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
Surrounded by trees, grass and spring fed ponds, the center provides a supportive atmosphere where one can learn the practice of Vipassana meditation. This technique, discovered by Buddha twenty-five centuries ago, uses the breath and one's own body as the basis for developing concentration and insight. The courses provide a unique opportunity to direct one's attention inward, and set about a process of inner discovery through direct experience.
- 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.
Address: Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center -- Dhamma Pakasa
10076 Fish Hatchery Road Pecatonica, IL 61063
General email: [email protected]
Children's courses email: [email protected]
Phone: [1] (815) 489-0420
Fax: [1] (360) 283-7068
DHAMMA PAKASA COVID-19 PROTOCOL - EFFECTIVE JUNE 2023
The Illinois Vipassana Center requires incoming participants to take the following precautions against Covid and Influenza, including the stomach flu.
Covid vaccinations and testing are not required.
Everyone coming to the Center for a course must
- Arrive symptom free and be completely free of any Covid or influenza-like symptoms (sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion or fever) for at least 7 continuous days before arrival at the Center.
- Take personal precautions against contracting Covid or flu for at least 7 continuous days prior to arrival.
- Some higher risk situations that are unavoidable may be permitted provided you wear N95, KN95 or KN94 masks fitted securely over mouth and nose at these times.
- Air travel is permitted provided it is domestic and you agree to mask continuously enroute using N95, KN95 or KN94 type masks fitted securely over mouth and nose.
- Course participants may be required to wear a mask, well fitted over mouth and nose, during all or some of a meditation course.
Please read this document BEFORE applying as it contains additional information and instructions you will need in order to attend a course. Dhamma Pakasa COVID Information and Instructions
*** Covid requirements for between-course Work Service Periods may differ and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the reviewing AT.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24 | Children | CANCELLED | Pecatonica |
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 | Sep 18 - Sep 27 | Service Period | In Progress | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Sep 27 - Oct 08 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica | Should meet Covid-19 safety requirements. Please see top of page. |
| Apply | Oct 08 - Oct 11 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 11 - Oct 22 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
Should meet Covid-19 safety requirements. Please see top of page. |
| Apply | Oct 22 - Oct 25 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 25 - Oct 29 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Should meet Covid-19 safety requirements. Please see top of page. |
| Apply | Oct 29 - Nov 03 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Nov 03 - Nov 12 | Satipatthana Sutta | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Should meet Covid-19 safety requirements. Please see top of page. |
| Nov 12 - Nov 22 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 28 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Nov 22 - Dec 03 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 08 | Pecatonica |
Should meet Covid-19 safety requirements. Please see top of page. |
|
| Dec 03 - Dec 06 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 19 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Dec 06 - Dec 17 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 22 | Pecatonica |
Should meet Covid-19 safety requirements. Please see top of page. |
|
| Dec 17 - Dec 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 02 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| December 21, 2023 - January 01, 2024 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 06 | Pecatonica | Should meet Covid-19 safety requirements. Please see top of page. |
All old students must register online to attend one day courses in Ravenswood - Chicago.
Information about additional one-day courses is (or may be) listed on the following Dhamma Pakasa website: http://www.pakasa.dhamma.org/os/osportal/roscoe-il-one-day-sittings/
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Oct 01 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Columbus, OH |
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://pakasa.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 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.
Please see our Children's and Teens' webpage for more information.
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.
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.
