Three months of service, study,
and shared community life
Karma Yogis live at Jamyang for an initial three months, offering thirty-five hours of practical service each week as part of the daily rhythm of study, practice, and community.
What this involvesLive with compassion. Work with compassion.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche The Door to Satisfaction, 1994
Take your next step on the path
Our residential volunteers all commit to a three-month volunteering period, offering service for 35 hours per week. This enables everyone to get the most from the experience, put their skills to good use, strengthen their spiritual practice, and become part of the Jamyang community.
How Jamyang repays the kindness of our volunteers
- Accommodation in our residential community at the centre
- Shared meals with the wider Jamyang household
- Free access to all Jamyang teachings, classes, and events
- The chance to study closely with Geshe Namdak
- Daily life immersed in an active Buddhist Sangha
- Support to put your skills to use, and to learn new ones
Offering service, day to day
Residential volunteers share a core role that supports the everyday life of the centre. This includes caring for shared spaces, supporting the guesthouse, welcoming visitors at the front desk, and contributing to practical tasks such as cleaning, light maintenance, cooking, and gardening.
This work is at the heart of what allows the centre to function as a place of meditation, study, and community. Volunteers are supported to approach these tasks with care, presence, and a spirit of shared responsibility.
The past two years at Jamyang have honestly been the most substantial thing in my life so far. Being welcomed in as a hesitant newcomer, then witnessing how much goes into it behind the scenes whilst a resident volunteer, it’s so clear how much you’re able to do for people.
Zola Karma Yogi until early 2026
The Five Mahayana Precepts
Jamyang is a mixed community of monastic Sangha and lay residents. While in residence, all volunteers commit to keeping the Five Mahayana Precepts. These are the conditions that allow our shared community life to remain harmonious, for everyone in the household.
- Preserve life Including the lives of the smallest, most abundant, and at times most difficult creatures we share the centre with.
- Take only what is offered Respecting the property of others and the shared resources of the centre.
- Speak truthfully Refraining from dishonesty, gossip, and divisive speech, all of which create disharmony in community.
- Refrain from sexual activity Protecting the integrity of others and the shared atmosphere of the residential community.
- Abstain from intoxicants Including alcohol, drugs, vapes, and cigarettes. Cultivating clarity and concentration of mind.
If keeping any of these for three months would be difficult, this is not the right time for residential volunteering. Our local and remote volunteering options have different conditions and may be a better fit.
A short self-check
Three quick questions to help you see whether residential volunteering matches what you are actually looking for.
Still unsure? Email us with your questions, or read more about local and remote volunteering.
Applying from outside the UK
Visa rules have changed in recent years. This is a general guide; you will need to check your own status before applying.
European Union, EEA, and Switzerland
No visa needed to visit the UK, but since April 2025 a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is required before travelling. As a visitor, you may volunteer with a registered charity for up to 30 days. We welcome applications from these regions and can talk you through how a longer placement is structured.
Outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland
Applicants from other regions need to be supported with a volunteer certificate of sponsorship. This requires additional administrative time and resources from both Jamyang and the applicant. Please flag this on your application form so we can talk it through with you early.
Always check GOV.UK directly for the current position.
Ready to take the next step?
If residential volunteering feels right after reading the full picture, we would love to hear from you. Applications are warmly welcomed throughout the year.
Apply to become a Karma YogiQuestions first? Email us and we will get back to you.
Every day at Jamyang is held together by people offering service.
Take your time to know if that is you.
