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Buddha Statue at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

Volunteer at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre | A transformational week for me

Posted on March 22, 2020July 31, 2022 by Fiona Mai

Right before leaving England at the end of my Master’s study in 2017, I decided to spend the little time I had left as wisely as possible. Volunteering was a good thing, I’d thought, especially somewhere quiet and remote so that I could immerse myself in the beautiful English landscape while mulling over my own future plans.

One day, I heard about the volunteering program at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in Ulverston by chance. For some reason, I felt I was predestined to register. This visit later transformed me in so many ways, which I will share with you below.

As I am writing this right now and the visit is coming back vividly in my mind, this quote describes exactly how I feel about my time there.

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child—our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”

Thich Nhat Hanh
The beautiful nature surrounding the Manjushri KMC Ulverston
The beautiful nature surrounding the Manjushri KMC Ulverston

This post will be divided into two parts. First, I will share some practical information about volunteering at the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre (KMC) in Ulverston. Then, I will elaborate on how this one-week volunteer visit profoundly transformed me.

I hope this post will inspire you to consider volunteering here, trying meditation, or simply paying more attention to the wonderful world we are living in right now.

Volunteer at Manjushri KMC Ulverston – Things to know

Where is Manjushri KMC Ulverston?

Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre is housed in Conishead Priory – a Grade 2* Romantic Gothic House located just south of the English Lake District. Read more about getting to the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre HERE.

Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre is housed in Conishead Priory – a Grade 2* Romantic Gothic House

For my volunteer trip, I took a train from Hull to Ulverston and then walked to the center. Luckily, a monk who was driving past saw me struggling with the bulky luggage and offered me a ride. In hindsight, I should have taken a taxi for around £7 since the walk was quite long.

Surrounding the center are vast spaces of gardens and woodland, providing the utmost peace and tranquility for its residents and visitors. From the main building, you can reach a cobblestone beach after walking for 10 minutes across the wood.

The calm cobblestone beach at Manjushri KMC Ulverston
The calm cobblestone beach at Manjushri KMC Ulverston

How did I register for volunteering at Manjushri KMC Ulverston?

I registered online via their website. I could also find all the necessary information about volunteering at Manjushri KMC there.

How long did I volunteer at Manjushri KMC Ulverston? How many hours did I work every day?

I worked for approximately 5 hours per day from Monday to Friday. I stayed there for one week, so I had Saturday and Sunday free. Some other volunteers I met had stayed there for months and still really enjoyed it.

There were two 15-minute breaks per day as well, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. During those breaks, we volunteers would rush to the kitchen and find out what kinds of snacks were available that day :).

What were the accommodations for volunteers like?

The pleasantly comfortable volunteers’ dorm, which I shared with 5 other ladies, is located on the 1st floor of the building. The shared bathroom was clean and right next to our room. The center provided bedsheets and pillowcases for us, so I only needed to bring my sleeping bag for a warner sleep.

My volunteer dorm at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre
My volunteer dorm at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

What did I eat during my volunteer at Manjushri KMC?

The center offered tasty vegetarian meals three times a day for its volunteers. Some of them were the best vegetarian dishes I’d ever had in my life.

Hummus, couscous, baked sweet potatoes and steamed vegetables - Yummy!
Hummus, couscous, baked sweet potatoes, tofu balls, and salad – Yummy!

What kinds of work did I do?

At the beginning of each day, the volunteer coordinator would allocate different tasks to the volunteers. The tasks varied depending on the season.

I mostly worked in the laundry with tasks such as ironing, folding the bedsheets and pillowcases, and re-organizing the laundry space. The other tasks I did were vacuuming and cleaning a guestroom, cleaning a food tank, carrying tents from the forest back to the center, and helping with lunch preparation in the kitchen.

How hard were these tasks?

Were these tasks strenuous? Not at all! I’m a small Asian girl who can hardly run for 5 minutes without collapsing but still could finish them all.

In fact, the more I worked there, the more enjoyable the tasks seemed to become.

Once when I was folding the pillowcases, someone told me to try thinking about the results of my folding actions. If I folded them nicely with a genuine wish that the people who would lay their heads on them would have a restful sleep, I would subconsciously transfer my positive energy into the pillowcases, which in turn would help make my wish for these people come true.

Me working in the laundry with another volunteer
Me working in the laundry with another volunteer

Honestly, I don’t know if such a belief can be explained scientifically, but I tried it and felt great myself. And I believed it. It’s like sowing a seed of positivity into every action we take and watching it bloom :).

5 ways my volunteer trip at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre transformed me

There was ample space for quiet contemplation

Surrounded by a quintessentially picturesque English landscape, the Manjushri KMC provides an ideal haven for those seeking a quiet space for self-contemplation.

Every morning before breakfast, I would wander in the wood and listen to birds chirping. If I got up early, I would also walk further to the other side of the wood and watch horses roaming freely on a nearby farm. In the evening right before dinner time, I would sit at the beach and watch the sunset in perfect tranquility.

Horses roaming freely on a farm nearby
Horses roaming freely on a farm nearby
Sunset at the cobblestone beach near Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre
Sunset at the cobblestone beach near Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

Communing with nature helped me greatly to find inner peace. As I watched the tides falling while sitting on the beach alone, my mind became clearer and I started to notice thoughts and feelings arising inside of me.

Despite my previous belief that meditation involved stopping all thoughts, it was not exactly so. Instead, meditation was about slowing down, increasing awareness of my present being, and admiring the wonder of everything, even the smallest ones, around me. That was one of the most important realizations that I came to thanks to the valuable time spent in quiet contemplation at the Manjushri KMC.

The fairy-tale shady woods surrounding the Manjushri KMC Ulverston
The fairy-tale shady woods surrounding the Manjushri KMC Ulverston
A meadow near Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre
A meadow near Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

Talking to fellow volunteers helped me become more open-minded

During my stay, I met volunteers from all over the world who helped change my world views dramatically.

There was a middle-aged Portuguese lady who’d volunteered there for 6 months and told me that despite owning no house, no car, and no credit card, she was still happy 🙂

An Indian girl in her 20s enlightened me about Hinduism and faith while we were sitting in the kitchen on a memorable rainy evening.

I also met a visiting nun from the US who was quite talkative, which surprised me greatly. Before that, I’d always thought all monks and nuns shared the same calm and meditative look. Perhaps this stereotype stemmed from my familiarity with Asian monks only. Meeting this loquacious nun helped me realize that they are not distant but rather very relatable figures. While sharing the same belief, each of them still has a distinctive characteristic, just like normal people.

Buddha Statue at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre
Buddha Statue at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

I learned new skills I’d never thought I would learn

Despite staying at the Manjushri KMC for only a week, I was lucky to learn some new skills in cooking and housekeeping. I heard that others who stayed longer had the chance to learn about barista and sculpture as well. How interesting!

Love was omnipresent

“Love is in the air” – this quote rings truest at the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre. Everyone I met was so benign that I felt naturally inclined not to harm even an ant!

No dark thought ever crossed my mind while staying there, as the whole center and its surroundings created an overwhelmingly peace-loving and harmonious ambiance. If a criminal visited the center, I believe his or her malevolent intentions, if any, would eventually turn into acts of benevolence at this peaceful place.

Free meditation sessions were perfect for beginners like me

Volunteers can join daily mediation sessions at the Manjushri KMC for free. Guided by venerated monks and also suitable for beginners, these meditation sessions last from 15 minutes to an hour and take place either in the grand temple or in one of the cozy rooms in the main building.

Buddha statue in the garden of Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre
Buddha statue in the garden of Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre

I myself had tried meditation before, yet often found it hard to stay focused without getting bored. Thanks to the guided meditation sessions here, I learned to relax and concentrate on my breath while practicing mediation, which was really helpful.

Volunteer at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre – A transformational week

My one-week volunteer at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre was one of the most peaceful and transformational times in my life. Thanks to the volunteer trip, I’ve learned to appreciate the presence, nourish benevolent thoughts, accept novel ideas with an open mind, and commune with nature more.

And you? When was the last time you went on a trip that transformed your life? Share with me in the comment section below. If you have any other questions about volunteering at the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre Ulverston, don’t hesitate to comment as well!

Read more about my other journeys in England and the rest of the UK here.

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  • 27 thoughts on “Volunteer at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre | A transformational week for me”

    1. Kay says:
      March 26, 2020 at 1:48 pm

      Wow…that seems…so quaint. I kind of fell in love just reading about it! It’s also nice that the tasks weren’t too strenuous either. I think I would want laundry duty too!

      Reply
    2. Coni says:
      March 26, 2020 at 7:00 pm

      What a lovely post! It’s so nice to leave some time in our lives to give to others. What always amazed me after a volunteering experience is that I end up helping myself the most. We learn about ourselves and grow as a person. Nice to see the time there also changed you, and that you enjoyed it!

      Reply
    3. Dan says:
      March 26, 2020 at 9:53 pm

      Very interesting. I had no idea that voluteering at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre can have so many benefits.

      Reply
    4. Josy A says:
      March 26, 2020 at 11:04 pm

      This sounds like such a good way to escape the world for a while and really contemplate life. What a gorgeous setting in the English countryside too. Would you be tempted to go back once all this virus madness is over?

      Reply
    5. Amy says:
      March 28, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      I would love to volunteer one day, and this looks like the perfect place to do it!

      Reply
    6. KatieGoes says:
      March 28, 2020 at 4:40 pm

      This all just feels like a dream away now with the current lockdowns 🙁 So refreshing to read as an escape!

      Reply
    7. Suvarna Arora says:
      March 28, 2020 at 5:02 pm

      How lovely.. I loved reading your experience here. I would love to volunteer someday.

      Reply
    8. Linn says:
      March 28, 2020 at 5:42 pm

      I really enjoyed reading about your experience and takeaways from volunteering at the meditation center. Maybe I will do something similar one day!

      Reply
    9. Marisa says:
      March 28, 2020 at 10:24 pm

      This sounds like such an incredible experience and so life changing. I would love to volunteer one day and your experience makes me want to even more!

      Reply
    10. Bliss says:
      March 29, 2020 at 12:48 am

      This sounds so peaceful. I’d love to do something like this.

      Reply
    11. Emma says:
      March 29, 2020 at 9:53 am

      My family are from here (well, Barrow nearby) and I always wondered about this place. Great to learn a bit more about it

      Reply
    12. Margarida Vasconcelos says:
      April 1, 2020 at 5:47 pm

      It seems like a very rewarding thing to do.

      Reply
    13. Julia Bocchese says:
      April 1, 2020 at 6:17 pm

      This looks like such an amazing experience! I love that comment about the positive energy with the pillowcases, I’m going to have to try that with the chores around my home!

      Reply
    14. Angela says:
      April 1, 2020 at 6:21 pm

      What a great post and such a spiritual and rewarding thing to do. I love the thought of meditation (though don’t practice it myself) so to combine it with volunteering and learning new skills sounds perfect.

      Reply
    15. Jenn - The Solivagant Soul says:
      April 1, 2020 at 6:53 pm

      I love to read about the experiences that people have while meditating. It is definetely not for me, but I am happy that it can help people so much. Glad to read about what you did and that you did not get too tired with all that laundry!

      Reply
    16. Marie says:
      April 1, 2020 at 7:00 pm

      So nice to read about your experience! very inspiring !

      Reply
    17. Melissa says:
      April 3, 2020 at 4:50 am

      This sounds so nice to escape life for a little bit! Also love the vegetarian dishes, I’m vegetarian and it’s sometimes so hard to find the good vegetarian food. The sunset on the beach is gorgeous!

      Reply
    18. Anshul says:
      April 4, 2020 at 11:14 am

      I have been to Lucknow but never know about Manjushri Kadampa Meditation centre. Thanks for sharing all the elaborate details. I think a visit will be important once this lockdown chaos ends.

      Reply
    19. Shatakshi says:
      April 6, 2020 at 6:25 pm

      I have never been to Lucknow but now I would definitely visit this place once.
      I myself is associated with a organisation which focuses on meditation and as part of it ,its my routine now to meditate in morning.
      And i know how peaceful it is.
      Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    20. blair villanueva says:
      April 6, 2020 at 6:33 pm

      This is a beautiful place, and I understand why you had a special memory of this place. Volunteering during travels gives us the opportunity to be more connected to the place, the people, etc, in addition to the fact that it will help to save us on other expenses. This niche industry is hugely hurt by the current pandemic (even here in Australia where many traveler/volunteers ended up stuck).

      Reply
    21. Michele says:
      April 7, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about your experience and how transformative it was in such a short amount of time. I could envision myself there in the setting you described and feel the peace there. I’ve never considered going on a retreat or working as a volunteer in a meditative place before, but you have made it sound so wholesome and beneficial that I might consider it one day. Thanks for sharing your story!

      Reply
    22. Soumya Gayatri says:
      April 7, 2020 at 1:59 pm

      Volunteering at a meditation center is such a profound experience. I have always wanted to do it at least once. And the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Center seems just the perfect fit for me. All that vegetarian food looks so tasty and healthy.

      Reply
    23. Amrita says:
      April 7, 2020 at 6:30 pm

      Wow, it was such a lovely read in the time of all the chaos around. Manjushri KMC Ulverston looks beautiful, especially the beach and the woods. I can understand that volunteering at the Meditation Centre was one of the best decisions of your life and you had such a profound experience. I had a similar feeling when I was at Auroville. I had not volunteered but had spent an entire day there. Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply
    24. Nishil says:
      April 7, 2020 at 9:03 pm

      Meditation is a great way to find peace in yourself. I did a meditation retreat myself and it was life-changing. I would be happy to share my experience with you offline if you are interested in doing one!

      Reply
    25. Christopher Mitchell says:
      April 10, 2020 at 6:37 am

      That sounds like an absolutely transformative experience! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    26. Shane Prather says:
      April 11, 2020 at 11:30 pm

      This looks like such an empowering and fulfilling experience! I have not yet done volunteer work in my travels but feel like it’s something I should do very soon to get the most of the exprerience! I will look into this 🙂

      Reply
    27. Yukti Agrawal says:
      April 18, 2020 at 1:59 am

      I loved how you joined the volunteering program at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in Ulverston and that too by chance. The green meadows and fields are so relaxing and peaceful here. I would love to spent some time here when all gets well.

      Reply

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    Welcome to Fiona's blog!

    A 20-ish Vietnamese travel blogger who has been to 21 countries so far, Fiona was lucky enough to call herself a past resident of Helsinki, Berlin, Brisbane, Hanoi, and Kingston upon Hull. Even more fortunate right now to be back to where she comes from: Saigon, Vietnam. Read more about her journeys here.

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