Who is eligible to give long term Seva?
Any old student who has both sat and served a course may apply to give long-term seva. It is important for students who apply for long-term seva to understand that staying at the center for an extended period of time is to serve others and at the same time strengthen their own practice. It should not be simply because they have no other place to go or as a place to stay while conducting their personal affairs.
How long can an old student stay at the center?
An old student could stay at the center for up to a year or longer. The length of time is determined by an initial interview between the student and an assistant teacher and/or the center manager as well as monthly AT interviews during their stay. Since there is no actual contract between the student and the center, the student or the management may shorten or lengthen their stay at any time.
What is the course and daily sitting schedule for a long term Server?
As part of their stay at the center, long-term servers are encouraged to sit a course periodically. However, the main focus is to serve the center. Servers under sit-serve programme are expected to sit the three daily group sittings and may sit more during their free time. They will usually serve two to three courses, then sit one, and then serve again, thus sitting a course every month and a half to two months.
Do long term Servers follow the same guidelines as a regular course server?
Anyone who is serving at the center must follow the guidelines as stated in the Code of Conduct for Dhamma Servers. It is especially important for long-term servers to understand and follow these guidelines because they will have more responsibility and therefore be an example to other servers. Maintaining sila, as outlined in the Code of Conduct, is of utmost importance.
Do long term Servers get time off from the center?
We realize that it is important for someone staying longer at the center to have some down time and days off to tend to personal business and simply relax off the center grounds. If one is involved directly with serving on courses, then days off are scheduled between courses. If the long-term server is a member of a Seva group and not involved directly as a course server, then time off can be more flexible, depending on his/her responsibilities.