The international Gut Saunstorf Monastery – Place of Stillness is a place of retreat, contemplation, and study, located in northern Germany, about 100 km from Hamburg. It was founded by the wisdom teacher OM C. Parkin and is inhabited and managed by a community (Sangha) of about 60 people. We invite volunteers from around the world to spend time with us, supporting this place with their energy, and coming closer to themselves.
What category best describes your hosting arrangement? 🏡
- Organization/NGO
Location – Where is your volunteer project located?🌏
Our volunteer project is located in Germany, specifically in the northern region, near Wismar. The nearest airport is Hamburg.
What are you looking for help with?
- Building 🛠
- Cleaning 🧹
- Computer/Web 💻
- General Help 💁♀️
- Hostel/Hotel 🏩
- Research 🔬
What’s the mission of your community? 🎯
A monastery is a place of silence, contemplation and seclusion from the world. Physical work, spiritual study and hospitality characterize monastic life. We continue this tradition in the modern monastery – free from obsolete confessional constraints.
Economic considerations are secondary, although good housekeeping and healthy finances are a necessity. Most of the people who work here do so primarily because they want to follow an inner path, grow and serve the modern monastery – as individuals and in community.
The modern, trans-denominational monastery is open to all people who seek retreat and want to connect with themselves – regardless of their spiritual affiliation.
How many volunteers could you host? 🎎
- More than two
When do you usually need volunteers? 📅
- All over the year
How many hours of help per day? ⏱
- 6 hours of help per day
How many days of help per week? 🌒
- 5 days per week – 2 days off
Note about the volunteer work and other expectations 📝
We are looking forward to motivated and self-responsible people with a practical and flexible attitude towards supporting us 6 hours a day. Your contribution is part of an inner process. There is no separation between meditation and activity, they both flow into what we call Karma Yoga. Language skills: German or basic English. Good physical condition. We kindly ask you for an early registration for your stay.
We offer:
- Three organic vegetarian meals per day
- Participation in the daily meditations
- Participation in the daily movement meditations
- Enriching experience of being part of a team
- Weekly Karma Yoga Gathering
Depending on the length of your stay, you will have 1-2 days off per week.
If Darshan with OM C. Parkin or other events of the OM Foundation Inner Science are scheduled during your stay, you are free to attend and thus meet the teacher.
Rules:
As a Karma Yogi, you are obliged to participate in silent meditation once a day and in the weekly gatherings especially for karma yogis guided by professional therapists of Gut Saunstorf.
Are accommodation and food included? 🏠🍜
Yes, we offer food and accommodation.
What type of accommodation can you provide? 🏕
- Dormitory/shared rooms 🛌
- Private Room 🔑
Diet – nutrition information 🥗🥤
- Vegetarian Organic Food
Fee transparency 🆓🔍
- Minimum length of stay: 14 days.
- Arrival day: Monday
Accommodation in a single or a double bedroom with shared bathroom in the Karma Yoga apartment at a weekly flat rate of €60,- (you will pay this in full before you start your work as a karma Yogi. Please understand that we do not refund the amount in case you decide to leave earlier). The first four weeks of your volunteering will be considered a trial period. For this period you will be charged € 60,- for accommodation p/w. You will be asked to pay the total amount of € 240,- prior to starting your work. Please understand that we do not refund the amount in case you decide to leave earlier. From the 5th week on, you will change automatically to the volunteer program with accommodation free of charge.
VISA SUPPORT – Are you able to assist with visa support, information, or provide invitation letters? 🛂
No, we cannot help with Visa but we can offer assistance 💁♀️
Volunteers’ benefits 🏆🏅
- Three organic vegetarian meals per day
- Participation in the daily meditations
- Participation in the daily movement meditations
- Enriching experience of being part of a team
- Weekly Karma Yoga Gathering
What are the available activities during free time? 🚴🚣🦒
During your free time, you can take trips to the nearest cities, Wismar and Schwerin, or Lübeck, using public transportation, or you can go to the Baltic Sea.
Language 🗣🇬🇧
German / English
Geography 🌳
The climate changes from a maritime influence near the Baltic Sea coast to a more continental climate. This means there is less rainfall as you move away from the coast. The Baltic Sea region, especially around the islands of Usedom, Rügen, and Hiddensee, has the highest number of sunny days in Germany.
How to get to your site ✈ 🗺
The Gut Saunstorf Monastery is located in the scenic and quiet north-west of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, close to the Hanseatic city of Wismar.
- Getting here by train:
The nearest train station is called Bobitz, about 2km away. By prior arrangement, we can pick you up from Bobitz station between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm. If you arrive at any other time, we can order a taxi for you (for a fee). If you need a taxi, please contact our reception at least one day in advance.
- Local taxi company:
Thomas Taxi Jorzyk, Bad Kleinen, +49 38423 325
- By car:
You can reach us via the A20, coming from Hamburg exit “Bobitz”, coming from Berlin exit “Wismar Mitte”, or via the B208 Gadebusch/Ratzeburg to Saunstorf. For loading and unloading your luggage, you can drive to the main staircase at the manor house. After that, we kindly ask you to park your car in the free manor house parking lot at the entrance to the village.
- Getting here by plane:
The nearest airports are Hamburg, Lübeck and Rostock.
We wish you a pleasant journey and look forward to welcoming you soon!
Is there internet access? 🌐
Yes!
“Paying guests” Option. Could you accommodate “solidarity” tourists? 🎎
Yes, we can accommodate eco/responsible tourists & paying guests 👌This needs to be discussed via e-mail 💁
CONTACT DETAILS 🔍📧
If you are interested in this hospitality and volunteer exchange at the Gut Saunstorf Monastery in Germany, please send a brief introduction message to voluntouring.freelist@gmail.com and write “Gut Saunstorf volunteer exchange in Germany” as the subject of the email to receive the host’s contact details as soon as possible.
