipmunks, squirrels, groundhogs and deer… read more
The place is really beautiful, and you will meet many energetic and happy people. I learned so many things about Buddhism and I really liked it. People there are so friendly and will make you feel like you are home. I enjoyed… read more
It seems everything came together for me to fully enjoy this opportunity, with the most amazing meditation and prayer sessions on the closing weekend of my stay.
The people there are kinder than you would even expect, and it’s such a beautiful and restful place as well as a chance to make so many new friends. The… read more
From the moment I saw this opportunity I thought it really seemed to be a special place. But I was not expecting for "a perfect place" and I simply ended up finding two: this place and the inner peace I took with me.
I… read more
I spent three weeks here and left with loads of wonderful memories of the place, people I met and my fellow volunteer workers. The work was mainly landscaping and house cleaning. It could get physical at times (especially for guys), but was always fair and hugely appreciated. The… read more
The food is really good (super tasty and healthy!), the Temple is beautiful, the gardens, paths and woods are incredible. Also lots of wild animals were coming to visit us… read more
The teem of volunteers was super great, the work was pretty cool and Jeremy is a person always nice, peaceful and… read more
Jeremy (who was our point-person) is warm and friendly. I and the other working visitors were asked to offer 5 hours of work for each night we stayed and Jeremy was great about offering a variety of work to people according to their preferences/needs and… read more
I will never forget my time here, and I hope I was able to help enough, even if it was only my second workaway.
They are there to help you on your journey, and the work is to benefit all beings..
It was powerful at the end, leaving with a nun, how this life I… read more
Thanks Jeremy for giving out this opportunity to me, and to people, to help, save, and to know Buddhism meditation. I've known the great people here, made some life-long-friends-to-be, and got closer to the truth that i'm seeking. Hope to see you again Jeremy, Joyce, and… read more
Thanks to everyone.
"Puisse ton esprit être en paix"
balance between the nature and place's buildings. A good place to find peace, to fill you of
good energy and to enjoy work as a volunteer. Highly recommend!
Jeremy is so cool and the other residents too.
Juste do it! It will help you :)
I really learned a lot about myself during my stay here. I highly recommend helping out here. It will definitely give you the best feeling ever!
Thank you Jeremy for all your knowledge. And I hope my help was oke :).
Maybe… read more
We volventered here at the end of last summer. This place is magical and has effected us in postive ways we couldn't have imagined. The people, the love, the teaching, the location. It is just ideal. Come here with an open heart and an open mind and you will leave enriched. Still so much love for the three volenter co… read more
This was my very first workaway and it has left such a positive impression on me that I most definitely plan to come back whenever possible. The people you will meet here will renew your hope in the world. Jeremy, as you've likely read in every other review, always ensures that the working visitors get a lot out… read more
Jeremy was excellent at communicating from the very beginning, and I appreciated his leadership skills… read more
I highly recomment the Meditation Center to everybody! No matter if you want to increase your knowledge about Meditation and Buddhism or if you have never meditated before (like me), you will enjoy the time there. The Moment I entered… read more
Everyone here was very kind and welcoming, the property is beautiful and peaceful and the food was delicious. Definitely recommended.
I'll… read more
There aren't many words to describe my stay with the family over the last two weeks. Some might be... thought provoking, loving kindness for all, community based, consideration for each other, and rewarding work beyond your wildest dreams. The pictures do not do it justice....… read more
The food was great and where I stay very clean and quiet.
I hope that was fantastic the Bhudist Convention in London.
I took a lot of pics from the cute deer that came for a visit when we were weeding. I recommended your stay with Jeremy, Joy, the whole… read more
Jeremy is such a kind, helpful and understanding volunteer coordinator. We all appreciated the clear communication of the tasks we were expected to complete, the advice on how to view removing rocks from the field… read more
I spent the week outdoors working on landscaping projects. The schedule is very well organised, with tea breaks to break up the work. Jeremy is terrific to… read more
The week I spent at the center (last October) was one of the best experiences of my life, which sounds too over-the-top for what it was: simply being in a calm, mellow, beautiful place with really nice people who lived and worked together with kindness, respect, and. . .humor!
The work left some of the other volunteers… read more
I feel so incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work at this Meditation center.
Not only was the environment peaceful and stunning with its natural beauty
but the people were so inspiringly compassionate within the community.
Building the 'path to enlightenment' under the sun, with a beautiful team
of workawayers didn't… read more
To start with, a big thank you to Jeremy, the all-time loving and kind volunteer coordinator who patiently guided oir work on how to remake the virtuous path leading to the temple. I have learnt not only technical building… read more
The people are some of the nicest and wisest you'll ever meet, and of course the temple is stunningly beautiful!
It was the perfect volunteer days: the help required wasn't strenuous and the two tea breaks and amazing food at lunch and dinner made it entirely delightful!
Needless to say that we definitely want to… read more
From the moment I arrived I felt a calming welcome that I had yet to experience. Everyone expressed their sincere gratitude for the help offered by the volunteers.
The food was fantastic, accommodation comfortable and work, fair &… read more
Buddhism enhances your life !!!
Go there, enjoy the environment, take the opportunity to reflect about life, work with your hearty and improve yourself.
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Jeremy my friend thank you so much for all things that you taught me, things… read more