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 center property, located in Claymont, Delaware, 117 miles south of New York City and 118 miles north of Washington, DC, was purchased in 2013 by the Mid-Atlantic Vipassana Association (MAVA).
MAVA is a non- profit 501(c)3 organization whose sole purpose is providing instruction in Vipassana meditation. In 1997 a group of students in this meditation tradition coordinated the first Vipassana meditation course in the region and formed the Delaware Valley Vipassana Association. In 2002 other students began supporting courses in Virginia, and in 2006 courses began in Chestertown, MD. These courses were conducted in summer camps in the off season. In 2005 the Delaware Valley Vipassana Association changed its name to Mid-Atlantic Vipassana Association with the intention of establishing a permanent center for the region. The MAVA area includes Pennsylvania, southern NJ, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the greater Washington, DC area.
Dhamma Pubbananda means Joy of the East, and is the first urban center in North America. It is situated on 13 acres in a quiet residential neighborhood with easy access to public transportation: bus and Amtrak.
At the time of purchase the property and buildings required extensive renovations. In November 2014 Building 1 was completed and the Center opened with the ability to serve 15 students for 10 Day and 3 Day courses. In December 2016 Building 2 was completed which added a kitchen and two dining halls. Student capacity increased to 60 students and 14 servers.
Currently Phase 3 of the masterplan is underway. This includes completion of Building 3 and 4 which will provide 60 single rooms with en suite bathrooms, and 60 meditation cells. The total number of students will remain at 60 using the current student spaces for administration and server accommodations. Phase 4 will add a new Dhamma Hall and Teacher residences.
Approximately 20 10-day courses are scheduled at Dhamma Pubbananda per year. The Center also offers courses for children and teens, as well as courses for students who have already taken a 10-day course.
- 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.
Dhamma Pubbananda
2901 Green Street, Claymont, DE 19703, USA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-556-3882 (202-55-METTA)
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Check this link for the latest updates on how the center is responding.
A student may apply to only one course at a time in this region regardless of the center location or waiting list status.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Dec 06 - Dec 27 | 20-Day | Wait List | Claymont |
For old students For new and old students. |
| Apply | December 30, 2020 - January 10, 2021 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Closed Male Server - Wait List | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jan 13 - Jan 17 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Female Server - Closed Male Server - Wait List | Claymont |
For old students
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| Apply | Jan 20 - Jan 31 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Feb 03 - Feb 14 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 05 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Feb 17 - Feb 28 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 19 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Mar 03 - Mar 07 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 02 | Claymont |
For old students
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| Mar 10 - Mar 21 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 09 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Mar 24 - Apr 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 23 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Apr 07 - Apr 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 06 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Apr 21 - May 02 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 20 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| May 02 - May 12 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 03 | Claymont |
For old students
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| May 12 - May 23 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 13 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| May 26 - Jun 04 |
Satipatthana Sutta
English / Khmer |
Applications accepted starting Mar 27 | Claymont |
For old students
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| Jun 09 - Jun 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 10 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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| Jun 23 - Jul 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 24 | Claymont |
For new and old students.
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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://pubbananda.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.
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.
