Volunteer Program | Meditation Island Thailand

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Volunteer Program (Female Only)

Offering Service as a Path of Practice

The Volunteer Program at Meditation Island, Koh Phaluai is a female-only program for women who wish to support a meditation retreat community while cultivating mindfulness, responsibility, and simplicity in daily life.

Rooted in a traditional forest practice environment, this program emphasizes simplicity, mindfulness, and disciplined daily living. Volunteering here is not employment or tourism. It is a form of practice through service, where daily tasks are carried out with care, awareness, and respect for the retreat environment.

Women of all nationalities, cultures, and religious backgrounds are welcome, provided they respect the community guidelines and contemplative way of life.

The Volunteer Path

Before offering service, volunteers are required to understand the retreat environment through personal meditation practice.

Participation in the Volunteer Program is open only to women who have already completed regular meditation retreats at Meditation Island, Koh Phaluai. As the resident community consists entirely of women living in a simple and secluded environment, this requirement helps maintain safety, trust, and harmony within the community. Prior retreat experience allows both the volunteer and the community to confirm suitability and mutual understanding before engaging in service.

Program Duration and Step-by-Step Approval

The Volunteer Program follows a gradual, step-by-step structure.

All volunteers begin with an initial stay of three (3) days. After this period, participation is reviewed. If approved, the stay may be extended as follows:

From 3 days to 7 days
From 7 days to 14 days
From 14 days up to 1 month

Approval at each stage depends on:

Ability to live harmoniously within the community
Willingness to follow schedules, guidelines, and instructions
Physical and emotional stability
Sincerity and consistency in service

Extensions are not automatic and are granted only with mutual agreement between the volunteer and the community.

Who This Program Is For

This program is intended for women only who:

Wish to support a meditation retreat community through mindful service
Understand volunteering as a form of contemplative practice
Are comfortable with simple living and limited facilities
Can follow schedules, guidance, and shared responsibilities

Program Eligibility and Requirements

To maintain harmony, safety, and the integrity of the retreat environment, applicants must meet the following conditions:

Completion of at least three regular meditation retreats at Meditation Island, Koh Phaluai
Female applicants only
Physical health suitable for daily service tasks in a simple environment
No condition that would interfere with communal living or mindful service
Willingness to observe silence periods, retreat schedules, and community guidelines
Ability to walk independently on hilly terrain, with limited transportation support

Volunteer Guidelines and Community Conduct

Volunteers are expected to:

Act respectfully toward teachers, resident nuns, retreat participants, and fellow volunteers
Maintain appropriate speech and mindful behavior
Refrain from alcohol, intoxicants, and disruptive conduct
Respect periods of silence and meditation schedules
Follow instructions given by coordinators and the resident community

Failure to follow guidelines may result in the volunteer period being shortened or ended.

A Gradual and Careful Process

Participation in the Volunteer Program follows a gradual and careful process.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
All applications are reviewed individually to ensure suitability, harmony within the community, and the well-being of all involved.