Full-time live, work, learn in rural Buddhist center. Hands-on training - Buddhist sacred art, organic gardens, trade skills. Incl. Buddhist practice & study.

Founded in 1975, Odiyan is a 1000-acre spiritual and ecological preserve overlooking the Pacific Ocean in rural Northern California.

Odiyan's mission is to be a home for the preservation of the sacred art, symbols and teachings of Tibetan Buddhismin the West. Odiyan also supports all Buddhist traditions in Asia and monastic Buddhist centers and schools throughout the Himalayan region,  

The Odiyan way of life integrates creative and challenging work with a path of self-exploration that opens up your inner potential. Living at Odiyan is an opportunity to work for preserving enlightened knowledge for our world, and for fostering harmony for oneself, our planet, and all beings. 

Resident volunteers receive housing, vegetarian meals, stipend, fundamental Buddhist studies and practice.

NEW Work-Study in Action resident volunteer program begins in 2024! Join unique Buddhist sacred art projects, vegetable gardens or animal care crew projects. Includes a program of Buddhist study and classes, meditation instruction, mindful cooking and more.

Begins February, 2024 with entry dates available until May 2024.

Program length: Preference is given to applicants who commit for the full duration of 8 months. The minimum commitment is 6 months.

For more details and the application, Contact Us now! 

The Place
Odiyan is a three dimensional living mandala;  a sacred structure through which the beauty and creativity of enlightenment can manifest in the Western world. Five large Temples form the greater mandala along with their temple gardens. The land is a sanctuary for wild horses and many varieties of native and domesticated birds and animals. Thousands of flowers, flowering bushes, and trees have been planted over the past forty years making every day a feast for the senses. 

The Work
Odiyan was built entirely by volunteers from all over the USA and around the world.  The work continues with the creation of temples, stupas, sacred art and architectural forms which are the foundation for grounding the Buddhist teachings in the West. We use work as a means for self-development; cultivating mindfulness, the ability to overcome obstacles, flexibility, creativity and a heart dedicated to serving others. 

During the week (Monday to Friday) residents focus primarily on the sacred art and construction projects, vegetable gardening and animal care.

Saturdays with a purpose: Beyond your contribution to the main project work, your Saturdays will involve a harmonious blend of responsibilities from lending a hand in the kitchen, helping clean or maintain common areas, to embellishing our landscaping, caring for our cherished animals, or participating in large crew jobs caring for our forested areas, ponds, and temples. Find fulfillment in diverse tasks that nourish both the environment and the soul.

The Food
Everyone has their time in the kitchen to cook home-grown organic meals for the community. You can learn how to bake bread, make miso and tempeh, freeze, and preserve a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. 

"Being at Odiyan is like going to school and taking a class in “How to do everything.” The variety of projects done here and the breadth of technical experience available make Odiyan incomparable to most other work situations. The fact that all this knowledge is offered for free, including three meals a day and a room to stay, is astonishing. If this all happened in a downtown warehouse, it would be a good deal, but it is happening on a gorgeous ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by Buddhist sacred art, with a community of people who are working towards an understanding of mind and human potential. It is far above and beyond a 'good deal'. – James, 28

The Odiyan lifestyle is a challenging schedule combining work, taking care of ourselves and each other, as well as the enormous and majestic mandala in which we live.   You must be strong, able to lift up to 40lbs, able to bend, be on your knees and be on your feet actively working all day. 

We are seeking people who:

• have sincere interest learning about and engaging the fundamental practices of Buddhism
• have mental and emotional stability
• have physical strength to engage in manual work all day
• can work independently, are self-motivated 
• have flexibility to adapt to changing work jobs, and tasks

Other skills and attributes that are welcomed:

• know your way around a kitchen, happy for opportunities to cook
• common life skills such as how to clean, organize and take care of your own space and work spaces

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Couples are welcome to apply and share a room together.
• We cannot accept children or animal companions
• All new resident volunteers need proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination
• Minimum age is 21

Vegetarian meals are served 3 times a dayfor all residents. Everyone takes turns in meal preparation and clean-up. Don't worry -  we will teach you how to cook vegetarian meals for 40 people! 

Rooms are designed for 2 people per room, Each room has large windows and  French doors leading to a covered porch looking out over temples, sea and big sky.  

You may also have a room to yourself for some periods of time.

• Free home-cooked vegetarian meals and beverages
• Free housing in a large room with a balcony, one roommate.
• Free WI-FI and domestic phone calls
• Free skill training in a wide range of trades and traditional arts
• Access to a healthy setting of nature, hiking trails, wide-open spaces, sacred beauty, fresh air, clean water, and nutritious food
• Living allowance of $200 per month/$300 after one year.
• Program includes meditation, Buddhist practices, study and classes.

Information is provided upon acceptance for transportation options from nearby airports to Odiyan. You may bring your car to Odiyan, but it is not necessary.

With 1000 acres of land to roam, we encourage residents to stay close to home to enjoy the beauty and variety of the Odiyan land. You can hike the eight-mile Pilgrimage Road, swim in the reservoir in the Summer, forage in the forests in the Fall, and enjoy evenings at the huge fireplace in the dining room during the rains of winter. We have a herd of rescued horses to visit on the land, two yaks, two aviaries and lots of wildlife to observe and photograph.  Fun at Odiyan means having your own side-project at the shop in metal, wood or fabric, working on your own art project, going down to the garden on Sunday to harvest just because you want to, or helping with all the drying, canning, freezing and preserving of fruits and vegetables during harvest season. You can join in Buddhist ceremonies and practices which occur daily (meditation and mantra)  and monthly (Buddhist practices in the temples).  The longer you stay, the more you can participate. There is a study hall and library for classes and study.