Service Steward Registration

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First and last name*
Gender Identity*
Pronouns (Optional, Select all that apply)
Emergency Contact #1*
Emergency Contact #1 cont.*
Emergency Contact #2*
Emergency Contact #2 cont.*
I acknowledge that I have read and understand the Stewardship & Practice Guide*

After reviewing the Stewardship & Practice Guide

Do you have any medical conditions we should be aware of? If yes, please specify.
You are welcome to share any medications you take, prescription or non-prescription. Prescribed medications are fully welcome here, and sharing them helps us best support you during your stay. If you prefer not to share, please write "prefer not to share." If you take prescribed medications, please bring enough for the length of your stay.
We recognize the importance of caring for mental and emotional wellbeing. Meditation, silence, and community living can bring up strong thoughts, emotions, and memories, and knowing what you carry helps us practice alongside you with care. Our programs offer rest, reflection, and community, and we are not a mental health care facility. We ask that you reflect on whether you have the supports you need in place to sustain you during your time here. Please share any mental health considerations we should be aware of. If this does not apply to you, please write "none."
Do you confirm that you are in adequate physical and mental health to participate in activities at Sangha House NOLA, have shared your allergies, mental health considerations, and any health information needed for your safety during your stay, are responsible for informing Venerable Dayananda or Core Group members of any relevant safety, access, or health needs before participation, authorize Sangha House NOLA and its representatives to secure necessary medical treatment in the event of injury or illness, agree to bear any associated costs, and understand that Sangha House NOLA is a spiritual community, not a medical, therapeutic, or mental health care facility, and does not provide professional psychiatric support, clinical mental health services, crisis intervention, or emergency medical care?*
Each person is responsible for caring for their own health so they can participate fully in practice and community life. Sangha House aims to be a supportive space for all who enter. There are limitations to the support offered as it is not a medical facility and cannot provide medical or psychiatric care. What practices of self-care will you maintain to support your health and presence in community?
At Sangha House NOLA, we want you to know the space honestly so you can plan with care. Sangha House is a raised home with a few porch steps, and rooms and restrooms are upstairs, reached by a full staircase. Both have handrails, and the Dharma Hall offers a bench and chairs. We also share the home with our temple cats. We acknowledge that our physical environment may not yet reflect the full inclusivity we aspire to. Are there any accommodations that would help you feel more comfortable and supported during your stewardship (for example, mobility, hearing, or other considerations)? If so, please share them below so we can hold this space with greater awareness and care, and so that we can also let you know if it is within our capacity to meet those needs. If this does not apply to you, please simply state "none."
What has become clearer for you since our discernment conversation? Is there anything you haven't yet shared that we should know before you arrive?
Three months is long enough for the newness to wear off. What do you imagine will be most difficult for you here, and how will you meet it when it comes?
What are you tending to before you arrive (work, family, finances, commitments) so you can be fully present for these three months?
Your stewardship concludes after three months. What is your plan for when it ends?
What skills or gifts are you bringing that we might plan your service around?
What is your relationship to New Orleans (Bulbancha)? If you have roots here, what have you poured into this city? If you are coming from elsewhere, how will you honor this land, its original caretakers, and the people and culture that live here? How will you cultivate relationship with the land during your time with us?
Please share your Instagram, social media, or website, if you'd like.

Waiver & Acknowledgment of Responsibility

  • I acknowledge that participation in activities at or with Sangha House NOLA involves inherent risks, including but not limited to: physical activities (meditation, walking meditation, yoga, qi gong, service work, gardening, stairs, uneven surfaces), incense/scent exposure, hot beverages, kitchen work, and living/practicing in community with others.
  • I voluntarily assume all risks associated with my participation in activities and premises, at Sangha House NOLA, whether known or unknown, and I agree to follow all safety instructions.
  • I acknowledge that this document does not release the Temple from liability for bodily injury. To the fullest extent permitted by Louisiana law, I am responsible for complying with Temple policies and instructions.
  • I acknowledge that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, I will defend and indemnify the Temple against third-party claims to the extent they arise from my violation of Temple policies or applicable law.
  • I agree to honor all community agreements, mindfulness trainings, and sacred practices, and to comply with posted rules and any directions from Temple leaders. I acknowledge Sangha House NOLA's religious character and agree to be respectful of practice spaces and rituals.
  • I acknowledge that these terms are governed by Louisiana law, and venue for any permitted civil action is the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana. The parties shall first attempt good-faith mediation unless an emergency requires immediate relief.
  • Photographic Release: I grant permission for Sangha House NOLA to use photographs or video recordings taken during my stay for promotional, educational, or impactful purposes.
  • My Responsibility: I agree not to post photos or videos of other participants without their explicit permission, and to respect privacy guidelines, especially regarding minors.
  • Release of Liability: I acknowledge that Sangha House NOLA is not responsible for photos, videos, or social media posts made by other participants. I release Sangha House NOLA from any liability arising from other participants' documentation or posting activities.
Do you agree to all the statements above?*

Community Life & Practice

  • Noble Silence: I will observe Noble Silence from 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM daily and practice mindful, necessary speech at all other times.
  • Weekly Offerings: I commit to making a sincere effort to participate in community gatherings including Tuesday Dharma Night, Thursday Evening Practice, Saturday Morning Meditation, and other Sangha events and activities. When I am unable to attend, I will communicate this with Venerable Dayananda or Sangha core members
  • Living Arrangements: I understand that accommodations are primarily dormitory-style and may be shared or private depending on availability. Rooms are offered as gender-inclusive spaces grounded in respect, comfort, and community care. If I have needs or preferences around who I share space with, I will let Sangha House know so we can see how they might be accommodated.
  • Mindfulness Trainings: Mindfulness Trainings: I agree to uphold the Five Precepts during my stay: refraining from harming living beings, refraining from taking what is not freely given, refraining from sexual misconduct and from sexual activity during my stay, refraining from false or harmful speech, and refraining from intoxicants (prescribed medications are welcome).
Do you agree to all the statements above?*

DAILY RHYTHMS & SACRED SPACE

  • Dharma Hall: I will enter and exit with reverence, limiting movement during teachings or meditation sessions.
  • Kitchen Use: I will complete meal preparation by 6:00 PM and maintain quietude after 7:00 PM, as the kitchen connects to Venerable Dayananda's study .
  • Guest Policy: I understand all visits must be pre-approved and guests are not permitted in living quarters.
  • Clothing: I will wear modest, comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that lets me move freely and sit with ease, as an expression of care for our shared space.
  • Leave No Trace: I commit to moving through every space with care, leaving the kitchen, restrooms, my room, and every shared space better than I found them.
Do you agree to all the statements above?*

RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP

  • Sacred Service: I will offer 25 hours of sacred service per week, in addition to Sangha activities and communal care.
  • Three-Month Practice Period: I understand my stewardship is a temporary three-month practice period. When it concludes, I will transition from Sangha House unless a new retreatant commitment is agreed upon through shared discernment.
  • Weekly Check-Ins: I will meet regularly with Venerable Dayananda for guidance, feedback, and support.
  • Conflict Resolution: When concerns arise, I will follow the conflict resolution process in the Stewardship & Practice Guide, beginning with direct, caring conversation.
  • Personal Needs: I understand this stewardship is unpaid. I confirm that I have sufficient personal resources (savings, income, or support) to tend my own needs, such as medical care, transportation, and personal supplies, during my three months at Sangha House.
  • Monthly Donation: I understand my monthly donation is arranged individually with Venerable Dayananda and will be confirmed after registration.
  • Shared Home: I understand that Sangha House is also the home of our monastic teacher, Venerable Dayananda, and I will honor the privacy, rest, and practice rhythms of shared home life.
Do you agree to all the statements above?*

STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT

  • Sacred Service: I will offer 25 hours of sacred service per week, in addition to Sangha activities and communal care.
  • Three-Month Practice Period: I understand my stewardship is a temporary three-month practice period. When it concludes, I will transition from Sangha House unless a new retreatant commitment is agreed upon through shared discernment.
  • Weekly Check-Ins: I will meet regularly with Venerable Dayananda for guidance, feedback, and support.
  • Conflict Resolution: When concerns arise, I will follow the conflict resolution process in the Stewardship & Practice Guide, beginning with direct, caring conversation.
  • Personal Needs: I understand this stewardship is unpaid. I confirm that I have sufficient personal resources (savings, income, or support) to tend my own needs, such as medical care, transportation, and personal supplies, during my three months at Sangha House.
  • Monthly Donation: I understand my monthly donation is arranged individually with Venerable Dayananda and will be confirmed after registration.
  • Shared Home: I understand that Sangha House is also the home of our monastic teacher, Venerable Dayananda, and I will honor the privacy, rest, and practice rhythms of shared home life.
Do you agree to all the statements above?*

Agreement

Arrival and Departure: I will arrive no later than 7:00 PM Central Time (or call or text (504) 407-1055 if I am delayed) and check out no later than 11:00 AM on my departure day.

DEPARTURE & CONCLUSION OF STAY*
Declaration*
By checking the box below, I hereby declare and affirm that:
As we grow together as a community rooted in boundless love in action and liberation in practice, we want to ensure our processes reflect those same values. Did you feel seen, heard, and cared for while completing your registration? We welcome your reflections and suggestions with gratitude.
Acceptable documents are Military ID, Passport, Driver's License, and/or Government-issued photo IDs.
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