Amrita Karma Yoga Program at M. A. Center

Thank you for your interest in the Amrita Karma Yoga program.

The program schedule is diverse and innovative. Examples of classes we have offered include IAM - Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique^®, sustainable construction, Sanskrit chanting and organic gardening. You can schedule your time to include your preference of retreats, classes, and special pre-tour projects.

The program fee covers room and board at an affordable sliding scale fee of $2 to $5 per night, for a stay of two weeks to two months. You can experience ashram life, including daily predawn chanting, delicious vegetarian meals, group service projects, nightly devotional singing, and a unique Saturday night program, often featuring visiting swamis, guest speakers and talented musicians.

The Amrita Karma Yoga program includes 35 hours of seva (volunteer service), per week. (Specific hours and days can be adjusted with the supervisor to suit each participant's needs).

Overall daily schedule begins with optional Sanskrit chanting of the names of the Divine Mother. Seva begins from around 8:30 am to approximately 4:30 pm, Dinner at 6pm and bhajans (devotional singing) from 7:30 and ending with arati at 9:00 pm.

This program offers an opportunity to participate in Healthcare Charities outreach and the ashram facilities management program including construction and some organic gardening and grounds maintenance. On-the-job training is provided to all participants and no prior experience is necessary.

Construction Sustainable building practices are being introduced into the property management. Karma yogis assist with essential maintenance and upgrades of the prayer hall and other buildings on the property. These projects can benefit from the skills of experienced professionals and provide opportunities to learn new skills. The key skill areas can include carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, interior and exterior painting, heavy equipment operation, tile-setting, masonry, roofing and general construction.

Healthcare Charities This group acquires free medical supplies and equipment from leading medical centers. These items are sorted, packed, and distributed to charitable hospitals and clinics in Southern India and to international healthcare organizations. Activities include sorting and inventorying medical supplies; maintaining computer records; pallet-building; forklift and pallet-jack operation; truck driving (25ft and smaller); loading ocean-bound containers.

Gardens and Grounds For karma yogis inclined to garden, some part time seva time can be scheduled in the organic gardens and orchards. Projects include organic orchard cultivation - planting, irrigation, maintenance, pruning, harvesting, preserving fruit; bee keeping; eco-friendly weed-control; organic gardening; reforestation; fence and gate-building.

For general information, please see www.amma.org/karmayoga and www.amritapuri.org. For specific details and availability, please email karmayoga@ammachi.org or call 510-566-4631.

M.A. center is a public facility open 7 days a week for daytime and evening visitors.

All residents, guests and Karma Yoga program participants are expected to maintain celibacy, and not use alcohol or drugs ever in the ashram.

Meals are vegetarian only.

Karma Yoga participants usually share the room with 1 or 2 other persons of the same gender. Unfortunately we are not able to permit camping.

The program is limited to a 2-week minimum and 2 month maximum stay.

All meals and snacks are provided.

If you would like to stay overnight as a guest for any period of time less than 2 weeks, without enrolling in the Karma Yoga program, please call Rasya: 510-909-3246 for rates and availability.

Please note that due to the very limited space in the ashram and the number of applications, your applying does not guarantee a placement for you in the karma yoga program. However, devotees are always welcome to come to the ashram to perform seva and attend programs.

We look forward to seeing you.
Aum Namah Shivaya,
Dayalu
For the M.A. Center

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