Residency

Mountain Cloud is now accepting applications for its Residency Program. We are located in a beautiful setting on the edge of Santa Fe, New Mexico. We have a lovely adobe zendo for sitting and many outdoor paths for walking and contemplating. We have authentic Zen Masters as guiding teachers as well as an Assistant Sanbo Zen Teacher Scott Thornton managing our program.

Our residency program offers an immersive Zen experience, with an hour of zazen (sitting meditation) each morning and evening, shared meals, work practice, and participation in all scheduled events, such as the weekly dharma talks and the several sesshin (retreats) held at the center during the year. Regular private interviews for practice guidance with the program director will also be offered. Please understand this residency program is an intensive experience, not appropriate for those in acute crisis.

You will have time for personal projects and community service amidst the daily Zen activities. Residents are encouraged to enjoy MCZC’s idyllic backdrop of Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. The region’s rich diversity of people, arts and culture, and landscapes is a compelling draw.

Participants must have their own transportation. Residents will regularly prepare a shared community dinner, largely at their own expense. MCZC will provide basic foodstuffs for breakfast and lunch. As with all MCZC offerings, the residency program will operate in accordance with the organization’s equity and inclusion principles and COVID-19 protocols.

Click here to read the COVID-19 Protocols and access the waiver that all residents are required to sign. You must be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19.

The minimum length of stay is one month, which may begin at any time. The first 30 days shall be considered a trial period, during which time the resident and Program Manager will regularly evaluate goodness-of-fit. While there is no hard cap on the duration of a residency, all participants must reapply with the Program Manager every three months. It is also generally understood that residencies lasting more than a year will be atypical.

Accommodations

Cabin

Cabin:  $825 a month. Cabins are rustic, heated and surrounded by piñon and juniper trees. Each cabin sleeps up to four, but residents will have a cabin to themselves unless they are doing the residency as a couple. The cabins do not have an attached bathroom. You will need to walk to the main building for a bathroom and shower.

Cottage room

Cottage: The cottage is our most recent structure and offers single and double rooms. Cost is $1325 per month for single occupancy. Residents will stay in their own room in the cottage. Shared bathrooms are on the main level.

Cottage, kitchenette

The cottage also has small kitchenette (no stove) for guest use.

Fill out the application below if you you would like to be considered for residency at Mountain Cloud. The program manager Scott will contact you, most likely via email, and will arrange a personal interview.

Residency Application

  • Enter start and end dates or, if you aren't sure, tell us generally when you'd like to come and for how long.
    Although there is personal time during our program for some amount of work, we have found that working a job during residency is challenging. It tends to distract from the immersive Zen experience. If you do have a remote job, please discuss the circumstances with Scott during your interview.
    We require that you have transportation, preferably an automobile, while you are here. We don't provide transportation for shopping or other outings.

Images by Mark Paul Petrick

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