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Kitchen Assistant/Cook
Odiyan Country Center
California
Share Your Love of Cooking While Living in a Buddhist Community
Job start date
Feb 01, 2027
Odiyan Country Center
Recruiting for February 1st, 2027 to November 1st, 2027.
Current Job Openings
In the Spotlight
Cooking four to five nourishing vegetarian lunches following our established nutrition and menu guidelines.
Assist with food deliveries and kitchen cleanup.
Care for kitchen spaces, appliances, cookware, and utensils.
Coordinate with the kitchen manager and cooking scheduler.
Someone who enjoys cooking and is eager to learn more.
Someone with good communication skills who likes to work cooperatively with others, and can adapt to changing needs.
Someone who can maintain patience and openness while taking responsibility for a busy kitchen.
Someone who is interested in Buddhism, enjoys learning about themselves and enjoys contributing to something greater than themselves.
Arrival Dates: Anytime after February 1, 2027
Direct link to Application APPLY NOW for 2027!
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.
Arrival dates : Anytime after Feb. 1, 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
Arrival dates: Anytime after Feb. 1, 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 2-3 months.
Arrival Dates: Anytime after Feb. 1, 2027
Odiyan Kitchen
Kitchen Assistant/Cook
Odiyan Buddhist Retreat Center
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center. Includes Room, Board, Stipend, Buddhist classes
Odiyan is looking for a kitchen assistant to offer their time and energy in service of the community. The Odiyan kitchen is like the engine room of a train, fueling the journey of Dharma work that has been offered by the Odiyan community for over fifty years, and continuing day by day.
For the kitchen assistant role we are looking for a caring, reliable, and enthusiastic volunteer to help prepare vegetarian lunches each week and maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming kitchen. The harmony and well-being of the kitchen space is essential for the greater flow of ongoing projects occurring within the Odiyan mandala.
Duties of the Kitchen Assistant include:
Qualities we are looking for:
In this role, there is an incredible amount of potential for growth, learning, and the development of skills. The position is about 25 hours a week in the kitchen with the remaining 15 hours per week participating in other community activities and projects. (see Odiyan website).
If you are interested in meaningfully contributing to a community oriented towards benefiting others Odiyan may be the place for you. Rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, Odiyan is a living mandala created to spiritually benefit those within and without, with its impact being felt around the world.
Program Details:Commitment: Minimum is 6 months with opportunities to extend if it is mutually a good fit.
Foundry
Bronze Lost Wax Foundry Worker
Odiyan Buddhist Retreat Center
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center includes Room, Board, Stipend, Buddhist classes
Bronze Lost Wax Foundry workers - make Buddhist statues for Buddhist Temples.
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
Arrival dates : Anytime time after Feb. 1, 2027
Learn more and apply at our Foundry page.
Or direct link to our Application. APPLY NOW for 2027!
Construction
Construction in Sacred Architecture
Odiyan Buddhist Retreat Center
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center includes Room, Board, Stipend, Buddhist classes
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.
Direct link to Work-Study Volunteer application. APPLY NOW for 2027!
Get inspired—check out life at Odiyan on Facebook Instagram
Sacred Art
Tibetan Art Sewing Project
Odiyan Buddhist Retreat Center
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center includes Room, Board, Stipend, Buddhist classes
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 direct link to Application here. APPLY NOW for 2027!
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Landscape and Gardens
Vegetable Gardener
Resident Volunteer in rural Buddhist center includes Room, Board, Stipend, Buddhist classes
Hands-On Farming & Food Preservation
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. APPLY NOW for 2027
About Odiyan Country Center
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.
More 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.
Working Here
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
4 hours, morning community clean-up and classes
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. (Please note: Odiyan is a working community - not a retreat, healing, or recovery program.)
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 evenings.
See our social media for more in-depth look at life at Odiyan.
Ideal Candidate
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
Can 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 by position:
Vegetable Garden - 2 months
Foundry/Metalwork - 3 months
Construction, Sewing. Kitchen - 6 months
New residents who complete their first commitment and are a good fit may request to extend for a longer time period.
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
Living Here
Room and Board
Housing overview
Room in Temple complex with large outdoor porch.
What’s included:
Single room with covered porch and views of the ocean or temple grounds
Home-cooked vegetarian meals, three times a day
Learning new hands-on trade skills
Training and guidance in group cooking and kitchen life
$200 monthly stipend ($300 after one year)
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.
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How to Apply
Take the Next Step
Ready for something more meaningful and purposeful?
Read our volunteer experience page.
Apply now for 2027 here
