Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre
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For further information contact retreatcentre@wangapeka.org or webmaster@wangapeka.org
Working at the Wangapeka
At present we are looking for a Land Caretaker
If you're interested please contact secretary@wangapeka.org
Current 19 March 2008
Both long and short term work is available at the Wangapeka Retreat Centre. Long term work includes two caretaking positions and short term includes a work exchange scheme.
Being a Caretaker
This is an opportunity to support the healing and awakening of all beings through taking on the daily running of the Centre. The work is varied, and includes caring for land and buildings, booking and registration, maintaining food stocks, basic financial accounting and banking, and housekeeping duties. Sometimes this will involve working on your own and sometimes supervising others to do whatever needs to be done.
The Wangapeka Retreat Centre usually has two caretakers. One position is primarily administration, and the other primarily land management, but there are overlaps and flexibility, depending on the interests and skills of the individuals who take up the positions.
Caretaking is a position of service requiring a commitment to support the development of wisdom and compassion in oneself and others. To be at the Wangapeka is to enter into a weaving of community consisting of other staff members, the WET Trust Board, course participants, retreatants and teachers. This community will vary in numbers according to the program in place at the time.
We ask that the caretakers have a high standard of work and personal ethics (abiding by the 5 Buddhist precepts - see here for details). The lifestyle requires a flexible mind, good health, an appropriate degree of physical fitness and sensitivity to the needs of retreatants and course participants.
It is an immersion into an environment based on developing awareness through meditation and study of Buddhadharma in all its different forms. It can be an unequalled opportunity to enhance and deepen one's own understanding of life.
A very basic wage is provided including food and accommodation. The usual term is for one year, with an initial trial period and renewal by mutual agreement.
If you are interested please apply to
The Secretary
Wangapeka Educational Trust
RD2 Wakefield
NELSON
NEW ZEALAND
Further information is available from the Secretary of the Wangapeka Trust secretary@wangapeka.org.
** Please note that the Wangapeka website has many pages relevant to the position of caretaking; from About Us, History, Aims and Educational Trust Board; to the many Caretakers Reports including the Caretaker's Report for the AGM 2005; to the Wangapeka Program, Teacher Biographies, and the many articles and images of the Centre and its events on this website, all of which give the flavour of life at the Centre.
Lending a Hand
The Centre has been developed entirely by volunteer labour and its spirit has been created by the generosity of hundreds of people's time and effort over the last thirty years.
On our work exchange scheme anyone can come and work for a minimum of three hours a day in exchange for their accommodation, and either bring their own food or pay the standard rate.
Work exchange is not usually available while retreats are in progress (however we sometimes employ a cook on large retreats).
If you are interested please contact the Centre:-
phone (03) 522 4221
fax 03 522 4980
or email retreatcentre@wangapeka.org
Sarva Managalam - All is Blessing