“I drove away from my first retreat at BCBS feeling deeply peaceful and wondered how I could return,” shares Working Guest Mallika Iyer. “The Working Guest Program was the perfect way.”
Living in the farmhouse at the heart of BCBS, Mallika spent her days helping with simple tasks—watering plants, drying dishes, folding laundry. She found that these small acts of service became a form of meditation in themselves, seamlessly supporting her study and practice. Afternoons and evenings offered time to reflect, read, or join retreat sessions.
What stood out most for Mallika was the warmth of community. She describes shared meals with staff and the sense that “everybody is united in preserving this space” for retreatants. That rhythm of work and practice, connection and solitude, gave her a sense of balance and belonging.
Mallika encourages anyone to apply, even those new to Buddhist practice. For her, the Working Guest Program was a chance to pause, step away from daily distractions, and join a community devoted to living the Dharma together.
