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
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 | Feb 09 | 1-Day Children's Course (ages 8 - 12). | Girls - Wait List Boys - Wait List Servers - Open | Sharon, MA | For children ages 8 - 12. |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16 - Feb 16 | 30-Day | In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jan 16 - Mar 03 | 45-Day | In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Mar 03 - Mar 06 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 06 - Mar 10 | 3-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 10 - Mar 13 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 13 - Mar 24 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Long Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students A limited number of spaces will be reserved for students from the Five Colleges system in Western Massachusetts. |
| Apply | Mar 24 - Mar 27 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 27 - Apr 07 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Apr 07 - Apr 10 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Apr 10 - Apr 21 | 10-Day | Women - Long Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Apr 21 - May 01 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | May 01 - May 12 | 10-Day | Women - Long Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | May 12 - May 15 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | May 15 - May 26 |
10-Day
English / Chinese |
Women - Wait List Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Chinese speakers will be given priority until February 15, 2019. Non-Chinese speakers will be waitlisted until February 15, 2019. |
| Apply | May 26 - May 29 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | May 29 - Jun 07 | Satipatthana Sutta | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 07 - Jun 12 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 12 - Jun 23 |
10-Day
English / Burmese |
Women - Long Wait List Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Burmese speakers will be given priority until March 12, 2018. Non-Burmese speakers will be waitlisted until March 12, 2018. |
| Apply | Jun 23 - Jun 25 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 25 - Jun 28 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 28 - Jun 30 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 30 - Jul 21 | 20-Day | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Jul 21 - Jul 24 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jul 24 - Aug 04 |
10-Day
English / Khmer |
Applications accepted starting Jan 25 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Khmer speakers will be given priority until April 24, 2019. Non-Khmer speakers will be waitlisted until April 24, 2019. |
|
| Aug 04 - Aug 07 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 07 - Aug 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 08 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students A limited number of spaces will be reserved for the Five Colleges community in Western Massachusetts. |
|
| Aug 18 - Aug 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 21 - Sep 01 |
10-Day
Hindi / English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Hindi speakers will be given priority until May 21, 2019. Non-Hindi speakers will be waitlisted until May 21, 2019. |
|
| Sep 01 - Sep 04 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Sep 04 - Sep 15 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 08 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Sep 15 - Sep 18 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Sep 18 - Sep 29 |
10-Day
English / Thai |
Applications accepted starting Mar 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Thai speakers will be given priority until June 18 , 2019. Non-Thai speakers will be waitlisted until June 18, 2019. |
|
| Sep 29 - Oct 09 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 09 - Oct 18 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Apr 12 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 18 - Oct 23 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 21 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 23 - Nov 03 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 26 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 03 - Nov 06 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 07 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Nov 06 - Nov 10 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting May 10 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Nov 10 - Nov 13 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Nov 13 - Nov 24 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 17 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 24 - Nov 27 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Nov 27 - Dec 08 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 31 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Dec 08 - Dec 11 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 11 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Dec 11 - Dec 22 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 14 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Dec 22 - Dec 26 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 25 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| December 26, 2019 - January 05, 2020 | 9-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 01 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05 - Jan 07 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 09 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Feb 09 | 1-Day Children's Course (ages 8 - 12). | Girls - Wait List Boys - Wait List Servers - Open | Sharon, MA | For children ages 8 - 12. |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20 |
1-Day
English |
In Progress | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Jan 25 - Jan 27 |
2-Day
English |
CANCELLED | Ossining, NY |
For old students Male only course, Self course for experienced old students. No AT |
|
| Apply* | Jan 26 | 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. |
| Jan 27 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Feb 02 |
1-Day
English / Mandarin |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Feb 03 |
1-Day
Hindi / English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Feb 10 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Feb 16 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Feb 17 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apply* | Feb 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. |
| Feb 24 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Mar 02 |
1-Day
English / Mandarin |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Mar 03 |
1-Day
Hindi / English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Mar 10 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Mar 16 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Mar 17 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apply* | Mar 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. |
| Mar 24 |
1-Day
English |
Open | NYC Dhamma House |
For old students No registration necessary. For details, click here. |
|
| Apply* | Apr 05 - Apr 07 |
2-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Ossining, NY |
For old students Female only course, Self course for experienced old students. No AT |
| Apply* | May 24 - May 28 |
3-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
For old students |
| Apply* | May 29 - Jun 09 |
10-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Wait List Old Men - Open Servers - 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.
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.
