Please note: Southern Dharma is unable to respond to resident or extended volunteer interest forms until April 2026.

Southern Dharma welcomes dedicated practitioners to live on site as residents for periods of 6–8 weeks throughout the year. During their stay, residents take part in practice, community life, personal time, and service to the Center.

Each resident is expected to complete one or more personal projects that support the Center and/or the Dharma, while also contributing to ongoing residential community tasks such as cleaning, cooking, facilities maintenance, and groundskeeping, בהתאם to their physical abilities and skills.

Applicants must have experience with self-guided meditation practice and community living. At the time of application, they must also have completed at least one multi-day residential meditation retreat.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The program fee is $75, due at registration. Dana is also gratefully accepted.

Ideal candidates for this opportunity will:

Be committed meditation practitioners
Be available to live on site at Southern Dharma for a minimum of 6 weeks, with longer stays preferred
Receive free room and board for the duration of the residency
Select one or more specific projects of interest, either from the sample list or of their own creation, that benefit the Center or the Dharma
Plan to contribute an average of about 10 hours per week to the chosen project, with weekly hours varying and cumulative hours taken into account
Plan to offer an additional average of about 10 hours per week in community support, such as cooking, cleaning, mowing, and weed eating, depending on ability and interest

Sample project ideas include:

Researching emerging Dharma teachers for future retreats
Facilities and grounds work, including carpentry and land care
Kitchen projects such as food preservation and improving meal preparation and serving systems
Reviewing available racial justice-based curricula for sanghas and retreat centers

Interested in joining as a resident in 2026? Submit the interest form.

Finalists will be invited to interview with staff. Southern Dharma is committed to fostering an inclusive community of people of different backgrounds, gender identities, races, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages.

Meditation event in Hot Springs