ZMC Summer International Volunteer Application

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San Francisco Zen Center

TASSAJARA ZEN MOUNTAIN CENTER
Summer Volunteer Program Application

Join us for one to six months volunteering at Tassajara, Summer 2025!


Available dates are between April 8 - September 22, 2025


Tassajara welcomes new and returning volunteers.


New volunteers are strongly encouraged to first experience a volunteer stay or apprenticeship at Green Gulch Farm. New volunteers may come directly to Tassajara with a recommendation from a teacher or a personal reference familiar with Tassajara volunteering. Please include contacts for your reference with your application. If you have any questions about this, please email zmcdirector@sfzc.org
Please see sfzc.org for more information about applying to Green Gulch.

Fields marked with an asterisk are required. 
REQUESTED DATES
Please plan to arrive on the first Tuesday of the month unless otherwise arranged with the director, zmcdirector@sfzc.org
Specify Dates

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Most rides will be on Tuesdays; please plan to arrive on a Tuesday.  
Personal Information




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Emergency Contact Information



Practice 

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Ordination


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KNOWLEDGE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK; WAVER OF LIABILITY
1. Voluntary Participation

I, the undersigned, have voluntarily chosen to travel to, visit and/or reside in the San Francisco Zen Center's Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Carmel Valley, California ("Tassajara").

2. Inherent Risks at Tassajara

Tassajara is located at the bottom of a gorge with steep rock walls.  At all times, both in the immediate area of Tassajara and in the surrounding areas, there is a high risk from land falls, falling rocks and boulders and, particularly after rainfall, flooding and injury associated with flooding. 

Tassajara is located in Los Padres National Forest, an area that has been subjected to frequent fires.  As a result, there is a significant risk to persons and property for those who may be resident at, or visiting, Tassajara. Smoke from fires in the region may cause unhealthy air quality which could adversely affect the health of residents and visitors.

In addition, the County Road that provides sole vehicular access to/from Tassajara may be impacted by fires, debris flows, heavy rain, rockfalls, flooding and hill failures rendering it difficult to negotiate and/or impassable.  Such conditions may seriously compromise access to, and egress from Tassajara, impeding or preventing evacuation and/or access to healthcare and other regular and emergency services.  

3. Waiver of Liability

As consideration for being permitted by the San Francisco Zen Center to visit and use related facilities at Tassajara, I hereby agree that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians and legal representatives will make no claim against, or sue, or attach the property of San Francisco Zen Center, its employees, agents, or directors, on account of any physical or mental injury, accidents, illness (including death), economic loss, or damage to personal property resulting from the negligence or other acts, howsoever caused, by any employee, agent, director or contractor of the San Francisco Zen Center as a result of my presence in Tassajara and participation in the practice session at Tassajara, and/or my travel to/from Tassajara,  whether arising out of the risks described in this release or otherwise.  I hereby release the San Francisco Zen Center from all actions, claims, or demands that I, my assignees, heirs, distributees, guardians and legal representatives may now, or hereafter, have for physical or mental injury, accidents, illness (including death), economic loss, or damage to personal property arising out of the risks and conditions described in this Release.


4. Knowing and Voluntary Execution

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS ASSUMPTION OF RISK, WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE, AND I AM SIGNING IT FREELY.  I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT AND THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF SIGNING IT, INCLUDING (A) THE RELEASE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ZEN CENTER, ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND DIRECTORS, FROM ALL LIABILITY, (B) WAIVER OF MY RIGHT TO SUE THE SAN FRANCISCO ZEN CENTER ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND DIRECTORS, AND (C) ASSUMPTION OF ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MY PRESENCE AT TASSAJARA, INCLUDING TRAVEL TO AND FROM TASSAJARA. 

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Health Record
If you answer Yes to any question, please describe, including dates when applicable.











Legal

Note: No applicant will be denied residency solely on the grounds of conviction of a criminal offense. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to being a student at Tassajara may, however, be considered.

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Personal Statements







Volunteer Requirements 
  1. Follow the schedule of morning and evening meditation, and morning, and evening services of bowing and chanting.
  2. Attend the volunteer schedule.
  3. Attend talks and ceremonies.
  4. Attend small group meetings and community meetings.
  5. Refrain from drug and alcohol use.
  6. Refrain from initiating any new sexual relationships.
  7. Follow the Tassajara Guidelines (Monastic Regulations for Summer Zen Training).
  8. Do not leave Tassajara during your stay if it is your first summer (except for vacation, if applicable, or emergencies).
Headshot 

You may skip this step if you are a returning student or having difficulties with the upload.

Cancellation
Contact zmcdirector@sfzc.org if you have questions or need help with this application