Residency at Great Tree

Over time we aspire to have 5-10 full-time,  permanent residents at Great Tree. Now, only Teijo Munnich, the Abbess is in permanent residency. Teijo’s vision is of a long-term residency program for women with a life-long commitment to practice at the core of the Great Tree Sangha.

Residential practice at Great Tree offers opportunities for meditation, study, and work practice (service) in the Soto Zen tradition.  We enjoy a communal living setting surrounded by nature and complimented by wonderful mountain sunsets in southern Appalachian mountains. Some experience in Zen practice is strongly suggested, and training is available for  those new to practice. All residents are required to participate fully in the daily temple and retreat schedule and are automatically members.

Essentially, we have a small, volunteer staff;  all residents contribute to the operation and care of Great Tree Temple and grounds, administrative or office work.

Newcomers may be asked to participate in introductory class, sesshin or retreat prior to making a commitment to longer stay.

Residencies at Great Tree Available for any sincere woman practitioner.

Fees are modest in keeping with traditional practice and some work-service exchange  can be arranged.  Great Tree is supported entirely by others, through  dana and contributions from the community.  Please read about Dana, here online.

Great Tree requests that  those requesting financial aid to be honest in their self-evaluation of need and to contribute as much of the fee as possible with the understanding that Great Tree’s  practice support is derived entirely from donations from the community.

Fees are kept modest and comprise less than 1/3 of  our required operating costs.

Great Tree offers:

• Opportunities for group meditation
• Time for personal reflection and contemplation
• Service and work-practice
• Classes and study in the Soto Zen tradition
• Participate in scheduled practice or retreats
• Unique hill-top, location to be with impressive sunsets, seasonal hiking
• Room & board in shared housing, vegetarian meals available.
• Sunday afternoons and Mondays free.
• Dokusan (private interview with teacher)

We ask practitioners who are proposing residency to:

• Commitment to a specific period without interruption
• Participate at least one sesshin at Great Tree
• Participate fully in the entire practice  schedule while in residence.
• Schedule includes meditation, study, work practice, service and all retreats and events.
• Individuals are responsible for their own health care, expenses, and transportation
• All residents are asked to do regular scheduled maintenance, cooking and preparation  for events as work-practice.
• Volunteer service on other projects is welcome

Residential Opportunities

Residency Application Form PDF Form for  Practice Student/Residents (Please include a resume)

Great Tree offer’s four types practice residency programs, three of those are open for application at this time.

Practice-Short Term

Extending your stay for a few days before or after a retreat?

We ask that you let us know if you plan to arrive and stay overnight before an event starts and need lodging, or to extend your stay. You will be asked to follow the Great Tree schedule of activities.

Open to all sesshin participants, both men and women are welcome, in separate housing. Space is limited based schedule of activities, number in residents. Normally, Great Tree is closed on Monday. You are responsible for your laundry, clean up and personal necessities. Please be aware, we are not operating as a guest-house and you are requested to participate in all Temple activities.

Suggested dana: $60. (non-members): $40. (members)

Practice-Personal Retreat

Short Term — beyond 6 nights, less than 1 month

Members $350/week

• Flexible start dates, however reservation is required
• 2 week commitment, may include a sesshin or other retreat
• Meditation, Study, Work Practice Schedule
• Dokusan  (regular private  interview with teacher)
• Vegetarian  – vegan meals available
• Service or work practice included: Sunday afternoons and Mondays off
• Open to  both women and men (note we have no accommodations for couples)

Practice-Resident

4- 12 weeks, continuous: first month $500, thereafter $400. per month.

• Open to women only
• Meditation, Study, Work Practice, Service Schedule
• Dokusan: Private Interview with Teacher
• Vegetarian – vegan meals available
• Must commit to a minimum of two (2) months
• Sunday afternoons and Mondays off
• Flexible pre-payment – register early with a deposit
• Volunteer for work-exchange to perform specific job or project (based on availability).

How to Apply

If you would like to participate in the practice period as a practice resident or lay practice resident, please inquire by email to [info@greattreetemple. org ].

Send your application (below)  to the attention of  Rev. Teijo Munnich and include a brief biography and description of your practice experience.

If you have practiced with a teacher, please request  a  recommendation sent to us.  Your resume is  helpful and appropriate  as part of your application, if you have one.

Arrange, if you have not already been to Great Tree,  to participate in a sesshin, preferably a 5 or 7 day event in order to get deeper idea the experience of residential practice.

About Residency Fees

Residency fees include room and board,  a place reserved in sesshins, retreats and other events on our calendar during your stay.They are due upon confirmation of your application, and in advance of your stay.

They are payable in advance. You may use the Donate button submit your fee(s) for residency. Be sure to tell us how to apply your payment. Fees are not considered a charitable donation, however.

For stays longer than 2 weeks, the deposit for residency is 50% of the term of your residency.  The rest is payable before you complete your stay unless other arrangements are made.

Other Practice-Residence

Summer Young Adult Program (Internship)

Three (3) Weeks of Practice, Study and Immersion in Everyday Zen

June 1- 21 (annually)

College credit (available through a local college) is available for full time students enrolled in a school of higher education during the summer. Includes instruction and study, with Rev. Munnich and Mars Hill College’s religious  studies instructor, in addition to commitment to follow full practice schedule at Great Tree.

Program fees include room and board for three weeks, classes, field trips, sangha activities and meditation programs.

Click here to download an Internship brochure.

Lay Practice Commitment (click here for more)

Lay practice is a self-directed program of practice that is essentially alternative to living full-time at Great Tree  mutually agreed and designed with approval of Rev. Munnich.

Lay  Practice (non-residential)  is intended to be scheduled  around  personal obligations or  for those who must commute. It can be structured by  making a commitment to a schedule of activities or  selected components, living at Great Tree during certain intervals if possible. Essentially a program that asks for deep, sincere commitment to ongoing practice, weaving that practice into the tapestry of your life and joining in group and private practice retreats throughout the year.

Temple Residents (Click here for details)

Temple residents  asked  to make a commitment to live full-time as a monastic at Great Tree on an annual basis and provide service, teaching, administration.

Currently  have one-full time resident at Great Tree in January 2011, Chimyo Atkinson.

Ethics Statement