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
Effective September 29, 2021, Dhamma Dharā will require that all students, servers, teachers and staff be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Health and safety protocols are evolving rapidly. Current information is here: covid-19-protocols-for-courses
Course registration will start at 6 AM on the listed dates. Students may apply to sit no more than one 10-day course. Any additional applications will not be processed.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12 - Feb 12 | 30-Day | In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Jan 12 - Feb 27 | 45-Day | In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Apply | Feb 27 - Mar 02 | Service Period | Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 02 - Mar 13 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Course Full Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Servers Needed |
| Apply | Mar 13 - Mar 16 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 16 - Mar 27 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Closed Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Servers Needed |
| Apply | Mar 27 - Mar 30 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 30 - Apr 10 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Closed Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Apply | Apr 10 - Apr 13 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Apr 13 - Apr 24 |
10-Day
English / Vietnamese |
Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Priority will be given to Vietnamese-speaking students |
| Apply | Apr 24 - May 04 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | May 04 - May 13 | Satipatthana Sutta | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| May 13 - May 18 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 12 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Apply | May 18 - May 29 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Closed Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| May 29 - Jun 01 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Jun 01 - Jun 12 | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Jun 12 - Jun 15 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Jun 15 - Jun 26 |
10-Day
English / Burmese |
Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Priority will be given to Burmese-speaking students |
| Jun 26 - Jun 30 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Jun 30 - Jul 04 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jul 04 - Jul 08 | Service Period | Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Apply | Jul 08 - Jul 29 | 20-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
| Jul 29 - Aug 03 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 27 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 03 - Aug 14 |
10-Day
English / Khmer |
Applications accepted starting Feb 03 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Priority will be given to Khmer-speaking students |
|
| Aug 14 - Aug 17 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 17 - Aug 28 |
10-Day
English / Chinese |
Applications accepted starting Mar 17 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Aug 28 - Aug 31 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 24 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Aug 31 - Sep 11 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 03 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Sep 11 - Sep 14 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 10 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Sep 14 - Sep 25 |
10-Day
English / Thai |
Applications accepted starting Mar 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students Priority will be given to Thai-speaking students |
|
| Sep 25 - Oct 05 | Seasonal Dhamma Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 31 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 05 - Oct 14 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Apr 07 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 14 - Oct 19 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Oct 19 - Oct 30 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 21 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Oct 30 - Nov 02 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 02 - Nov 06 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting May 04 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 06 - Nov 09 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 12 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 09 - Nov 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 12 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Nov 20 - Nov 23 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Nov 23 - Dec 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 26 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Dec 04 - Dec 07 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 09 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| Dec 07 - Dec 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 09 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students | |
| Dec 18 - Dec 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 23 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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| December 21, 2022 - January 01, 2023 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 23 | Shelburne Falls | For new students and old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01 - Jan 04 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 07 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jan 04 - Feb 04 | 30-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 06 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
|
| Jan 04 - Feb 19 | 45-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 06 | 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: [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.
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.
