This web site is intended to explain to Retreat Centers, Ashrams, Intentional Communities and anyone else who stops by here, who Jim Adamik is and what he's all about. I will start by saying I have been a Buddhist for six years. I started on my Spiritual path after reading a few books on Buddhism by Pema Chodron and Thich Nhat Hanh, and was lucky enough (karma?) to get a job on staff at a Spiritual Retreat Center. I feel that my basic "Path" in life now is to live and work in a Sangha or Community that follows the Eightfold Path of Buddhism, the Eight Limbs of Yoga, or a similar lifestyle. Trying to keep a "Beginners Mind" I am open to all spiritual and community lifestyles and I enjoy "Being of Service, and hope to continue my "Right Livelihood" in this manner. I would appreciate it if you would let me know of ANY Retreat Centers, Ashram's, Yoga Centers, or Communities in need of live in Staff, or who have a Work/Study program.

I am hoping to find a financial sponsor or sponsors to help me expand and increase my Spiritual Path and Energy. If you know of anyone or any organization who can assist me in this, please go to Help A Struggling Dharma Student for details.

UPDATE The last center I visited was "The Expanding Light" retreat center at Ananda Village in Nevada City, California. This is a WONDERFUL Yoga Center! Do add this center to your possibilities. You will never forget it!

I have a NEW BLOG - Please stop by and add any Retreat Centers or Work Study programs you are aware of. I would love to chat with anyone regarding Buddhism, Yoga, Eastern Spirituality, or Qigong. Please do not hesitate to me.

The last few internships I attended were at the following centers:

At River Spirit Retreat Center, I was the Relief Groundskeeper, Hospitality Person, and Office Assistant, all in one. I went to River Spirit to set up a customer database and help increase the attendance and lodging there. One of the ways I did this was to do a bulk emailing to the past retreatants. This was a great success, even more than we had anticipated. I also helped organize an advertising and promotional campaign for the "Woman's Natural Building Symposium" held every year at River Spirit. Previous to that position I was in a work/study program at Way of Nature Retreat Center in Todos Santos, Mexico, near Cabo San Lucas. While at Way Of Nature we had the opportunity to practice Tai Chi and Yoga daily, which I did.

For most of 2002, I lived, worked and studied with the Monks of Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California. Deer Park is Thich Nhat Hahn's newest and largest Monastery, and I did have the opportunity to spend a week with Thay (Thich Nhat Hahn) and Sister Chan Kong. One morning we all hiked up a beautiful mountain and at the top we meditated as the sun came up (see the pictures below). We then shared a community breakfast together on that mountain top. Thay, Sister Chan Kong about 30 Monks and Nuns, and me ... WOW! That was fantastic. While I was at Deer Park, I worked in the office answering phones and emails, along with meeting and greeting the visitors to the Monastery. I also assisted in the "Mindfulness Bell" magazine office with database management, subscriptions and bulk mail processing, using a variety of office and publication software.

The software programs I use the most are Microsoft Office, Member-ties, My Postage, USPS Assistant, and a few others. On 10/12/02, I completed an "MS Office 2000" training course, and have been using computers and the Internet since 1987 when there were only bulletin boards for nationwide/worldwide access. This was actually PRE- Internet :) I have NOT had much formal software training on computers but have used and learned about them for over 15 years. I HAVE been on the Internet for over 10 years, and have a good working knowledge of it. The work I did right before going to Deer Park Monastery (2001) was at Southern Dharma Retreat Center in Hot Springs North Carolina, where I was the Retreat Manager. My duties were very similar to what I did at Deer Park except that my "Title" :) was Retreat Manager. I was also the breakfast cook, AND chief pots and pans washer for Southern Dharma. I also believe I hold the record for "Fastest Moving Buddhist" to visit Southern Dharma :) I DO hope I have learned to slow down just a little after several years of living like this.

At Southern Dharma, I also had the benefit of meeting and greeting the retreatants, helping them with parking, unloading, and giving the first time retreatants a tour of our facility and grounds. The day before each retreat I would clean and prepare the meditation hall, dining room and library for our new group. (Great library - 25 years of donated spiritual books). I am grateful that I had found a position with a Retreat Center offering a vast array of spiritual paths. This gave me the opportunity to sample many different paths, enjoying the benefits of all. I am a Buddhist, I sit (meditate) for 30 minutes in the mornings and evenings, and time permitting, also during the day. A few of us at Southern Dharma had dharma discussions of our own each night, and we practiced yoga every morning with our grounds manager "Kapila" who is also a Hatha Yoga instructor. It was wonderful at Southern Dharma, - the land, the people, the practice, the community, everything!

Living and working in Buddhist community environments like Deer Park and Southern Dharma have been the most enjoyable times of my life, that is AFTER the birth of my son James. During every retreat at these centers, and even more so, after I leave them, I become more aware of different areas of my SELF, while at the same time losing more of my "Self" identity. The primary focus of most retreats is Silence and Meditation, with every retreat having a different teacher and spiritual theme. Being part of over 20 retreats in the last few years at the centers I have worked at, has given me the opportunity to explore many different types of Buddhism, Taoism, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Yoga, while also learning to transform my attitudes, perceptions, and feelings in ways that seem more. . . right. As Retreat Manager at Southern Dharma, I attended at least 15 different retreats including two 5 day intensive “Zen Seshins.” Last Christmas I was also fortunate enough to attended a wonderful retreat at Spirit Rock Retreat Center, with Robert Hall, Jr. and Gil Fronsdale.

With my experience in Customer Service, Sales, Marketing, Customer Retention, the Internet, and now Community/Sangha building and assisting, I hope to be a benefit to any Sangha or Community. My last job before starting this wonderful path of service and learning was as the Internet Manager for Robertson Palmdale Honda where I was charged with developing and expanding our Internet Sales. This was done by increasing our presence on the Internet, improving our web site, and adding, controlling and maintaining a large automotive lead-generating database. Robertson Honda sent me through Internet training by the following company's Autobytel, CarSmart, AutoWeb, and Stoneage, I am also familiar with many other systems. My primary work experience in the past has been in Internet, Direct Business Sales, Marketing, Customer Service/Retention, and the Cellular Phone/Pager fields.