Meditation retreat center in Cochise Stronghold, Arizona, USA

Infos

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  Description

  We currently have some openings for work retreats to help with all aspects of running a rural retreat center, and participate in the resident Dharma community. The fall is spectacular season to experience the Stronghold Canyon with clear skies, calm nights, and lots of sun! We are at 5,000 ft elevation (high desert) and about 1.5 hrs from Tucson Airport.
  
  We are seeking individuals interested in living at a meditation retreat center and participate in daily meditation, while helping support our meditators who come to practice in solitude and silence. We welcome all who are curious about the spiritual path, have a meditation practice, and want to support the meditators in their practise. Chores and tasks are varied and assigned according to your skill set, experience, interests and arising needs. Especially needed are volunteers with experience in building, carpentry, facilities repairs, (yurts, straw-bale lodges, tents) organizing/sorting, computer help, composting, mulching, gardening and more.
  
  As a small (5 acre) rural Meditation Retreat Center (non-profit, 501-c3) based in the Cochise Stronghold Canyon within the Dragoon Mountains, AZ, we provide retreat space for solo meditators and group retreats. We primarily follow Buddhist-based meditation practices, but we're open to all contemplative practices and traditions. Part of our mission is to be a refuge and resource for all those seeking spiritual development and awakening.
  
  We try to follow permaculture and sustainability practices and are always learning and growing within our natural wilderness surroundings. We use solar to offset electric. We share this precious land with a flock of hens, a mouser cat, and plenty of wildlife native to the Coronado National Forest. Recreational opportunities abound adjacent to our site, including rock climbing, birding, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
  
  No drinking, drugs or smoking allowed.

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

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  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We offer all our volunteers a two day meditation retreat, here at the center or up in the surrounding mountains. You can work with our resident yogi to create a meditation program that is in line with your goals and desires. The resident yogi is a volunteer position held by rotating volunteers who have experience guiding meditators. These yogis, who are here for a month, are available for consultations and general inquiries. Though we are open to all spiritual traditions, this retreat center is guided specifically by Buddhist values. If you are interested in Buddhism, this is a great place to learn. We would like to host people who are spiritually curious. We also host a Buddhist monk, and he is also available for meditation consultations or general inquiry. Every Saturday, he hosts a group conversation, which is another way to experience Buddhism. You are free to participate in any of our offerings. The Board is a group of elderly women, these women often host ceremonies, such as sweat lodge, and this would likely be open to you as well.
  
  Our center is situated within 58,000 acres of pristine Dragoon National Forest lands, with over 22 miles of doorstep accessible hiking and climbing trails. Wildlife in our high desert oak woodland habitat includes javelina, bobcat, mountain lion, deer, coatimundi, ringtail, fox, skunk and more. This area hails as a hotspot for birdlife - including acorn woodpeckers, bridled titmouse, Mexican jays, and Montezuma quail. The absence of light pollution allows for dark skies with excellent opportunities for stargazing. Chiricahua National Monument is just a one hour drive away.
  
  We offer all our volunteers, resident meditators, and locals to join in any of our monthly full moon hikes - allowing pauses for reflective moonlit contemplations. Our monthly moonlight hike provides a grounding or “reconnecting” with the Earth and her elements. We also encourage volunteers to join in our morning and evening community group meditations as a way to learn about mediation and be part of our community. You need not have any experience in mediation, and if you have your own practice, that's fine too.
  
  Learn how it feels to start each day with gratitude through honoring and greeting the sun as it first touches our canyon walls. Join a local volunteer (when she is available) as she facilitates a "greeting of the sun" ritual - usually every week day morning. This greeting consists of easy stretches, singing, bilingual chants to the sun, the 4 directions and the elements.
  
  There are opportunities to research and apply best-practices for composting, mulching, and recycling, as we update, improvise and create new systems. With your help, we continue to find creative ways to tend our 2 small gardens- to make them more drought and freeze tolerant. Our beloved flock of chickens will demonstrate their need for coop cleaning, coop repairs, feeding and egg collection. We offer a friendly and mutual learning experience here, as we value your input and curiosity to investigate, research and try our what works and doesn't work in this remote high desert environment.
  
  We encourage you to make the most of this quiet oasis to deepen your meditation and get in touch with Mother Earth.

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  Aide

  General Description: We are welcome individuals interested in meditation/mindfulness practice. Especially handy-type (DIY) persons who possess curious, learning-curve minds to help care for and maintain our gardens and facilities (yurts, tents, straw-bale lodges). Individuals who are creative and can work independently - with guidance - are a good fit here.
  
  We have a large well-equipped workshop for building and creating whatever is needed. Tasks are varied, including organic gardening, developing the land with permaculture practices, organizing and cleaning, care for our chickens, computer based work.
  
  Note: farming, carpentry, and building skills a great plus!
  
  Currently, we are particularly interested in finding people who would like to help with gardening and help us prepare for a new season after being closed for the summer.
  
  This is an ideal place for someone who enjoys living in a rural, remote area in the great outdoors with great neighbors. The time commitment is a minimum of 2 weeks and up to 6 weeks.
  
  Henrik, Retreat Manager

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant
  Norwegian: Courant

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  Hébergement

  "Glamping" tent, trailer, yurt, or tent camping. Compost toilets and a solar shower are close by within walking distance, and use of a community kitchen/bath/shower is often available.
  
  We offer organic food staples such as rice, beans, oats and lentils, garden veggies (in season), and eggs from out happy hens. An indoor Cook Shack kitchen that is clean and well-equipped are provided for your use. You may be sharing this kitchen with other meditators and we may ask for you to practice silence while in the kitchen.

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  Autres infos...

  If you do not have your own transportation we can arrange pickup and drop-off in Tucson (1.5 hours away). We are a fragrance and scent free facility - Which means we request you do not bring any scented body care products with you. Please find fragrance free options. Thank you for your consideration of our guests and staff who may be sensitive to fragranced products, including perfumes, deodorants, shave lotions, shampoos, and any scented products you apply to your body and hair.
  
  NOTE: We use a grey water system, so no chemically laden products need go into our soil and water table. Very important!
  
  PETS: Sorry, we do not accept pets, much as we love 'em!

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  This is only possible for those not needing high speed internet and who do not need to do a lot of downloading, streaming, or uploading. We are remote and do not have fiber optics in our area. Also, our staff needs the wifi for retreat administrative work. We only accept digital nomads who can get by with limited and low speed use. Thanks for your understanding. That said, we do occasionally need computer help, if you tend to be a savvy computer person type, so feel free to apply!

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Yes, very welcome! 4 miles of washboard Rd. coming in, but most any vehicle can navigate it. No pets please!

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Nombre d'heures attendues

  Approximately 20-25 hrs/week - Flex-time

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