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.
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See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Sep 30 | 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 | Oct 09 | Teens' Course (ages 13 - 17). | Open | Shelburne Falls | 1-Day Teens' Course for ages 13 - 17. |
| Dec 09 | Children (ages 8 - 12). | Applications accepted starting Nov 04 | Boston, MA |
New Course!!Note: New Dates! 1-Day Teen Course for ages 13-17. Course will be held at Open Spirit Center, 39 Edwards St., Framingham, MA 01701. If you have questions please email: childrens-course-boston@dhara.dhamma.org |
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| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Sep 13 - Sep 24 | 10-Day | In Progress | 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 | In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Sep 27 - Oct 01 | 3-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 02 - Oct 08 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students This service period is held in conjunction with the Teachers' Meeting from Oct. 2 - Oct. 8. Part-time service is welcomed. |
| Apply | Oct 08 - Oct 13 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students This service period is held in conjunction with a Children/Teen Teacher meeting. Part time service is welcome. |
| Apply | Oct 13 - Oct 22 | Satipatthana Sutta | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students Servers needed |
| Apply | Oct 22 | 1-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students New course |
| Apply | Oct 22 - Oct 25 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 25 - Nov 05 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed 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 Teachers' Workshop | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students Workshop for Assistant Teachers only servers needed |
| Apply | Nov 12 - Nov 15 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 15 - Nov 26 |
10-Day
Hindi / English |
Women - Long Wait List Men - Long Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students. Priority will be given to Hindi speakers. |
| Apply | Nov 26 | 1-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students New course |
| Apply | Nov 26 - Nov 29 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 29 - Dec 10 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed 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 |
| Apply | Dec 17 | 1-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students New course to be held during the Dhamma Service Period |
| Apply | Dec 20 - Dec 31 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Open Male Server - Wait List | Shelburne Falls | For new and old students who have not attended a 10 day course in this calendar year. All other applicants will be initially wait-listed |
| 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 |
| Apply | Feb 18 - Feb 21 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Feb 21 - Mar 04 | 10-Day | Women - Short Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Mar 04 - Mar 07 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 07 - Mar 11 | 3-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 11 - Mar 14 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 14 - Mar 25 | 10-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls | For old students and new students |
| Mar 25 - Mar 28 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 26 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Mar 28 - Apr 08 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 29 | Shelburne Falls | For old students and new students | |
| Apr 08 - Apr 11 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 10 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Apr 11 - Apr 22 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 13 | Shelburne Falls | For old students and new students | |
| Apr 22 - Apr 25 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 24 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Apr 25 - May 06 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 27 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| May 06 - May 16 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 07 | 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. |
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| May 16 - May 25 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Nov 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| May 30 - Jun 10 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 01 | Shelburne Falls | For old students and new students | |
| Jun 10 - Jun 13 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 12 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jun 13 - Jun 24 |
10-Day
Burmese / English |
Applications accepted starting Dec 15 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students. Burmese speakers will be given priority until April 13, 2018. Non-Burmese speakers will be waitlisted until April 13, 2018. |
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| Jun 24 - Jun 26 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 26 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jun 26 - Jun 29 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jun 29 - Jul 01 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 31 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jul 01 - Jul 22 | 20-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jul 22 - Jul 25 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 23 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jul 25 - Aug 05 |
10-Day
Khmer / English |
Applications accepted starting Jan 26 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Khmer speakers will be given priority until April 25, 2018. Non-Khmer speakers will be waitlisted until April 25, 2018. |
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| Aug 05 - Aug 08 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 06 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Aug 08 - Aug 19 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 09 | Shelburne Falls | For new student and old students | |
| Aug 19 - Aug 22 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Aug 22 - Sep 02 |
10-Day
Chinese / English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 23 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Chinese speakers will be given priority until June 22, 2018. Non-Chinese speakers will be waitlisted until June 22, 2018. |
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| Sep 02 - Sep 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 06 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Sep 05 - Sep 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 09 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Sep 16 - Sep 19 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Sep 19 - Sep 30 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 23 | Shelburne Falls | ||
| Sep 30 - Oct 10 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 03 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Oct 10 - Oct 19 |
Satipatthana Sutta Thai/English |
Applications accepted starting Apr 13 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students Thai speakers will be given priority until June 10, 2018. Non-Thai speakers will be waitlisted until June 10, 2018. |
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| Oct 24 - Nov 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 27 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 04 - Nov 07 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 08 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 07 - Nov 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 11 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 18 - Nov 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 21 - Dec 02 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 25 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Dec 02 - Dec 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Dec 05 - Dec 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 08 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Dec 16 - Dec 19 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Dec 19 - Dec 23 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Dec 23 - Dec 26 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 26 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| December 26, 2018 - January 06, 2019 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 29 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 06 - Jan 13 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 10 | 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. |
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| Jan 16 - Feb 16 | 30-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jan 16 - Mar 03 | 45-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 20 | 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.
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.
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.