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: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dhara.dhamma.org
As the COVID-19 situation remains uncertain, all courses are closed for now. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and will rely on the guidance of the CDC and local health agencies. We will update the Dhamma Dharā community as things evolve.
A student may apply to sit no more than two 10-day courses. Any additional applications will not be processed.
CHECK SPAM! or you may miss important email communications.
Students who have sat a course wihin the past six months will be wait-listed pending available space.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 05 | Teen course (ages 13 -17 | CANCELLED | New Haven, CT |
New Course!! Course for teens ages 13 - 17 |
|
| May 30 |
Children’s Course (ages 8 - 12)
English |
Applications accepted starting Apr 18 | NYC Dhamma House | Children’s Course for ages 8 - 12 | |
| May 30 - May 31 | Children Course (age 8-12) | Applications accepted starting Apr 18 | Shelburne Falls |
New Course!! Overnight Children Course age 8 to 12 |
|
| Aug 29 |
Teen Course (ages 13 - 17)
English |
Applications accepted starting Jul 18 | NYC Dhamma House | Teen Course for ages 13 - 17 | |
| Oct 17 - Oct 18 | Teen Course (age 13-17) | Applications accepted starting Sep 05 | Shelburne Falls | Overnight Teen Course age 13 to 17 | |
| Oct 31 |
Teen Course (ages 13 - 17)
English |
Applications accepted starting Sep 19 | NYC Dhamma House | Teen Course for ages 13 - 17 |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 01 - Apr 12 | 10-Day | CANCELLED | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Apr 12 - Apr 15 | Service Period | CANCELLED | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Apr 15 - Apr 26 |
10-Day
English / Chinese |
CANCELLED | Shelburne Falls | ||
| Apr 26 - Apr 29 | Service Period | CANCELLED | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Apr 29 - May 10 | 10-Day | CANCELLED | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
|
| May 10 - May 20 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | CANCELLED | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| May 20 - May 29 |
Satipatthana Sutta
English / Burmese |
Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| May 29 - Jun 03 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jun 03 - Jun 14 | 10-Day | Closed | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Jun 14 - Jun 17 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jun 17 - Jun 28 |
10-Day
English / Burmese |
Closed | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Jun 28 - Jul 01 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jul 01 - Jul 12 | 10-Day | Closed | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Jul 12 - Jul 15 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jul 15 - Jul 26 |
10-Day
English / Thai |
Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students. |
|
| Jul 26 - Jul 29 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jul 29 - Aug 09 |
10-Day
English / Khmer |
Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
|
| Aug 09 - Aug 12 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 12 - Aug 23 | 10-Day | Closed | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Aug 12 - Aug 23 | Special 10-Day | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 23 - Aug 26 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 26 - Aug 30 | 3-Day | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 30 - Sep 02 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Sep 02 - Sep 13 | 10-Day | Closed | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Sep 13 - Sep 16 | Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Sep 16 - Sep 27 | 10-Day | Closed | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Sep 27 - Oct 07 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Closed | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 07 - Oct 16 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Apr 10 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 16 - Oct 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 16 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 21 - Nov 01 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 24 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 01 - Nov 04 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Nov 04 - Nov 15 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 08 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 15 - Nov 18 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Nov 18 - Nov 29 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 22 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 29 - Dec 02 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Dec 02 - Dec 13 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 05 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Dec 13 - Dec 16 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 16 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Dec 16 - Dec 27 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 01 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Priority will be given to students who have not sat a course in 2020. |
|
| Dec 27 - Dec 30 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 30 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| December 30, 2020 - January 10, 2021 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 03 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10 - Jan 13 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jan 13 - Feb 13 | 30-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jan 13 - Feb 28 | 45-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 05 | Teen course (ages 13 -17 | CANCELLED | New Haven, CT |
New Course!! Course for teens ages 13 - 17 |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 03 - Apr 05 |
2-Day
English |
CANCELLED | Chappaqua, NY |
For old students |
|
| Apr 04 |
1-Day
English / Mandarin |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apr 05 |
1-Day
Hindi / English |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apr 12 |
1-Day
English |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apr 18 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apr 19 |
1-Day
English |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apr 25 | Dhamma Service Day | CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students Tasks will range from laundering cushion covers and housework to maintenance and other administrative tasks; no experience or long-term commitment is necessary. We will begin and end with one-hour group sittings and break for a group lunch. |
|
| Apr 26 |
1-Day
English |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| May 02 |
1-Day
English / Mandarin |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| May 03 |
1-Day
Hindi / English |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| May 10 |
1-Day
English |
CANCELLED | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| May 16 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apply | May 16 - May 17 |
Service Period
English |
Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
For old students Set-up weekend for May 3- and 10-Day courses. Servers needed. |
| May 17 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apply | May 22 - May 26 |
3-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
| Apply* | May 23 | Dhamma Service Day | Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students Tasks will range from laundering cushion covers and housework to maintenance and other administrative tasks; no experience or long-term commitment is necessary. We will begin and end with one-hour group sittings and break for a group lunch. |
| May 24 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apply | May 27 - Jun 07 |
10-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!! |
| Apply | Aug 29 - Aug 31 |
Service Period
English |
Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
For old students Setup weekend for September Courses Servers needed Part time severs welcome |
| Apply | Sep 11 - Sep 15 |
3-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
Note: New Dates!For old students |
| Apply | Sep 16 - Sep 27 |
10-Day
English |
Open | Fishkill, NY |
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: [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.
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.
