in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Center Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English
Dhamma Pubbananda (Joy of the East), is the first urban center in North America. Situated on 13 acres in a quiet residential neighborhood, it is owned and operated by the Mid-Atlantic Vipassana Association. Since its purchase in 2013, it has undergone extensive renovations and we are able to provide 30 of our 60 students with private rooms and en suite bathrooms in addition to a small pagoda with 30 cells. The master plan includes completion of another 30 private rooms and cells as well as a larger Dhamma Hall and Teacher’s residence.
- Access the application form by clicking Apply for the desired course. Old students will be given the option to serve.
- Please carefully read the Introduction to the Technique and Code of Discipline which you will be asked to follow during your course.
- Fully and completely fill out all the sections of application form and submit it. An application is required to register for all courses.
- Await notification. All correspondence will be through e-mail if you give an e-mail address in your application. Due to the large volume of applications, it may take up to two weeks before receiving notification.
- If your application is accepted then we require you to confirm you will be attending in order to secure your place in the course.
Dhamma Pubbananda
2901 Green Street, Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-556-3882 (202-55-METTA)
Please check your SPAM folder regularly after applying so that you do not miss any important communications regarding your registration.
Courses will open at 8:00 AM EST on the day specified.
Health and Safety Updates:
- Rapid tests are needed (number of tests depends on course).
- Masking and vaccination are optional.
- **Check this link for the latest updates (updated on August 5, 2023) on our health and safety policy. **
- During this time of reduced capacity, we are allowing students to apply to more than one course at this center.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Oct 30 - Nov 10 | 10-Day | In Progress | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
| Apply | Nov 06 - Nov 17 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Female Server - Closed Male Server - Wait List | Clifton, VA |
This is a non-center course held in a three-story house where participants are expected to climb stairs and share rooms and bathrooms. |
| Apply | Nov 10 - Nov 13 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 13 - Nov 17 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Wait List | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 17 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 17 - Nov 20 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 20 - Nov 29 | Satipatthana Sutta | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 29 - Dec 04 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Dec 04 - Dec 15 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
| Apply | Dec 15 - Dec 18 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Dec 18 - Dec 29 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Wait List | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
| Apply | Dec 20 - Dec 31 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Closed | Clifton, VA |
This is a non-center course held in a three-story house where participants are expected to climb stairs and share rooms and bathrooms. |
| Apply | Dec 29 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jan 03 - Jan 12 | Satipatthana Sutta | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Jan 12 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Jan 12 - Jan 15 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Jan 15 - Jan 26 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
| Apply | Jan 26 - Jan 29 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Jan 29 - Feb 09 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
| Apply | Feb 09 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Feb 09 - Feb 12 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Feb 12 - Feb 23 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
| Apply | Feb 23 - Feb 26 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Apply | Feb 26 - Mar 02 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Claymont |
For old students |
| Mar 02 - Mar 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 02 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Mar 05 - Mar 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 02 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Mar 16 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 16 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Mar 16 - Mar 19 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 16 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Mar 19 - Mar 30 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 16 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Mar 30 - Apr 02 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 30 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Apr 02 - Apr 13 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 30 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Apr 13 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 14 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Apr 13 - Apr 16 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 14 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Apr 16 - Apr 27 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 14 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Apr 27 - Apr 30 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 28 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Apr 30 - May 11 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 28 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| May 11 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 11 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| May 11 - May 14 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 11 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| May 14 - May 25 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 11 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| May 25 - Jun 11 | Spring Work Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 25 | Claymont |
For old students |
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| Jun 11 - Jun 22 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 08 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Jun 22 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 22 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Jun 25 - Jun 29 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 22 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Jun 29 - Jul 02 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 01 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Jul 02 - Jul 13 |
10-Day
English / Mandarin |
Applications accepted starting Mar 01 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Jul 13 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 15 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Jul 13 - Jul 16 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 15 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Jul 16 - Jul 27 |
10-Day
English / Nepali |
Applications accepted starting Mar 15 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Jul 27 - Jul 30 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 29 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Jul 30 - Aug 10 |
10-Day
English / Vietnamese |
Applications accepted starting Mar 29 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Aug 10 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 12 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Aug 10 - Aug 13 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 12 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Aug 13 - Aug 24 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 12 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Aug 24 - Aug 27 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 26 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Aug 27 - Sep 07 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 26 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Sep 07 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting May 10 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Sep 07 - Sep 10 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 10 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Sep 10 - Oct 01 | 20-Day | Applications accepted starting May 10 | Claymont |
For old students |
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| Oct 01 - Oct 08 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 03 | Claymont |
For old students |
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| Oct 08 - Oct 19 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 07 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Oct 19 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 21 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Oct 19 - Oct 25 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 21 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Oct 25 - Oct 26 | Annual Old Student Gathering | Applications accepted starting Jun 27 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Oct 26 - Oct 29 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 28 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Oct 29 - Nov 09 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 30 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Nov 09 - Nov 12 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 12 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Nov 12 - Nov 23 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 12 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Nov 23 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 26 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Nov 23 - Nov 26 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 26 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Nov 26 - Nov 30 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 26 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Nov 30 - Dec 03 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 02 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Dec 03 - Dec 14 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 02 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
|
| Dec 14 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 16 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Dec 14 - Dec 17 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 16 | Claymont |
For old students |
|
| Dec 17 - Dec 28 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 16 | Claymont |
For new and old students. |
The online application form encrypts your information before it is sent from your computer to our application server. However, it may not be totally secure even though encryption is used. If you are concerned about the possibility of security risks of your confidential information while it is on the Internet, do not use this form and instead download an application. Print and complete it. Then please send the form to the course organizers. By faxing or posting your application form it may delay the registration process by one to two weeks.
To access the Old Student Regional Site please click http://pubbananda.dhamma.org/os. A user name and password will be required to access these pages.
Questions may be addressed to Email: [email protected]
All courses are run solely on a donation basis. All expenses are met by donations from those who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the same opportunity. Neither the Teacher nor the assistant teachers receive remuneration; they and those who serve the courses volunteer their time. Thus Vipassana is offered free from commercialisation.
Old students are those who have completed a 10-day Vipassana Meditation course with S.N. Goenka or his Assistant Teachers. Old students have the opportunity to provide Dhamma Service at the courses listed.
Bilingual courses are courses which are taught in two languages. All students will hear daily meditation instructions in both languages. The evening discourses will be heard separately.
Meditation courses are held at both center and non-center locations. Meditation centers are dedicated facilities where courses are held regularly throughout the year. Before meditation centers were established in this tradition, all courses were held at temporary sites, such as campgrounds, religious retreat centers, churches and the like. Today, in regions where centers have not yet been established by local students of Vipassana who live in the area, 10 Day meditation courses are held at non-center course sites.
10-day Courses are an introductory course to Vipassana Meditation where the technique is taught step-by-step each day. The courses begin after a 2 - 4 pm registration period and orientation, followed by 10 full days of meditation, and end the morning of the 11th day by 7:30 am.
Old Student Short Courses (1-3 days) are for any student who has completed the 10-day course with S.N. Goenka and his assistant teachers. All old students are welcome to apply to attend these courses, including those where it has been some time since their last course.
Old Student Programs are similar to Service Periods where there is time to work on a variety of Centre maintenance, construction, household and gardening projects, but have a more full and structured program, an opportunity to meet with assistant teachers, and possibly committee and trust meetings. All Old Students are welcome to participate. The daily program will include three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods and in the evening there will be tapes played of special discourses and talks that S.N. Goenka has given to Old Students.
Satipatthana Sutta Courses have the same timetable and discipline as 10-day courses. The difference is that in the taped evening discourses the Satipatthana Sutta is carefully examined. This is the principal text in which the technique of Vipassana is systematically explained. These courses are open to serious old students who have sat (not including courses served) at least three 10-day courses, have not been practising any other meditation techniques since last 10-day course, have been practising this technique of Vipassana for at least one year, and who are trying to maintain their meditation practice and the five precepts in their daily lives, at the very minimum from the time of applying to the course.
Service Periods have been set aside to work on a variety of Centre maintenance, construction, household and gardening projects. All Old Students are welcome to apply. The daily program will include three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. On selected evenings, there will be tapes played of special discourses and talks that S.N. Goenka has given to Old Students.
20-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of five 10-day courses , one Satipatthana Sutta course, given Dhamma Service at least one 10-day course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two years.
Applications must be submitted well in advance as processing may take some time. Students who speak neither English nor one of the other announced course languages may apply for the course, however acceptance into the course will depend on the availability of required course materials, suitable translators and permission of the teacher conducting the course.
