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.
6. During BC's Covid-19 guidelines, ALL acceptences are PROVISIONAL. To be accepted, you must successfully complete a Covid-19 Screening Form. three days before the start of the 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
June 19 Update - Centre Reopening Announcement :-))
Now that BC has moved into RESTART Step 2, the centre will re-open starting with the June 23-July 4 10-day Course.
The other 2021 courses will open for applications, one course at a time,
each Sunday until the ends of August
The Apply link for each course will appear between 8:00 and 8:03 am PDT
At this time we can only accept 13 students (6M,7W) in each course.
The same conditions that were used for courses last Fall will still apply, namely:
Students must have been resident in BC for 14 days immediately before the course.
Face masks are required in the Dhamma Hall and while moving around in the building.
Students asked to bring their own meditation cushions and shawls
We will not offer a rideshare board
Because of the expected high volume of applications, we can only accept
ONE application per person to sit a course.
Old Students are strongly encouraged to apply to Serve courses.
We need 6 servers for every course
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec - 19 Dec | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 12 Sep | Merritt |
For old students |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 23 Jun - 04 Jul | 10-Day | Closed | Merritt |
|
| 07 Jul - 18 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 20 Jun | Merritt | ||
| 21 Jul - 01 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 27 Jun | Merritt | ||
| 04 Aug - 15 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 04 Jul | Merritt | ||
| 18 Aug - 24 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 04 Jul | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 25 Aug - 05 Sep | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 11 Jul | Merritt | ||
| 08 Sep - 19 Sep | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 18 Jul | Merritt | ||
| 22 Sep - 03 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 25 Jul | Merritt | ||
| 06 Oct - 17 Oct | Special 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 01 Aug | Merritt |
For old students |
|
| 20 Oct - 31 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 08 Aug | Merritt | ||
| 03 Nov - 14 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 15 Aug | Merritt | ||
| 17 Nov - 28 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 22 Aug | Merritt | ||
| 01 Dec - 12 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 29 Aug | Merritt | ||
| 22 December, 2021 - 02 January, 2022 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 19 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.
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.
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.
