“I hate pulling weeds,” I tell my friend. “Think of it as meditation,” he says. “These weeds are big and tough and have needly parts that poke into the skin and sting.” He says, “There is a lesson in that. Focusing on our actions usually means concentrating on the body, especially our gestures and postures. When we do that, everything seems to flow together and our minds settle into the moment.​"
Excerpt from Looking for Dharma in the Weeds
by Dana Gornall​
“Cleaning practice, by which I mean the routines whereby we sweep, wipe, polish, wash and tidy, is one step on this path towards inner peace. In Buddhism, we don’t separate a self from its environment, and cleaning expresses our respect for and sense of wholeness with the world that surrounds us.​
Excerpt from the article "Take it from me, a Buddhist monk: cleaning is good for you"
by Shoukei Matsumoto
VOLUNTEERING
Share Your Practice Through Service
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The strength and vitality of our growing sangha community is a direct reflection of the volunteers who make it run. Are you looking for new ways to practice daily mindfulness and openness?
Buddhism teaches us that service to others, even in small amounts, directly cultivates compassion, reduces ego-driven attachments, and generates positive karma.
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When you volunteer at the sangha with an open heart, you help to create a more peaceful world, inside and out.
Below are current opportunities for volunteers, and the general time commitment, description and/or skills required for each. Your participation truly matters, and we are deeply grateful for every helping hand.​
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Retreat Help - Help with preparations and set up for weekend retreats. Time commitment varies and is only during the week and weekend of the retreat.
Please email us using the button above and specify Retreat Help and we will contact you before our retreats.
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House Cleaning - Find a day during one month of the year to come in and clean the house and if possible, some house checks through the month. Time commitment: 1-1.5 hours for house cleaning, a few minutes for house checks.
Please use the House Cleaning sign-up sheet that is on the sangha house kitchen cabinet that is above the shoe rack right when you come in. Helpful guidelines are posted above the sign up sheet
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Substitute and regular Bell Ringers for Thursday Noon and Friday Morning (7-8am) meditations. Show up to open the Sangha House, ring the bell to start, keep time and ring the bell three times when the meditation is done. Time commitment: the length of the sit.
Please email us using the button above and specify Regular Bell Ringer or Substitute Bell Ringer if this is for you. Someone will contact you to get started and provide direction.
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Regular Yard Maintenance - Know what weeds are there and need to be picked and know what plants are there and what to leave. Pick up any trash that is in the yard as well. This is done on your own time and regularly from April through November. Time commitment: This is up to you - 15 minutes to an hour regularly.
Please use the Yard-Weeding sign-up sheet posted on the kitchen cabinet above the stove. Then plan to come regularly during the weed-picking months as they tend to pop-up overnight! Guidelines are posted there as well.
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Yard Watering - Some of our trees are not on the drip system and need regular watering in summer and some sporadic watering in the winter. If you have knowledge of when to water trees in both summer and winter, that is quite helpful. Time commitment depends on the season - more in summer, less in winter.
Please email us using the button above if this is for you and specify Yard Watering and someone will contact you to set you up.
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Small Acts of Kindness - Do you have a few minutes after a meditation you attend to do a quick bathroom clean-up, refold/tidy up blankets and cushions, check for and refill toilet paper and cough drops, or pick a few weeds or trash in the yard?
No sign-up needed - simply consider doing this….it only takes a few minutes.
Some thoughts on
Work as Practice
“A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
–Buddha