Odiyan Country Center
Odiyan Country Center
Currently recruiting for the season from October 1st, 2026 to March 1st, 2027.
Buddhist community in Northern California: Volunteer Work-Study positions ($200/month stipend plus room and board). Substance-free community, physically demanding work, no visa sponsorship. Seeking US-based resident volunteers with experience working with power tools, machines or hand tools in any trade. Includes Buddhist classes, Tibetan yoga, cooking, learning new skills.
100 miles north of San Francisco.
- Location
- California
- Season
- Year Round
- Staff size
- 35
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Room in Temple complex with large outdoor porch.
- Family housing available
- No
- Single occupancy housing available
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- Provided
- Cell phone service
- Yes, most carriers
- Internet access
- Good
About Odiyan Country Center
Odiyan is a rural Buddhist resident volunteer community located on a 1,000-acre ridge in Northern California overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Founded in 1975, Odiyan is a living, three-dimensional mandala where residents build, maintain, and care for temples, sacred art, gardens, and essential infrastructure as part of an integrated life of work and practice.
Our projects preserve the symbols and teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. Work is done with care, intention, and service. These efforts support Buddhist centers worldwide and sustain Odiyan as an active rural center in the U.S.
Odiyan is quiet and remote. The nearest town and grocery store are about 40 minutes away. Projects run year-round. Physical work is central to daily life.
This experience is a good fit for people with hands-on skills and strong physical work capacity—former athletes, tradespeople, those with solid tool experience through work, hobbies, or family background. Construction, welding, plumbing, foundry, industrial sewing, farming, mechanical work, roofing or any other trade experience is welcomed.
Residents share community chores, including cooking, cleaning, trash and recycling, mowing, and general maintenance.
Many people come to Odiyan because they value work as practice—bringing attention and care to tasks that serve a larger purpose.
We are accepting applications for this Fall. If this speaks to you, visit our volunteer experience page to learn more and apply.
The Employee Experience
Imagine a lifestyle where your work matters, your community is intentional, and your basic needs are covered so you can focus.
Daily projects build technical skills, teamwork, and time management in a demanding and beautiful environment. Work is physical, collaborative, and purposeful.
Odiyan is a multigenerational community with long-term residents who have stewarded the land and projects for decades. You’ll work alongside both newer and experienced residents in shared responsibility and hands-on problem-solving.
Work schedule
Monday–Friday
8am–12pm
12pm–2pm Lunch
2pm–6pm
Saturday
2 hours, morning community clean-up
Life in a self-run rural community requires flexibility. Part of the experience is responding to unexpected needs and time-sensitive work. A willingness to step in is essential.
Buddhist Study and Classes
Offerings vary throughout the year. Expect 2–3 classes per week covering traditional and contemporary Buddhist teachings, plus Tibetan yoga. Classes are held Saturday morning or after lunch, weekday mornings or evening.
See our social media for more in-depth look at life at Odiyan.
Ideal Candidate
You may be a good fit for Odiyan if you:
Can safely lift up to 40 lbs and work physically throughout the day
Are comfortable with sustained, hands-on work in an active environment
Are open to learning new skills and taking on unfamiliar tasks
Take responsibility for your physical well-being during demanding work
Enjoy community life and can receive feedback with openness
Have a genuine interest in Buddhist teachings and their application in daily life
Requirements:
Minimum age: 21
Couples welcome
No children or pets
Minimum commitment:
Vegetable Garden - 2 months
Foundry/Metalwork - 3 months
Construction, Sewing - 6 months
For new residents who complete their first commitment and are a good fit, there is the option to extend for a longer time period. Please note: Odiyan is a working community - not a retreat, treatment, or recovery program.
Room and Board
What’s included:
Room with covered porch and views of the ocean or temple grounds
Separate men's and women's bathrooms and showers are shared facilities, each with private stalls.
Home-cooked vegetarian meals, three times a day
Training and guidance in group cooking and kitchen life
$200 monthly stipend ($300 after one year)
Employee Perks
Free utilities (including Wi-Fi and domestic calls)
Lifestyle of simplicity, service; opportunities for personal growth
Study and practice Buddhism 2-3 times per week
Supportive community, quiet nature, and deep inspiration
Getting Here and Getting Around
We’ll send travel instructions once you’re accepted. You’re welcome to bring a car, but it’s not required—many folks catch a shuttle or ride-share from regional airports.
For Fun
Life at Odiyan is deeply rewarding—and also full of simple, beautiful joys. You’ll have space and time to explore:
Hiking the eight-mile Pilgrimage Road through redwoods and ridgelines
Swimming in our reservoir
Hanging out with rescued horses and yaks
Harvesting herbs and fruit from the gardens
Creative time in the woodshop or metal shop
Fireside evenings in the Great Hall Dining Room
The longer you stay and work with us, the more you’ll settle into the rhythm of this place—learning how to balance effort and stillness, solitude and connection, service and self-discovery.
Current Job Openings
Physically strong, able to do manual work for hours each day – repeated lifting, bending, kneeling
Comfortable with repetitive production work
Hands-on experience in any trade; good at working with tools
Willingness to learn
Introduction to all steps of the casting process: mold making, wax work, pouring molten bronze, break-out, welding, grinding and finishing.
Hands-on training in valuable trade skills
Working alongside master sculptors
A unique creative and spiritual endeavor
Nutritious vegetarian meals
Comfortable accommodations with large outdoor covered porch
Buddhist classes, study and practice
Free Wi-Fi and domestic calls
Daily connection to nature, fresh air, and sacred surroundings
$200 monthly stipend ($300 after 1 year)
Hands-on training and skill-building
A collaborative and respectful work environment
Meaningful projects that serve a larger vision
Opportunity to grow with the team
Program Length: Minimum of 6 months.
Start Dates: Sept or Oct 2026 or anytime Jan-March 2027
single private room
vegetarian meals
stipend ( $200 per month)
opportunity to learn and study Buddhism
live and work in a sacred mandala of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Commitment: 6 months
Start Dates: anytime in Sept or Oct 2026 or Jan -March, 2027
single private room
vegetarian meals
stipend ( $200 per month)
opportunity to learn and study Buddhism
live and work in a sacred mandala of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Tend to a diverse mix of vegetables and herbs alongside our experienced head gardener, who has been feeding our community for over a decade.
Engage in all aspects of growing food, from planting and harvesting to cooking and preserving.
Work physically each day, including bending, kneeling, lifting up to 50 lbs, and using hand tools and small machines for manual labor.
Commitment: Preferably 6 months, with a minimum of 2 months.
Start Dates: Sept or Oct 2026, or February to May 2027
Bronze Lost Wax Foundry Worker
Bronze Lost Wax Foundry workers - make Buddhist statues for Buddhist Temples. Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center
Join us for a rare opportunity to learn, create, and grow.
Odiyan is looking for strong, dedicated individuals to join our foundry team. We produce large and small scale bronze statues, often with additional gold-plating. Production foundry work is heavy, dirty, and repetitive — closer to construction than to art. If that sounds satisfying rather than off-putting, you are who we’re looking for.
Who Should ApplyJoin a history-making art project bringing together the ancient method of lost-wax bronze casting with the profound Tibetan Buddhist tradition of sacred art as a form of practice.
Minimum 3 months; 6 month stays welcomed.
Get inspired—check out life at Odiyan on Facebook Instagram TiktokProgram
Start date : Sept, October 2026 or January -March 2027.
Learn more and apply at our Foundry page.
Or direct link to our Application.
Construction
Build Something Real — Join Our Construction Team at Odiyan
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center
Are you someone who enjoys working with your hands, being outdoors, and creating something meaningful?
At Odiyan, construction is more than a job — it’s a chance to learn practical skills, work alongside a supportive team, and contribute to a place dedicated to reflection, beauty, and purpose.
We are looking for motivated individuals to join our construction team. This is a good fit for people with hands-on skills and strong physical work capacity—former athletes, tradespeople, those with solid use of hand and machine tools from previous work, hobbies, or family background. Construction, welding, plumbing, foundry, industrial sewing, farming, mechanical, roofing or any other trade experience is welcomed.
What we offer:
Your skills: previous experience working physically with hand or machine tools in any trade.
🔹 Free housing + vegetarian meals
🔹 Buddhist classes
🔹 Monthly stipend $200 ($300 after one year)
If you’re looking for work that is both grounded and purposeful, see more details and the application on our Volunteer Experience page.
Or use this direct link to our Work-Study Volunteer application.
Tibetan Art Sewing Project
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center.
We are looking for resident volunteers to support a unique and meaningful project dedicated to preserving the rich tradition of Tibetan textile art.
All levels of experience are welcome — whether you are an experienced craftsperson, a beginner eager to learn, or simply someone who loves working with your hands.
What You’ll Receive:
Your presence and participation will make a difference.
Let’s weave together tradition, creativity, and community!
Program Details:
See our Sewing Project page for more details and our application.
Or use this direct link to the Application here.
Vegetable Gardener
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center
Hands-On Farming & Food Preservatiion
Do you love working outdoors, getting your hands in the dirt, and learning the full cycle of growing, cooking, and preserving home-grown food? Join us at Odiyan, where you’ll help maintain and develop our two-acre vegetable garden, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable farming and food preparation.
Skills you have: previous experience in gardening or farming, or other labor intensive work using tools.
What You’ll Receive:
What You’ll Do:
A Unique Work-Study Experience
This is more than just a farming opportunity—it’s a chance to immerse yourself in learning, mindfulness, and community living. Volunteers take part in Buddhist study , as well as hands-on traditional arts, trades, and vegetarian cooking.
Program Details:
Ready to Dig In? See our Garden page for more details and our application.
Or use this direct link to the Application here.
How to Apply
Take the Next Step
Ready for something more meaningful and purposeful?
Go to our volunteer experience page. Click the apply button to fill out our volunteer application form.
Contact Info
- Odiyan Volunteer Office
- volunteer@odiyan.org
- odiyan.org
