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 if you give an e-mail address in your application. Allow two weeks for response.
5 If your application is accepted, please confirm your attendance four weeks before the course to secure your place..
6. Please do not apply for more than one course at a time, even if you're waitlisted - Request registration to transfer to an open course.
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
Courses now open for applications around 7 AM on the morning of the opening dates shown on the schedule below
Please do not apply to sit more than one 10-day course at a time.
SPAM ISSUES: Please put VIPASSANA in the subject line of any email you send to us. If you do not do this, your email might go to our spam folder and not be read.
Dhamma Modana, on Vancouver Island, now offers, 1-day, 3-day and 10-day courses. See https://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schmodana
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day courses are short courses for old students. 1-Day courses begin at 8:30am and finish at 4:30pm, on the same day.
1-Day courses (no pre-registration) are now offered on the 1st Sunday and 3rd Saturday of every month at the Vancouver Vipassana Hall. Details at
http://www.surabhi.dhamma.org/os/vvh.html. .
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 27 Nov - 01 Dec | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students Male servers required. |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May - 31 May | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 27 Feb | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 16 Sep - 20 Sep | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 18 Jun | Merritt |
For old students |
All ten day courses begin on the evening of the first day (known as Day 0) and end on the early morning of the last day (known as Day 11).
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
If there is a waitlist for a course with the dates you prefer, please check the schedule for Dhamma Karuna, in Youngstown Alberta.They often have openings, especially for servers, when there are no openings here.
https://www.dhamma.org/en/schedules/schkaruna
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 16 Oct - 27 Oct | 10-Day | In Progress | Merritt |
|
| Apply | 27 Oct - 30 Oct |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 30 Oct - 10 Nov | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Closed Male Server - Wait List | Merritt | |
| Apply | 10 Nov - 13 Nov |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 13 Nov - 24 Nov | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt | Male & Female Servers Needed. |
| Apply | 24 Nov - 27 Nov |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 04 Dec - 15 Dec | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt | Male servers required |
| Apply | 15 Dec - 18 Dec |
In Between Work Period Part-Time Welcome |
Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 18 Dec - 29 Dec | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Wait List | Merritt | |
| Apply | 29 December, 2019 - 01 January, 2020 |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 01 Jan - 12 Jan | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt | |
| Apply | 12 Jan - 15 Jan |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 15 Jan - 26 Jan | 10-Day | Open | Merritt | |
| 26 Jan - 29 Jan |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Applications accepted starting 28 Oct | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 29 Jan - 09 Feb | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 31 Oct | Merritt | ||
| 09 Feb - 12 Feb |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Applications accepted starting 11 Nov | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| Apply | 12 Feb - 23 Feb | Special 10-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students Please click the link to the left for course requirements |
| 23 Feb - 26 Feb |
In Between Work Period Course Part-Time Welcome. |
Applications accepted starting 25 Nov | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 26 Feb - 08 Mar | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 28 Nov | Merritt | ||
| 11 Mar - 22 Mar | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 12 Dec | Merritt | ||
| 25 Mar - 05 Apr | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 26 Dec | Merritt | ||
| 08 Apr - 19 Apr | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 09 Jan | Merritt | ||
| 22 Apr - 03 May | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 23 Jan | Merritt |
|
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| 06 May - 17 May | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 06 Feb | Merritt | ||
| 18 May - 25 May | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 18 Feb | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 23 May - 24 May | Trust Retreat | Applications accepted starting 23 Feb | Merritt |
For old students Trust Retreat |
|
| 03 Jun - 14 Jun |
10-Day
English / Persian (Farsi) |
Applications accepted starting 05 Mar | Merritt | Priority is given to those students who speak Farsi. Three weeks before the course starts, any remaining seats will be given to non-Farsi speaking students. | |
| 17 Jun - 28 Jun | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 19 Mar | Merritt | ||
| 01 Jul - 12 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 02 Apr | Merritt | ||
| 15 Jul - 26 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 16 Apr | Merritt | ||
| 29 Jul - 09 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 30 Apr | Merritt | ||
| 20 Aug - 30 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 22 May | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 29 Aug - 30 Aug | Trust Retreat | Applications accepted starting 31 May | Merritt |
For old students Trust Retreat |
|
| 02 Sep - 13 Sep | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 04 Jun | Merritt | ||
| 23 Sep - 04 Oct |
10-Day
English / Vietnamese |
Applications accepted starting 25 Jun | Merritt |
Male and female Assistant Teachers fluent in Vietnamese and English. Priority will be given to Vietnamese speaking students. Three weeks before the course starts, any remaining seats will be available to non-Vietnamese speaking students. |
|
| 07 Oct - 18 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 09 Jul | Merritt | ||
| 21 Oct - 01 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 23 Jul | Merritt | ||
| 04 Nov - 15 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 06 Aug | Merritt | ||
| 16 Nov - 19 Nov | Short Work Period | Applications accepted starting 18 Aug | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 20 Nov - 29 Nov | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 22 Aug | Merritt |
For old students Please click on the link to the left for course requirements |
|
| 02 Dec - 13 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 03 Sep | Merritt | ||
| 23 December, 2020 - 03 January, 2021 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 24 Sep | Merritt |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Jan | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 01 Dec | Merritt |
For old students |
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://www.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.
Special 10-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.
Old Student Programs are similar to Service Periods where there is time to work on a variety of Centre maintenance, construction, household and gardening projects, but have a more full and structured program, an opportunity to meet with assistant teachers, and possibly committee and trust meetings. All Old Students are welcome to participate. The daily program will include three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods and in the evening there will be tapes played of special discourses and talks that S.N. Goenka has given to Old Students.
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.
