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: info@pakasa.dhamma.org
Children's courses email: childrens-courses@pakasa.dhamma.org
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jun 23 | Children / Teens | Open | Pecatonica |
New Course!! 1-day Children’s and Teens’ course for Boys and Girls, Ages 8-15 years |
| Apply | Jun 24 | Children / Teens | Open | Pecatonica |
New Course!! 1-day Children’s and Teens’ course for Boys and Girls, Ages 8-15 years |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22 - Apr 25 | Service Period | Completed | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Apr 25 - May 06 | 10-Day | In Progress | Pecatonica | |
| Apply | May 06 | One Day Course for Old Students | New Women - Closed Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Downtown Chicago |
For old students |
| Apply | May 06 - May 09 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | May 09 - May 20 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica | |
| Apply | May 20 - May 27 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| May 26 |
GROW THE CENTER DAY |
Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students Old students are invited to join a group sitting, do some light work projects, have lunch, and get an update on center expansion plans. For more information, please click 'Grow the Center Day' under 'Current Events' on the web site. |
|
| May 27 | OPEN HOUSE | Open | Pecatonica |
The Open House introduces the Illinois Vipassana Center to the public starting from noon to 4 pm. There will be tour of grounds, video, Q&A, vegetarian food, and refreshments. Children are welcome. |
|
| Apply | May 27 - May 30 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | May 30 - Jun 03 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 03 - Jun 06 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 06 - Jun 17 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica | |
| Apply | Jun 17 - Jun 24 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 24 - Jun 27 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Jun 27 - Jul 08 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Pecatonica | |
| Jul 01 | One Day Course for Old Students | Applications accepted starting May 09 | Downtown Chicago |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Jul 08 - Jul 11 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Jul 11 - Jul 22 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 05 | Pecatonica | ||
| Apply | Jul 22 - Jul 25 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Jul 25 - Aug 05 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 20 | Pecatonica | ||
| Apply | Aug 05 - Aug 08 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Aug 08 - Aug 19 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 01 | Pecatonica | ||
| Apply | Aug 19 - Aug 22 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Aug 22 - Aug 26 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 14 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Aug 26 - Aug 29 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Aug 29 - Sep 09 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 20 | Pecatonica | ||
| Sep 02 | One Day Course for Old Students | Applications accepted starting Jul 01 | Downtown Chicago |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Sep 11 - Sep 14 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Sep 14 - Sep 23 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Jul 07 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Sep 23 - Oct 01 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 02 - Oct 04 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Oct 04 - Oct 08 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 27 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Oct 08 - Oct 10 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Oct 10 - Oct 21 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 01 | Pecatonica | ||
| Apply | Oct 21 - Oct 24 | Service Period | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Pecatonica |
For old students |
| Oct 24 - Nov 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 15 | Pecatonica | ||
| Nov 04 | One Day Course for Old Students | Applications accepted starting Sep 03 | Downtown Chicago |
For old students |
|
| Nov 04 - Nov 07 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 08 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Nov 07 - Nov 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 01 | Pecatonica | ||
| Nov 18 - Nov 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 22 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Nov 21 - Dec 02 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 18 | Pecatonica | ||
| Dec 02 - Dec 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 05 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Dec 05 - Dec 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 01 | Pecatonica | ||
| Dec 16 - Dec 19 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 19 | Pecatonica |
For old students |
|
| Dec 19 - Dec 30 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 10 | Pecatonica |
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: info@pakasa.dhamma.org
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.
Teenagers' Anapana Courses are available for teens in different age ranges from 13-18 years old. Their parents/guardians do not have to be Vipassana 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.