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
The Shelburne center, founded in 1982, was the first center in North America. The original facility was merely a roomy, comfortable two-story house and barn on eight acres of meadowland. In 1989, a group of meditators donated an adjoining seventy acres of land. Today the center consists of 108 acres and many new buildings have been added, including a bathhouse, two dining rooms, meditation hall for 200, a 140 cell pagoda, separate residences for men and women and a center manager's house.
- 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.
Vipassana Meditation Center - Dhamma Dharā
386 Colrain-Shelburne Road
Shelburne, Massachusetts 01370-9672 USA
Tel: [1](413) 625-2160
Fax: [1](413) 625-2170
Email: info@dhara.dhamma.org
Website: http://www.dhara.dhamma.org
A student may apply to no more than two 10-day courses. Any additional applications will not be processed.
CHECK SPAM! or you may miss important email communications.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jul 29 | Children's Course (ages 8-12) | Girls - Wait List Boys - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | NYC Dhamma House | 1-Day Children's Course for ages 8-12. |
| Apply | Aug 06 | Teens' Course (ages 13 - 17). | Open | New Haven, CT |
New Course!! 1-Day Teen Course for ages 13 - 17. Course will be held at Yale School of Medicine, Harkness Hall A, 367 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510. |
| Apply | Aug 19 | Children's Course (ages 8 - 12). | Open | Sharon, MA |
New Course!! 1-Day Children's Course for ages 8 - 12. |
| Sep 30 | Children's Course (ages 8-12) | Applications accepted starting Aug 19 | NYC Dhamma House | 1-Day Children's Course for ages 8-12. | |
| Oct 09 | Teens' Course (ages 13 - 17). | Applications accepted starting Aug 28 | Shelburne Falls | 1-Day Teens' Course for ages 13 - 17. | |
| Dec 30 | Teens' Course (ages 13-17) | Applications accepted starting Nov 18 | NYC Dhamma House | 1-Day Teens' Course for boys ages 13-17. Course will be held at NYC Dhamma House. |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12 - Jul 23 |
10-Day
Khmer / English |
In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students. Khmer speakers are given priority on this course. |
|
| Apply | Jul 23 - Jul 26 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jul 26 - Aug 06 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Aug 06 - Aug 09 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Aug 09 - Aug 20 |
10-Day
Mandarin / English |
Women - Long Wait List Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students. Chinese speakers are given priority on this course. |
| Apply | Aug 20 - Aug 23 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Aug 23 - Sep 03 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Aug 23 - Sep 03 | Special 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Aug 23 - Sep 03 | 10-Day | Open | Haiti |
New Course!! |
|
| Apply | Sep 03 - Sep 06 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Sep 06 - Sep 17 |
10-Day
Thai / English |
Women - Long Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students. Thai speakers will be given priority on this course. |
| Apply* | Sep 13 - Sep 24 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Long Wait List Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!! The course site is located on a quiet, peaceful camp just over an hour's car or train ride away from NYC. Students will be accommodated in wooden cabins. Servers needed. Priority will be given to experienced servers. |
| Apply | Sep 17 - Sep 27 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Sep 27 - Oct 01 | 3-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 01 - Oct 08 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students This service period is held in conjunction with the Teachers' Meeting from Oct. 1 - Oct. 8. Part-time service is welcomed. |
| Apply | Oct 08 - Oct 13 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 13 - Oct 22 | Satipatthana Sutta | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 22 - Oct 25 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 25 - Nov 05 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Nov 05 - Nov 15 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 07 - Nov 12 | Assistant Teacher Workshop | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students Workshop for Assistant Teachers only servers needed |
| Apply | Nov 15 - Nov 26 |
10-Day
Hindi / English |
Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students. Hindi speakers will be given priority until August 15, 2017. Non-Hindi speakers will be waitlisted until August 15, 2017. |
| Apply | Nov 26 - Nov 29 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 29 - Dec 10 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Dec 10 - Dec 20 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students The Dhamma Service Period is for old students who have completed at least one 10-day course with Mr. Goenka or one of his assistants. Work period projects include gardening, light maintenance, sewing, deep cleaning of the center, and complex skill-intensive projects that can’t be done during courses. |
| Dec 20 - Dec 31 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 01 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Apply | December 31, 2017 - January 03, 2018 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jan 03 - Feb 03 | 30-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jan 03 - Feb 18 | 45-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For 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://www.dhara.dhamma.org/os. A user name and password will be required to access these pages.
Questions may be addressed to Email: info@dhara.dhamma.org
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.
Special 10-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.
30-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of six 10-day courses (one since their first 20-day course), one 20-day course, one Satipatthana Sutta 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.
45-day Courses are open only to persons involved in Dhamma Service and Assistant Teachers who have completed a minimum of seven 10-day courses (one since their first 30-day course), two 30-day courses, one Satipatthana Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for at least three 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.
Children's Courses are open for all children aged 8-12 years old who wish to learn to meditate. Their parents/guardians do not have to be meditators.
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 participate. 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.