in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Centre Location: Website | Map
** All courses are bilingual: English plus one other language, Dutch, German or French.
Vipassana Meditation Centre Dhamma Pajjota (Torch of Dhamma) is situated in a rural area near the Belgian town of Dilsen-Stokkem, close to the borders of the Netherlands and Germany. The 7 hectare (17.2 acres) site is surrounded by forest and farmland, and has spacious walking areas with numerous trees. At present comfortable accommodation is offered for up to 90 students.
- 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.
Vipassana Meditation Centre - Dhamma Pajjota
Driepaal 3
B-3650 Dilsen-Stokkem
Tel. [32] (0) 89 51 82 30
Fax [32] (0) 89 51 82 39
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://pajjota.dhamma.org
GENERAL INFORMATION
Registration will open 4 months before the course starts at 8 pm winter time or 9 pm summer time. Note, the 'apply' link will not be visible until then. You will need to refresh this page to see the link as this page does not auto refresh.
For a 10-day course you can apply until midnight to attend (sit) the course. If the course is not full you can also apply later. Places for attending the 10-day course are allocated by electronic random selection. Anyone whose application has not been selected will be notified within 4 days. Due to the high number of applicants and the limited number of places, the 10-day course is limited to those students who have NOT sat a 10-day, Satipatthana or long course in the last 6 months.
LONG-TERM SERVERS ARE VERY WELCOME
More information on long-term service can be found here.
| Dhamma Pajjota |
| 1-day courses Belgium | Teenagers’ and Children’s Courses The Netherlands |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 19 Sep - 30 Sep |
10 days
English / German |
In Progress | Dilsen-Stokkem | Servers are needed |
| 30 Sep - 01 Oct | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| Apply* | 01 Oct - 04 Oct | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 04 Oct - 15 Oct |
10 days
English / Dutch |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Servers are needed |
| Apply* | 16 Oct - 18 Oct | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 18 Oct - 29 Oct |
10 days
English / German |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Long Wait List Old Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Filling Up Male Server - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| Apply* | 30 Oct - 01 Nov | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 01 Nov - 12 Nov |
10 days
English / French |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Long Wait List New Men - Long Wait List Old Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Short Wait List Male Server - Filling Up | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| Apply* | 13 Nov - 15 Nov | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 15 Nov - 26 Nov |
10 days
English / Dutch |
New Women - Long Wait List Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Long Wait List Old Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| Apply* | 27 Nov - 29 Nov | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 29 Nov - 08 Dec |
Sati
English / Dutch |
Women - Filling Up Men - Filling Up Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| 09 Dec - 10 Dec | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| Apply* | 09 Dec - 13 Dec | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 13 Dec - 16 Dec |
3 Day
English / German |
Women - Short Wait List Men - Filling Up Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 16 Dec - 25 Dec | Sit & Serve | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 26 December, 2023 - 06 January, 2024 |
10 days
English / French |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Long Wait List New Men - Short Wait List Old Men - Long Wait List Female Server - Long Wait List Male Server - Short Wait List | Dilsen-Stokkem |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 07 Jan - 10 Jan | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 10 Jan - 21 Jan |
10 days
English / Dutch |
New Women - Long Wait List Old Women - Filling Up Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| Apply* | 22 Jan - 23 Jan | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 23 Jan - 03 Feb |
10 days
English / German |
New Women - Short Wait List Old Women - Open Men - Open Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| 03 Feb - 04 Feb | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| 03 Feb - 06 Feb | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 03 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 04 Feb | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 04 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 06 Feb - 09 Feb |
3 Day
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 06 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 10 Feb - 14 Feb | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 14 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 14 Feb - 25 Feb |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 12 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 26 Feb - 28 Feb | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 26 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 28 Feb - 10 Mar |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 28 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 11 Mar - 12 Mar | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 11 Nov | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 12 Mar - 23 Mar |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 12 Nov | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 23 Mar - 24 Mar | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| 24 Mar - 27 Mar | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 24 Nov | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 27 Mar - 07 Apr |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 27 Nov | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 08 Apr - 10 Apr | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 08 Dec | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 10 Apr - 21 Apr |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 10 Dec | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 21 Apr - 07 May | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 21 Dec | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 07 May - 18 May |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 07 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 18 May - 19 May | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| 19 May - 22 May | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 19 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 22 May - 31 May |
Sati
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 22 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 31 May - 12 Jun | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 31 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 08 Jun | Open Day | Applications accepted starting 04 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 12 Jun - 23 Jun |
10 days
English / Persian (Farsi) |
Applications accepted starting 12 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Priority to Farsi speakers until April 12
|
|
| 24 Jun - 26 Jun | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 24 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 26 Jun - 07 Jul |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 26 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 08 Jul - 10 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 08 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 10 Jul - 21 Jul |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 10 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 22 Jul - 23 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 22 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 23 Jul - 03 Aug |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 23 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 03 Aug - 04 Aug | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| 04 Aug - 07 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 04 Apr | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 07 Aug - 18 Aug |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 07 Apr | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 19 Aug - 21 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 19 Apr | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 21 Aug - 01 Sep |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 21 Apr | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 02 Sep - 04 Sep | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 02 May | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 04 Sep - 15 Sep |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 04 May | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 15 Sep - 01 Oct | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 15 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 01 Oct - 12 Oct |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 01 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 12 Oct - 13 Oct | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| 13 Oct - 16 Oct | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 13 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 16 Oct - 27 Oct |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 16 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 28 Oct - 30 Oct | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 28 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 30 Oct - 10 Nov |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 30 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 11 Nov - 13 Nov | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 11 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 13 Nov - 24 Nov |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 13 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 25 Nov - 27 Nov | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 25 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 27 Nov - 06 Dec |
Sati
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 27 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 07 Dec - 08 Dec | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected]. | |
| 08 Dec - 11 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 08 Aug | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 11 Dec - 14 Dec |
3 Day
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 11 Aug | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 15 Dec - 20 Dec | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 15 Aug | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 20 Dec - 23 Dec |
3 Day
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 20 Aug | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 24 Dec - 26 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 24 Aug | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 26 December, 2024 - 06 January, 2025 |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 26 Aug | Dilsen-Stokkem |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 08 Oct | 1 day | Women - Closed Men - Short Wait List Servers - Closed | Brussels |
Note: New Dates!For old students |
| Apply* | 22 Oct | 1 day | Women - Filling Up Men - Open Servers - Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 12 Nov |
Children´s course for boys and girls 8-18
English / Dutch / French / Persian (Farsi) |
Girls - Open New Boys - Filling Up Old Boys - Open Servers - Open | Brussels | |
| Apply* | 19 Nov | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 03 Dec | 1 day | Women - Long Wait List Men - Open Female Server - Closed Male Server - Open | Brussels |
Note: New Dates!For old students |
| Apply* | 10 Dec | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
Note: New Dates!For old students |
| 17 Dec | 1 day | CANCELLED | Ghent |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar |
Children´s course for boys and girls 8-18
English / Dutch / French / Persian (Farsi) |
Applications accepted starting 17 Jan | Brussels |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 12 Nov |
Children´s course for boys and girls 8-18
English / Dutch / French / Persian (Farsi) |
Girls - Open New Boys - Filling Up Old Boys - Open Servers - Open | Brussels |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar |
Children´s course for boys and girls 8-18
English / Dutch / French / Persian (Farsi) |
Applications accepted starting 17 Jan | Brussels | ||
| 26 Apr - 28 Apr |
Course for Girls (8-18 yr)
Dutch / French / German |
Applications accepted starting 09 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 27 Sep - 29 Sep |
Course for Boys (8-18 yr)
Dutch / French / German |
Applications accepted starting 10 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem |
As a privacy measure, the online application form encrypts the information you provide us with before it is sent from your device to our application server.
To access the Old Student Regional Site please click http://pajjota.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.
Open Days are held between meditation courses. All are welcome to attend and learn about Vipassana Meditation and the Centre.
Children's Anapana 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 open for all teenagers aged 13-18 years old who wish to learn to meditate. Their parents/guardians do not have to be meditators.
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.
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 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.
