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
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27 | Children | Applications accepted starting Apr 25 | Pecatonica | This course is for children and teens ages 8-15. Male and female servers are needed. Parents who are Old-Students and wish to stay on-site and serve should apply along with their children's application to allow enough time to process server background checks. | |
| Jun 28 | Children | Applications accepted starting Apr 25 | Pecatonica | This course is for children and teens ages 8-15. Male and female servers are needed. Parents who are Old-Students and wish to stay on-site and serve should apply along with their children's application to allow enough time to process server background checks. |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Feb 12 - Feb 23 | 10-Day | In Progress | Pecatonica | |
| Apply | Feb 23 - Feb 26 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| Apply | Feb 26 - Mar 01 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 01 - Mar 08 | Work Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| Apply | Mar 08 - Mar 11 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| Apply | Mar 11 - Mar 22 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica | |
| Apply | Mar 22 - Mar 25 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| Apply | Mar 25 - Apr 05 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica | |
| Apply | Apr 05 - Apr 08 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| Apply | Apr 08 - Apr 19 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica | |
| Apply | Apr 19 - Apr 22 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| Apply | Apr 22 - Apr 26 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Apr 26 - May 01 | Work Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| May 01 - May 03 | Spring Weekend Trust/OS Retreat | Applications accepted starting Mar 01 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| May 03 | OPEN HOUSE | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica | ||
| Apply | May 04 - May 17 | Work Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| May 06 - May 17 | 10-Day | CANCELLED | Pecatonica | ||
| Apply | May 17 - May 20 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
| May 20 - May 31 |
10-Day
English / Thai |
Applications accepted starting Feb 20 | Pecatonica |
For new and old students. Thai speakers will be given priority until April 1th, 2020. Non-Thai speakers will be waitlisted until April 1th, 2020. Servers of any language welcome to apply. |
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| May 31 - Jun 03 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 29 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Jun 03 - Jun 14 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 03 | Pecatonica | ||
| Jun 14 - Jun 26 | Work Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 16 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Jun 28 - Jul 01 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 28 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Jul 01 - Jul 12 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 01 | Pecatonica | ||
| Jul 12 - Jul 15 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 12 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Jul 15 - Jul 26 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 15 | Pecatonica | ||
| Jul 26 - Jul 29 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 26 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Jul 29 - Aug 09 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 29 | Pecatonica | ||
| Aug 09 - Aug 14 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 09 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Aug 14 - Aug 23 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting May 14 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
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| Aug 23 - Aug 26 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 23 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Aug 26 - Aug 30 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting May 26 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
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| Aug 30 - Sep 07 | Work Period | Applications accepted starting May 30 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required. |
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| Sep 06 - Sep 09 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 06 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Sep 09 - Sep 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 09 | Pecatonica | ||
| Sep 20 - Sep 23 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 20 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Sep 23 - Oct 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 23 | Pecatonica | ||
| Oct 04 - Nov 08 | Long Construction Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 04 | Pecatonica |
For old students Construction (service) period. |
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| Oct 16 - Oct 18 | Fall Weekend Trust/OS Retreat | Applications accepted starting Jul 16 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Oct 25 - Oct 28 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 25 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Oct 28 - Nov 01 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 28 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
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| Nov 07 - Nov 08 | Old Student Program | Applications accepted starting Sep 09 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
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| Nov 08 - Nov 11 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 08 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Nov 11 - Nov 22 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 11 | Pecatonica | ||
| Nov 22 - Nov 25 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 22 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Nov 25 - Dec 06 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 25 | Pecatonica | ||
| Dec 06 - Dec 09 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 07 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| Dec 09 - Dec 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 09 | Pecatonica | ||
| Dec 20 - Dec 23 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 20 | Pecatonica |
For old students Part Time Welcome! Registration Required |
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| December 23, 2020 - January 03, 2021 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 23 | Pecatonica | Priority will be given to students who have not sat a course in 2020. |
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 | Feb 22 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 28 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
| Apr 25 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| May 30 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| Jun 27 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting May 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| Jul 25 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| Aug 29 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| Sep 26 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| Oct 31 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| Nov 28 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
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| Dec 26 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 10 | Ravenswood - Chicago Vipassana Hall |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Mar 08 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Cleveland, OH |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 14 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Columbus, OH |
For old students |
| Apr 18 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 19 | 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://www.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 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.
Open Houses are held between meditation courses. All are welcome to attend and learn about Vipassana Meditation and the Center.
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.
