COMPASSION IN ACTION VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

Contemplative Service-Learning

Our ‘Compassion in Action’ programme is a long-term, residential service-learning immersion designed to provide a supportive environment for caring contemplatives to take a deeper dive into the possibilities of compassionate, sustainable, and sensible living, integrating the outer work (improving our world) with the inner work (improving ourselves) through mindful volunteer work.

4 months+

minimum commitment
(longer is better)

Participants accepted to the programme will be expected to keep the following commitments:

• Working in a focused and diligent way, seven hours per day, six days per week. (Long-term participants will have the option to take a two-week break after every three months, subject to approval of the dates by the faculty.) This often includes doing a significant amount of repetitive physical labour, so that every part of the earthen building process will be understood experientially (you can’t really understand a technique until you’ve done it yourself repeatedly and become good at it). We strongly recommend you exercise regularly before arriving so that you will be in good physical shape, because you’ll be working hard.

• Maintaining professional behaviour and positive attitude at all times (even when not on campus, so as to uphold the reputation of the Institute while out in the surrounding community).

• Applying yourself sincerely, doing what is asked of you as well as whatever you see needs doing, and making best efforts to achieve not only competence but also excellence.

• Carrying your own weight (and a little extra): e.g. cleaning up after yourself, cheerfully contributing your fair share (and a little more) to community chores, dishwashing, upkeep, etc.

• Participating in the communal activities at Dharmalaya Institute (or whatever your host location may be), e.g. meals, discussions, etc.

• Treating everyone around you with respect and kindness, including your fellow interns, hosts, labourers, students, volunteers, visitors, etc.

• Respecting the rules of the Dharmalaya Institute and the requests of your hosts at all times. (For a detailed explanation of the code of conduct and expectations, see our Visitor Information page.) Note that there is a strict no-drug and no-alcohol policy, and any violation (not only on campus but also in the surrounding area) would result in being immediately expelled from the Internship without any refunds and being banned from the Institute.

• Keeping yourself informed about the Institute’s programme calendar (see the bottom half of our homepage) and making arrangements accordingly. If you have any schedule conflicts, discuss them with the Dharmalaya faculty far in advance in order to try to work out a mutually-agreeable solution.

• Communicating clearly when you have any questions, needs, concerns, health issues, etc.

• Providing feedback on the programmes and your experiences when requested.

• At the end of your programme, all participants participate in an evaluation process, which includes a detailed self-evaluation and a programme evaluation.

Please understand that the programme takes place in a real-world context, in which the highest priority is the successful pursuit of the objectives of the Dharmalaya Institute rather than the individual preferences of participants. Thus participants are expected to work selflessly to contribute to the smooth functioning of the Institute’s work and activities and not to disrupt or distract from those activities.

Having said that, of course we want you to have the best educational experience possible, and to that end your communication and feedback is very important. Whenever there might be anything we could do to support your personal aspirations and experience, please do let us know.