People meditating in a circle on a large rug in a community space.

Nyingma Institute

  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Mature
  • English
  • Religious

Founding year

  • 1972

What we do

Looking for an unusual, hands-on opportunity? Like to dive right into experiences? Want to explore Tibetan Buddhism?

Join our established volunteer-run organization for a six-month work-study program, with a focus on integrating practice with daily life and activities. Participants need not identify as Buddhists, though a sincere interest in self-reflection, developing one’s potential, and the spirit of service are essential. We are seeking motivated, diverse, and talented applicants who are mature, grounded, and enjoy contributing through their work.

As part of this work-study program, you will live in a beautiful environment that is also a meditation and Tibetan yoga center with a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge and more. Vegetarian meals are provided on-site, created from fresh ingredients that are organic whenever possible.

We are a Buddhist center with a welcoming orientation; open to those seeking meaningful ways of working and living. Our classes are free for our full-time work-study participants. There is also an opportunity to participate in workshops, retreats, and events.

This program includes housing in a beautiful, serene setting in Berkeley; vegetarian meals; free classes; a unique community living and working experience! We also include a stipend of $300 per month for basic living expenses. We are a volunteer-run and staffed organization; come join us for 6 months or more.

Our Vision

The program includes:

  • Access to a full range of evening online and in person classes on Meditation, Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga, Buddhist Studies, Tibetan Language, Nyingma Psychology, and more

  • Housing in a community setting in the foothills of Berkeley with a spectacular bay view, especially during sunsets 

  • Full engagement with work-practice as part of a small team 

  • Vegetarian meals, created with organic ingredients whenever possible 

  • A small living stipend reimbursement of $300/month 

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve the Buddhadharma in the West and bring the wisdom teachings to our local community. 

  • Purpose
  • Religious
  • Social
  • Spiritual
  • Traditional
  • Languages
  • English
  • Community type
  • Commune
  • Spiritual Retreat Centers

Gallery

  • 11 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
12

How to join

Apply through our website here: https://nyingmainstitute.com/work-study/ or email us at ny***********************@***il.com 

Basic expectations or agreements for members

We serve vegatarian food and meat is not allowed on site
Drugs and alcohol are prohibited
No overnight guests

Primary decision-making authority

  • Single Leader or Founding Couple

One person or partnership has ultimate authority.

Decision-making process

  • Informal Discussion

Decisions emerge through casual conversation without formal process.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Work Exchange Programs

Members contribute labor instead of or in addition to monetary payments for housing and community participation.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • There is a labor obligation

Additional economic information

Volunteers are given a $300/month stipend to cover living expenses. Housing and food are covered by the organization. 

Vehicle accessibility

  • It would be easy / doable to live in this community without a car
  • There are one or more community vehicles

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

There is one community car that can be used by volunteers with permission. All food and household items (toilet paper, paper towels, soap, towels, bedding, kitchen supplies etc.) are shared. 

Frequency of communal meals

  • Approximately 1 meal per day

Significant food acquisition practices

  • Locally sourced

Nature of social activity

  • The community is pretty quiet

Community activities and engagement

We celebrate birthdays and holidays together with food, games, and activities. Otherwise, the community is quiet as it is a Buddhist center and we prioritize a peaceful and serene environment. 

Educational and retreat offerings

Buddhist studies, Meditation, Kum Nye, Nyingma Psychology, Nyingma Traditional Practice, Tibetan Language courses are offered to volunteers. We also have ceremonies, chants, workshops, and events. 

Local connectedness

  • We try to engage with our local community

Friendliness of people and local government

  • It’s a mix

Pet policy

  • No pets are allowed

Substance use culture

  • Substance use is prohibited in the community

Member support features

  • Physical labor expectations tailored to members’ short or long-term physical challenges
  • Religions
  • Buddhist
  • Spiritual Practices
  • Mantra Chanting
  • Meditation
  • Mindfulness
  • Sacred text study
  • Seasonal celebrations and rituals
  • Yoga

Level of LGBTQIA+ inclusion

  • Somewhat - we have some LGBTQIA+ members

Age demographics

  • Multi-generational (all ages well represented)

Guest Book

Written reviews are available for plus members. Click here to upgrade.

Location

  • California, United States

Nyingma Institute

Needs and Offers

Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace

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2 weeks ago

Beautiful 3+ Bed, 2.5 Bath Townhome in Established West Emerald CoHousing, Seattle

A rare home is available at West Emerald Cohousing, an established all-ages intentional community in West Seattle. For those considering a move to the Pacific Northwest—or hoping to join a mature community rather than one still in the forming stages—West Emerald offers decades of community life, beautiful gardens, shared resources and a peaceful setting within the city in a convenient location since 1999. This unit has a unique floor plan that is ideal for co-buying, co-living, or for one household. The home itself offers a flexible 3+ bedroom, 2.5 bath layout: Garden-level room with a separate exterior entrance and half bath—ideal for a home office, studio, guest space or client-facing business Main-level bedroom and full bath, laundry, making one-level living possible Open great room with large windows overlooking gardens filled with birdsong Well-designed kitchen with generous storage and pantry Two additional light-filled spacious bedrooms and a full bath upstairs Thoughtfully maintained and updated Located at the end of a common pathway for added privacy and garden views, Just feet from parking, which is out of view West Emerald community amenities include: Common House with gathering and activity spaces Community meals and events Mature gardens and shared outdoor spaces Workshop/maker spaces and bike barn Exercise room EV charging opportunity Excellent Metro access to Downtown Seattle just minutes away Nestled into a dell, it’s Seattle’s best-kept secret South Seattle College and lifelong learning, NW Wine Academy, the Seattle Chinese Garden are nearby, with easy access to Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, magnet schools, ferries, and the shops and restaurants of the West Seattle Junction. 6000 17th Ave SW, Seattle, WA Is a wonderful opportunity to have your own comfortable, private home while becoming part of a vibrant and well-established Seattle all-ages cohousing community. For more information contact the friendly Realtor at 206-579-9066, or at ki**********@**********te.com who will be happy to meet you there or do a facetime tour.
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  • Communities with Openings
4 months ago

Do you feel called to help co-create a small, newly forming eco-spiritual community?

Old structures are crumbling. New ways of living are calling. We are answering that call. Wild Grace is an eco-spiritual community located in the Sierra foothills 30 minutes from Grass Valley, California. We recently completed new homes for those who feel called to our vision. Currently there are four of us living on this sacred 80 acres of land although we are a hub for an expanded neighborhood community. Many join us weekly for potlucks, expressive dance, Qi Gong, monthly musical gatherings, and seasonal celebrations in our temple, as well as tending to our orchard. We are excited to welcome others to join us on the land who are dedicating their lives to spiritual growth and ready to live in a more focused and intimate heart-centered lifestyle. Might that be you or someone you know? The fundamentals are simple. Spirit. We listen personally and collectively together most mornings, usually starting with a musical offering, a prayer, or a short reading, followed by about 40 minutes of what we call “sacred silence.” Heart Circles. About once a week we gather to share and listen. We are informed by authentic and compassionate communication practices. Nature. The land itself—an 80-acre oasis of field and forest perched above the wild and scenic South Yuba River—calls for our stewardship in the gardens, orchard, greenhouses, and general care. In turn, nature feeds us abundantly, both literally and spiritually. Interbeing. We join with others to share inspiration and connection as we host monthly gatherings of song, story and prayer that draws from the larger community in addition to other events we share with our closer neighbors. As we attend to these fundamentals, Grace flows to and through us—often in “Wild” or unexpected ways. Grace catalyzes through us, but is not something we possess. Because we all are connected, we feel that Grace actively transforms n
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3 weeks ago

Coastal Regeneration Immersion: Permaculture Design Certification in Jalisco, Mexico

Tropical Dry Forest Permaculture Design & Regenerative Stewardship Certification (PDC)12-Day Intensive | 120 Hours | Costalegre, Jalisco, Mexico Join us for an immersive Permaculture Design Certificate course set in the tropical dry forest bioregion of coastal Jalisco. This 120-hour intensive blends internationally recognized PDC curriculum with hands-on regenerative practice — combining ecological design, agroforestry, natural building, and community stewardship into one integrated learning experience. Lead Faculty Jorge Luis Gtz. Olarte (Arborescencia RedGenerativa) – Regenerative Design, Soil Biology & Agroforestry Ozzy Lusth (Survior & XochiraĂ­z) – Wilderness Resilience & Survival Skills Dave Collins (Capacha Coastal Conservation Center) – Bioarchitecture & Ecological Development What You’ll LearnThe course moves through six progressive phases: Permaculture & Ecological Literacy – ethics, principles, and reading the tropical dry forest landscape Water & Soil Systems – keyline design, water harvesting, living soils, and compost systems Horticulture – food garden design, propagation, and biological pest control Regenerative Food Systems – tropical agroforestry, food forest design, and guild planting Ecological Infrastructure – bamboo bioarchitecture, bioclimatic farm design, compost toilets, greywater, and rocket stoves Integrated Design Studio – team-based final design projects covering watershed strategy, agroforestry, food forest layout, infrastructure, and phased implementation Daily RhythmMornings begin with optional surf/yoga and journaling, followed by field practicums and hands-on workshops. Afternoons include design studio and construction lab work, with reflection circles, communal dinners, and evening talks, films, or campfire discussions rounding out the day. Final ProjectParticipants work in teams to produce a full regenerative design package — landscape analysis, water plan, agroforestry design, food forest plan, ecological infrastructure, and bioclimatic farm plan — presented to a faculty review panel on the final day, followed by a closing ceremony, certificate delivery, and community feast. CertificationGraduates receive the Tropical Dry Forest Permaculture Design & Regenerative Stewardship Certification (120 contact hours), hosted by Capacha Coastal Conservation Center and Tierralegre, A.C. Curriculum integrates international PDC standards with tropical ecology, agroforestry, ecological restoration, bamboo bioarchitecture, bioclimatic design, GIS/photogrammetry, and regenerative leadership. Highlights Hands-on bamboo construction (temazcal, bathhouses, sculpture) Tropical dry forest silviculture practicum Community mapping and design project for Ekoa Green Community Talent show and sea turtle release
November 13, 2026 09:00 – November 25, 2026 16:00

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