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 Surabhi, which means the Fragrance of Dhamma, is one of many Vipassana centers around the world taught by S.N. Goenka. In August 1997 a 56-acre property was purchased just above the Coldwater River, near Merritt. Construction of the Centre began in spring 1999 and the first course was conducted in 2002. The Centre consists of a building of approximately 9300 sq. ft. with accommodations for 60 people and a meditation hall that holds 70 people.
1. Access the application form by clicking Apply for the desired course. Old students will be given the option to serve.
2. Please carefully read the Introduction to the Technique and Code of Discipline for the course.
3. Fully and completely fill out all the sections of application form and submit it. Every student must have an application.
4. All correspondence will be through e-mail. Please give an e-mail address in your application. Allow two weeks for response.
5 If your application is accepted, please confirm your attendance when asked before the course to secure your place.
Vipassana Meditation Centre of BC -- Dhamma Surabhi
P.O. Box 699, Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8, Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [1] 778-785-4080 (Vancouver), [1] 250-412-5372 (Victoria), [1] 250-469-7180 (Kelowna) Fax: (toll free) [1] (866) 259-6088
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
UPDATED May 18, 2023
The "Apply" button will first appear for a course only once registration opens, shortly after 8:00 am Pacific Time on the date listed. If you've logged in early you may need to refresh your browser.
Priority may be given to those who haven't sat recently.
The waitlist is created from applications received through the website. When the course is listed as "Closed", then the waitlist is also closed.
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.
Please check this page regularly for further information.
Courses for young people.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
In North America Teen courses are for those 17 years and younger.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 09 Aug - 11 Aug | Children | Open | Merritt | |
| Apply | 13 Aug - 15 Aug | Teen | Open | Merritt |
1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day courses are short courses for old students.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
NEW: 1-day courses are being held monthly in Coquitlam, the second Saturday of each month. For more information see here. Login with usual old student password.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jun - 11 Jun | 3-Day | In Progress | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 18 Oct - 22 Oct | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 20 Jul | Merritt |
For old students |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 Jun - 07 Jun | Between Courses Service Period | In Progress | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| Apply | 12 Jun - 14 Jun | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 14 Jun - 25 Jun |
Vietnamese-English Course
English / Vietnamese |
Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Wait List | Merritt |
Priority given to Vietnamese speakers |
| Apply | 26 Jun - 28 Jun | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 28 Jun - 09 Jul | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Merritt | More servers needed on the men's side. |
| Apply | 10 Jul - 12 Jul | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 12 Jul - 23 Jul |
Bilingual Burmese-English
English / Burmese |
Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Merritt |
Spaces open only for Burmese speakers Waitlist is now full for English speakers. Please put a note in your application if you are from the Burmese community. Servers needed on the men's side - English speakers welcome |
| Apply | 24 Jul - 26 Jul | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 26 Jul - 06 Aug | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Course Full Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Merritt | |
| Apply | 07 Aug - 09 Aug | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 18 Aug - 27 Aug | Satipatthana Sutta | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 28 Aug - 05 Sep | Fall Work Period | Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 06 Sep - 17 Sep | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt | . |
| 20 Sep - 01 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 18 Jun | Merritt | . | |
| 04 Oct - 15 Oct | LGBTQ+ Course | Applications accepted starting 06 Jul | Merritt | .This course is offered specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. The course format will be the same as regular 10-day courses. Priority will be given to LGBTQ+ students and servers. Others will initially be placed on a waiting list and may be accepted on a space-available basis. Applicants may use the ‘anything to add’ section at the end of the application to identify themselves, in order to ensure priority of enrollment. | |
| 25 Oct - 05 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 23 Jul | Merritt | . | |
| 08 Nov - 19 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 06 Aug | Merritt | . | |
| 22 Nov - 03 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 20 Aug | Merritt | . | |
| 06 Dec - 17 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 03 Sep | Merritt | . | |
| 20 Dec - 31 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 17 Sep | Merritt | . |
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://surabhi.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.
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.
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.
