Description

We are seeking a dedicated volunteer to serve as the Main Cook to support the 2025 Second Vajra Yoga of Kālachakra  Empowerment, Teachings and Practice Retreats at Dzokden Kalapa for multiple weeks (see below) from August 12 through September 3, 2025.  

Service for at least an entire week is highly preferred.  The volunteer is also welcome to serve multiple weeks (see below).  However, if a commitment for an entire week is not possible, accommodations may be possible, but  not guaranteed. 

One or more 9-day week options are available:  

1. Tuesday, August 12 (arrival) to Wednesday, August 20 (departure)
2. Tuesday, August 19 (arrival) to Wednesday, August 27 (departure)
3. Tuesday, August 26 to Wednesday, September 3 (departure)

Responsibilities

• Preparing breakfast, a varied, nourishing lunch, and a light dinner for a group of retreatants at the size of around 5-15  persons. 
• The food is vegetarian and must include a vegan and a gluten-free alternative.
• Note:  If the group is larger than 10 retreatants, you will have at least a part-tme cooking helper.
• Responsible for setting up the daily menu, keeping kitchen spaces nice and clean and managing the cook helper, if needed.   
• The first retreat week (August 12-20) will follow a much larger retreat.  You be highly encouraged to prepare a menu using as much as possible the food supplies from the previous larger retreat.  The Kalapa staff will keep in contact one week prior to arrival.  After arriving, you will check the food stock and prepare a shopping list (including calculating quantities of each item) for any missing items needed for the menus for all three practice retreats (August 12-20, August 19-27, August 26-September 3).
• Experienced cooks from past retreats can be contacted for additional support, if desired.
• Time Commitment Options:
  • 8 hours a day full time for a single 9-day week option = total 72 hours + 10 hours preparation beforehand (personal preparation, meetings, etc.) = total 82 hours for a single 9-day week option.
  • If serving for 2 weeks, total hours = 82 (1st week) + 72 (2nd week) = 154 total hours.
  • If serving 3 weeks, total hours = 82 (1st week) + 72 (2nd week) + 72 (3rd week) = 226 total hours

Why This Role Is Important

You will be able to enjoy all the areas in the retreat center except for the Kālachakra Temple where the retreatants will practice.  Unlike the retreatants, the external volunteers can access electronic devices, the internet, and so forth.  If you commit to the whole volunteering period, during your stay, we can provide free access to an online course or recorded retreat at our digital learning center if you would like to support your practice and study while you are volunteering. Alternatively, if you have already received the Higher Empowerments before, you can also participate in any sessions of the event in the temple for free whenever you have a break from your volunteer work.