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
Dhamma Sela, also known as the Rocky Mountain Vipassana Center, means 'Rock of Dhamma' in Pali. Established in 2017, the center is situated in a secluded rural area near the Front Range town of Elbert, Colorado, surrounded by 156 acres of mature Pondersland pine forests and natural grasslands. It is approximately 60 miles southeast of Denver and approximately 35 miles northeast of Colorado Springs.
- 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.
Rocky Mountains Vipassana Association - Dhamma Sela
Mailing Address: POB 17882 Boulder, CO 80308-0882
Physical Address: 6409 County Road 82, Elbert, CO 80106
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [1](888) 213-8183
For Registration: [email protected]
Website: http://sela.dhamma.org
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES - Updated 3/18/22
Coronavirus Safety Measures at Dhamma Sela
Admission Requirements
- All students and servers must submit proof of full vaccination, which includes a Covid-19 booster shot if eligible (I.e., more than 6 months since last vaccination).
- Proof of 2 negative FDA-approved rapid antigen test results:
- one dated within 72 hours before arriving at the center
- the second dated the day of arrival at the Center, taken at home or at the Center upon arrival, using a self-provided test kit
- Currently accepting only those traveling within a 1-day driving distance, by private car.
- Masks are required indoors at all times, except in your room and while eating. As per CDC recommendations, we now require use of an N95, KN95, or KF94 mask. Students and servers should bring enough masks to last the entire course.
Details will be provided upon application.
We continue to follow public health guidance about Covid-19 and will open enrollment to both vaccinated and unvaccinated applicants when it is safe to do so.
Anyone with any of the following conditions just prior to the course should not plan to come to the Center:
- Testing positive with Covid-19 virus, or direct contact with someone who has tested positive, within 7 days prior to arrival at the Center.
- Experiencing any of the Covid-19 symptoms
Although Dhamma Sela is taking all precautions, there still remains minimal risk of exposure to Covid-19 while at the Center. Please note certain conditions may increase the risk of serious illness from Coronavirus. If you have any of these conditions, you may want to consider applying to a later course when Covid-19 is no longer a public health concern.
Accommodations at Dhamma Sela:
Students will be accommodated in shared rooms, with shared bathrooms. Students will be meditating in close proximity with others in the Meditation Hall for several hours daily and can also meditate in their rooms at specified times. Masks are required indoors, except when eating. Meals are eaten in congregate dining areas.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 06 | 1-Day | CANCELLED | Elbert |
For old students |
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| Mar 19 | Service Period | Completed | Elbert |
For old students |
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| Mar 20 | 1-Day | Completed | Elbert |
For old students |
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| Apr 02 | Service Period | Completed | Elbert |
For old students Students attending service period may also register for 1-day course 4/3: overnite accommodations with prior arrangement. |
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| Apr 03 | 1-Day | Completed | Elbert |
For old students |
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| Apr 16 | Service Period | Completed | Elbert |
For old students OS registered for 1-day course (4/3) may stay overnight with prior arrangement. |
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| Apr 17 | 1-Day | Completed | Elbert |
For old students |
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| Apr 30 | Service Period | Completed | Elbert |
For old students Old students only-Service Day Tasks include setting up for 10 day courses: Cooking meals, cleaning, repair work, etc. May stay over for 1-day with notice. |
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| May 01 | 1-Day | Completed | Elbert |
For old students |
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| May 13 - May 15 | Service Period | Completed | Elbert |
For old students Old Student work period to prep meals and desserts for upcoming 10 day courses; set up for courses; general cleaning and maintenance tasks. |
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| May 18 - May 29 | 10-Day | In Progress | Elbert | Single gender (male) course for part-time old students | |
| Apply | Jun 01 - Jun 12 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Closed | Elbert | |
| Apply | Jun 15 - Jun 19 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Filling Up Men - Closed Female Server - Open Male Server - Closed | Elbert |
For old students Old student (female) course Female servers needed |
| Aug 31 - Sep 11 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 01 | Elbert | Single gender (female) course for new and old students | |
| Sep 14 - Sep 25 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 14 | Elbert | Single gender (male) course for new and old students | |
| Sep 28 - Oct 02 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 28 | Elbert |
For old students Single gender (male) course |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
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://sela.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.
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.
