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
Health and safety protocols are evolving rapidly. Current information is here: covid-19-protocols-for-courses
The courses will open up to accept applications four months before the start of the course. Course registration will start at 6 AM on the listed dates. Students may apply to sit no more than two 10-day courses per year. Any additional applications will not be processed.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Oct 21 |
Children's Course (ages 8-12) |
Girls - Wait List Boys - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
Children's course for ages 8-12. |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Oct 01 - Oct 11 |
Seasonal Dhamma Service Period |
In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 06 - Oct 08 | 2-Day | Women - Course Full New Men - Closed Old Men - Short Wait List Servers - Course Full | Shelburne Falls |
For old students This 2-day weekend course is for old students, and commemorates Mr. Goenka's centenary birth. We will spend Saturday meditating, while Sunday will feature special presentations (panels, etc.). |
| Apply | Oct 11 - Oct 20 |
Satipatthana Sutta
English / Burmese |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students Priority will be given to Burmese-speaking students. |
| Apply | Oct 20 - Oct 25 | BCS-Extended Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 25 - Nov 05 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Wait List Servers - Short Wait List | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
| Apply | Nov 05 - Nov 08 | BCS-Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 08 - Nov 19 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
| Apply | Nov 19 - Nov 22 | BCS-Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 22 - Dec 03 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Servers Needed |
| Apply | Dec 03 - Dec 06 | BCS-Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Dec 06 - Dec 17 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
| Apply | Dec 17 - Dec 20 | BCS-Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Dec 20 - Dec 24 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Dec 24 - Dec 27 | BCS-Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | December 27, 2023 - January 07, 2024 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Course Full Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jan 07 - Jan 09 | BCS-Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jan 09 - Mar 10 | 60-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Mar 10 - Mar 13 | BCS-Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 12 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Mar 13 - Mar 24 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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| Mar 24 - Mar 27 | BCS-Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 25 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Mar 27 - Mar 31 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Mar 31 - Apr 03 | BCS-Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Apr 03 - Apr 14 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Apr 14 - Apr 17 | BCS-Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 16 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Apr 17 - Apr 28 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Apr 28 - May 08 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 30 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| May 08 - May 17 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Jan 09 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| May 19 - May 22 | BCS-Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| May 22 - Jun 02 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 23 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Jun 02 - Jun 05 | BCS-Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 03 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jun 05 - Jun 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 06 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Jun 16 - Jun 19 | BCS-Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jun 19 - Jun 30 | Applications accepted starting Feb 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Jun 30 - Jul 03 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jul 03 - Jul 14 |
10-Day Burmese |
Applications accepted starting Mar 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Jul 14 - Jul 19 | 6-Day BCS | Applications accepted starting Mar 16 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jul 19 - Aug 09 | 20-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 21 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Aug 09 - Aug 14 | 5-Day BCS | Applications accepted starting Apr 11 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Aug 14 - Aug 25 |
10-Day Khmer |
Applications accepted starting Apr 16 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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| Aug 25 - Aug 28 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 27 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Aug 28 - Sep 08 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 30 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Sep 08 - Sep 11 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 11 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Sep 11 - Sep 22 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Sep 22 - Sep 25 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 25 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Sep 25 - Oct 06 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Oct 06 - Oct 16 | 10-DAY DSP | Applications accepted starting Jun 08 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Oct 16 - Oct 25 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Jun 18 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Oct 27 - Oct 30 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 29 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Oct 30 - Nov 03 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 03 - Nov 06 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 06 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 06 - Nov 17 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 09 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Nov 17 - Nov 20 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 20 - Dec 01 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 23 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Dec 01 - Dec 04 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 03 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Dec 04 - Dec 15 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 06 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| Dec 15 - Dec 18 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Dec 18 - Dec 29 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
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| December 29, 2024 - January 01, 2025 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 31 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01 - Jan 12 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 03 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Jan 12 - Jan 15 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jan 15 - Feb 15 | 30-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jan 15 - Mar 02 | 45-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Mar 02 - Mar 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Sep 26 - Oct 07 |
10-Day
English |
In Progress | Fishkill, NY |
MALE SERVERS NEEDED |
| Apply | Oct 07 |
Service for Camp Break Down
English |
Servers - Open | Fishkill, NY |
For old students 30 servers needed to break down and pack up after 3 courses! |
| Apply | Oct 21 |
1-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Parsippany, NJ |
For old students Led by Assistant Teacher. |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11 - May 22 |
10-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Nov 13 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!! |
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| May 23 - May 27 |
3-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Nov 25 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
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| May 28 - Jun 08 |
10-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Nov 30 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!! |
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.
Children's Anapana 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.
Teenagers' Anapana Courses are open for all teenagers aged 13-18 years old who wish to learn to meditate. Their parents/guardians do not have to be meditators.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
60-day Courses are reserved for: 1. Active ATs who have sat at least two 45-day courses and conduct at least four 10-day courses annually. 2. Those who are enrolled in or about to enter AT Training, have sat two 45-day courses, have served at least four 10-day courses in the past 12 months and/or are deeply involved in daily Dhamma service. 3. In some areas, non-ATs may be accepted as rare exceptions if they have completed at least two 45-day courses, served at least four 10-day courses annually and/or are deeply involved in daily Dhamma service.
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.
