Requirements and Terms for Residency at Embracing Simplicity Hermitage

Embracing Simplicity Hermitage is a Buddhist practice community and retreat center. Its purpose is to preserve the Buddha’s teachings through providing residential training for Western monastics and dharma teachers, and retreat opportunities for practitioners who cannot live the secluded life on a full-time basis.

The Hermitage also provides harmonious, meditative living for sincere contemplatives of all compassionate traditions who value the Buddhist path. Residency at the Hermitage can range from one year to long-term status.

Residents are expected to participate fully in the life of the community:

1) Practice Orientation

          Buddhist path as primary practice. May embrace complimentary 

          spiritual practices. All residents take the Five Precepts, but the Three

          Refuges and additional Buddhist vows are only offered upon request.

2) Meditation

          We have morning and evening silent group sittings. Those who perform

          puja may incorporate this practice before and after the meditation

          periods.

3) Dharma Discussions and Meditation

          Offered daily by the Hermitage abbots. May be offered from time to time by qualified

          residents or Dharma Teacher Trainees. Abbots Pannadipa and Pannavati are available for

          meditation interviews and personal private consultations by appointment.

4) Retreats

          Usually, once a month there is a formal meditation retreat open to the

          public. Residents may participate  as permitted by their duties, with

          permission by the facilitator. Sometimes outside facilitators have set

          fees or other restrictions. In addition, there may be a dharma talk or special

          workshop given from time to time by a residential teacher or trainee.

 5) Work   

          Average four hours daily. However, the work schedule is very flexible.  Duties may

          include original creative projects or retreats conducted by residents. Chores may include

          cooking, housekeeping, shopping, buildings and grounds upkeep, gardening, construction

          of new buildings, coordinating retreats, assisting visitors, and administrative duties.

          Work assignments will not always be what you would choose to do, but rather what needs

          to be done. Free time includes Wednesday after work period ends at 11 am, Saturday after

          Teacher Training Class ends at 2 pm, and Sunday after the 11 am meditation.

6) Conduct 

• Willingness to control speech and actions
• Kind, cooperative, supportive, self-content, respectful, quiet demeanor
• Willingness to contemplate the effects of your behavior on others and make changes as needed
• Severly limited “entertainment” needs. TV in use only during designated times; no personal radios or CDs without earphones.
• Cheerful working attitude
• Out of courtesy,  let someone know when you are leaving the Hermitage for a significant period of time
• Participate in weekly meeting of residents to discuss work or issues (including grievances)
• If you bring a vehicle to the Hermitage, you are fully responsible for its upkeep, registration and insurance. If it breaks down and is not fixed in a timely manner, it must be removed from the premises.
• Modest attire, no perfumes and colognes (very limited use of herbal fragrances and oils OK)
• Accountability for fiscal arrangements
• Only vegetarian cooking and eating on premises. Food allowed only in designated eating areas.
• No smoking on the premises
• Adherence to all Hermitage guidelines
• Must be flexible, as this is an emerging practice community and Western contemplative order and many changes will take place. In keeping with the Buddha’s example, precepts are limited and will only be added when necessary to preserve the purpose and harmony of the community.
• At the present time, committed partners may share accommodations at the Hermitage. However, the relationship may not be sexual in order to avoid distractions. If you come without a mate and find one at the Hermitage, your circumstances will be reviewed to determine if either or both will be allowed to remain at the Hermitage as residents. In the future, we hope to establish an area on the grounds where active couples can live communally.

7) Participate in the monthly resident's community meeting.

8) Accommodations

          It is our goal to offer residence on a dana basis. This will be possible when the mortgage is

          retired and donations are sufficient. Until then, we must receive a minimum

        contribution from each resident. Resident contributions include room and board.

          Minimum  contributions may be subject to small annual adjustments.

          Private room

          At this time, private accommodations are available for long term residents.

          Contribution of $500 monthly per person. Additional fee required for apartments,

          when available.

          Double occupancy.

          This means you will share a room with a resident of the same sex unless accompanied

          by a partner. Contribution of $400 monthly per person.

          Summer college students

          Student accommodations will be dormitory only at this time, with restricted work

          schedule @$500 for  the entire summer.

Additional Requirements and Considerations

1) A return fare (plane, train or bus) if not driving your own vehicle and one month’s contribution on deposit.

2) Preference is given to applicants who are self-sustaining and do not have to work outside during their residency. Those accepted who must have an outside job cannot work more than 20 hours a week, must be fully responsible for getting to and from work, and must fulfill their financial and work obligation to the Hermitage as well.

3) Good health. Embracing Simplicity Hermitage is not responsible for health problems and cannot incur hospital or physician expenses for any resident. Residents are solely responsible for their own health care (or lack thereof). If  you have medical insurance it must be valid for use in North Carolina.

4) Residents must successfully complete a 30-day trial residency as a personal retreat at the suggested dana rate of $266/week, and a 90-day probationary residency at the regular resident rate before approval will be granted for long term residency of six months or more. The Hermitage reserves the right to ask residents to leave at any time. Residents may give notice of intent to leave the Hermitage at any time. Therefore, no person is encouraged to cut off worldly ties, liquidate property or assets. The Hermitage cannot take responsibility for a resident’s failure to prepare for the possibility of tenure at the Hermitage being terminated.

5) Acceptance is not automatic and will depend on space availability, apparent aptitude for life in a spiritual community, recommendations, your aspirations and the qualifications of others who may apply at the same time.

Please contact the Hermitage for more information and an application for residency, or download the application and submit the completed application to:

EMBRACING SIMPLICITY HERMITAGE

41 Wisdom Lane

Hendersonville, NC 28739

Phone: 828-338-2665

Fax: 919-287-2473

e-mail: embracingsimplicity@yahoo.com

Application for Residency

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