in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Centre Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English
Dhamma Karuṇā means "Compassion of Dhamma" in Pali. The centre is located on 8.5 acres on the outskirts of Youngstown, Alberta – a small farming village in the Canadian Badlands. This area is noted for its wildlife including waterfowl, deer, antelope and moose. It is also famous for some of the most important fossil deposits in the world, including the Bearpaw Shale. Youngstown is three to five hours by car from four major cities: Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, and Regina and Saskatoon in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan.
How to Apply to Attend or Serve a 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.
Alberta Vipassana Meditation Centre Dhamma Karuṇā Tel: [1](403) 908-0346 Fax: [1](877) 230-9484 Email: [email protected] | Mailing address: Alberta Vipassana Foundation8 Meadow Ridge Bay Rocky View County, AB T1Z 0J2 |
Course Registration Notes
- Throughout the registration procedure, you will receive several emails from our team. Should you not receive these messages, kindly check your spam or junk mail folders, or add @dhamma.org to your safe sender list.
- Priority will be given to individuals who have not recently sat a 10-day course.
- Applicants are requested to apply for no more than two ten-day courses simultaneously. Acceptance into one course will result in cancellation of any other application.
- Please include information regarding any food allergies or specific medically necessary dietary requirements in your application, enabling our volunteers to accommodate your needs appropriately during the course.
- Timely Cancellations Help Others Attend -Late cancellations often leave us unable to fill the vacancy, as there may not be enough time to offer the spot to someone on the waitlist. If you know you won’t be able to attend a course, please cancel your registration as soon as possible. Early cancellations help ensure others have the opportunity to participate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov |
1-Day Old Student Course |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Calgary |
For old students Elbow Valley (Calgary area) – Sunday, Nov 30
|
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr - 26 Apr |
3-Day Old Student Course |
Applications accepted starting 21 Feb | Youngstown |
For old students Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
|
| 23 Sep - 27 Sep |
3-Day Old Student Course |
Applications accepted starting 25 Jul | Youngstown |
For old students Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
- Courses open for applications at approximately 8:00 AM Mountain Time (MT) . If you do not see the 'Apply' Link at 8:00 am, close your browser and re-open the page.
- All ten-day courses begin on the evening of the first day, continue for ten full days and end on the early morning of the last day.
- During the registration process, you will be receiving a number of e-mails from us. If you don't receive these emails, please check your spam/junk mail box.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 02 Nov - 19 Nov |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
In Progress | Youngstown |
For old students
|
| Apply | 19 Nov - 30 Nov | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Youngstown |
🙏🏼 Servers Needed: part- and full-time welcome It is helpful for servers to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
| Apply | 30 Nov - 05 Dec |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students
|
| Apply | 05 Dec - 14 Dec | Satipatthana Sutta | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Youngstown |
Note: New Dates!Old Student Course Qualification Requirements Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
| Apply | 14 Dec - 24 Dec |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students |
| Apply | 24 December, 2025 - 04 January, 2026 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 04 Jan - 14 Jan |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students |
| 14 Jan - 25 Jan | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 15 Nov | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 25 Jan - 11 Feb |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 26 Nov | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 11 Feb - 22 Feb | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 13 Dec | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 22 Feb - 11 Mar |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 24 Dec | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 11 Mar - 22 Mar | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 10 Jan | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 22 Mar - 27 Mar |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 21 Jan | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 27 Mar - 05 Apr | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 26 Jan | Youngstown |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 05 Apr - 08 Apr |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 04 Feb | Youngstown |
For old students
|
|
| 08 Apr - 19 Apr | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 07 Feb | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 19 Apr - 22 Apr |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 18 Feb | Youngstown |
For old students
|
|
| 06 May - 17 May | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 07 Mar | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 17 May - 27 May |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 18 Mar | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 27 May - 07 Jun | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 28 Mar | Youngstown |
It is helpful for servers to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 07 Jun - 24 Jun |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 08 Apr | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 24 Jun - 05 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 25 Apr | Youngstown |
It is helpful for servers to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 05 Jul - 15 Jul |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 06 May | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 15 Jul - 26 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 16 May | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 26 Jul - 29 Jul |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 27 May | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 29 Jul - 09 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 30 May | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 09 Aug - 19 Aug |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 10 Jun | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 19 Aug - 30 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 20 Jun | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
|
| 30 Aug - 27 Sep |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 01 Jul | Youngstown |
For old students Very long service period. Please make sure to include the dates that you can give service if applying part-time. |
|
| 27 Sep - 07 Oct |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 29 Jul | Youngstown |
For old students Truth & Reconciliation Day, Sept. 30 |
|
| 07 Oct - 18 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 08 Aug | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 18 Oct - 21 Oct |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 19 Aug | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 21 Oct - 01 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 22 Aug | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
|
| 01 Nov - 07 Nov |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 02 Sep | Youngstown |
For old students
|
|
| 07 Nov - 22 Nov |
14-Day Gratitude Course 🙏🏼 |
Applications accepted starting 08 Sep | Youngstown |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
|
| 22 Nov - 02 Dec |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 23 Sep | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 02 Dec - 13 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 03 Oct | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
|
| 13 Dec - 23 Dec |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 14 Oct | Youngstown |
For old students |
|
| 23 December, 2026 - 03 January, 2027 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 24 Oct | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1), if possible. |
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://karuna.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.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
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.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
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.
Work Periods have been set aside to work on a variety of Centre maintenance, construction, household and gardening projects. All Old Students are welcome to apply. 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.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
The 14-Day Gratitude Course was previously called the Teacher's Self Course. One of the qualities we develop as we meditate is gratitude - gratitude towards one’s teachers, Goenkaji and Mataji, and towards the long tradition of Vipassana teachers, right back to the Buddha.
The course is open to old students who are active in giving service. Requirements include 3 x 10day courses plus one Satipaṭṭhāna course, being active in Dhamma service, trying to maintain two-hour daily practice since last 10-Day course, and trying to maintain the five precepts to the best of one's ability. Local teacher’s recommendation is required. The course follows the usual format of 3x group sittings with instructions in the day, but students work more independently and the teaching materials are drawn from the 20-day course. This is a half-way step to help students mature for long courses, and serves to inspire students to work more deeply in Dhamma.
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.
