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
Applications will be accepted beginning on the date specified at just after 8:00 am Pacific time (Usually the "Apply" button is refreshed by the system sometime between 8:01 & 8:05 am).
Courses will be cancelled or curtailed, at short notice if British Columbia Health Authorities cautions against gatherings and/or if servers/teachers are unavailable.
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.
In accordance with BC Public Health Orders, after September 13th Dhamma Surabhi requires all students/servers to have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and after October 24th to have received 2 doses, at least 7 days prior to their arrival at the Centre.
Before applying, please note the following changes in procedures that will be in place at the centre:
The menu choices will be far fewer than previously and we cannot accommodate special diet needs.
Ride sharing is not encouraged, so the RideBoard will NOT be available.
Masks must be worn when entering and moving throughout the Centre, as well as when meditating in the Dhamma hall.
Servers will wear masks while serving in the kitchen
- Masks may be removed when eating, when outside, and when in your own room or bathroom.
We can only accommodate a small number of students and waitlists will also be short.
All acceptances are provisional until students complete an on-line Covid-19 Screening Form three days before the start of the course.
Please consider applying later if you have conditions that put at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19
Applications will open at 8 am, or shortly thereafter, when the above takes place.
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 14 Nov | Merritt |
For old students |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 03 Oct - 06 Oct | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students See below for Vaccination requirements |
| Apply | 06 Oct - 17 Oct | Special 10-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students In accordance with BC Public Health Orders, after September 13 Dhamma Surabhi requires all students and servers to have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and after October 24 to have received 2 doses approved in Canada, at least 7 days prior to their arrival at the Centre. To ensure admission into the course, please bring either a digital or printed copy of your record of vaccination and your government ID to the Centre. |
| Apply | 17 Oct - 20 Oct | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students See above for Vaccination requirements. |
| Apply | 20 Oct - 31 Oct | 10-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Merritt |
Vaccination Requirement : Please apply only if you are to be fully inoculated against COVID-19 at least 7 days prior to your arrival at the Centre To ensure admission into the course, please bring a record of your vaccination to the Centre with government ID at the start of the course |
| 31 Oct - 03 Nov | Between Courses Service Period | Applications accepted starting 30 Sep | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 03 Nov - 14 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 03 Oct | Merritt |
Vaccination Requirement : Please apply only if you are to be fully inoculated against COVID-19 at least 7 days prior to your arrival at the Centre To ensure admission into the course, please bring a record of your vaccination to the Centre with government ID at the start of the course |
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| 14 Nov - 17 Nov | Between Courses Service Period | Applications accepted starting 14 Oct | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 17 Nov - 28 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 17 Oct | Merritt |
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| 28 Nov - 01 Dec | Between Courses Service Period | Applications accepted starting 28 Oct | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 01 Dec - 12 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 31 Oct | Merritt |
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| 12 Dec - 15 Dec | Between Courses Service Period | Applications accepted starting 11 Nov | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 19 Dec - 22 Dec | Between Courses Service Period | Applications accepted starting 18 Nov | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 22 December, 2021 - 02 January, 2022 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 21 Nov | Merritt |
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| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Jan - 05 Jan | Between Courses Service Period | Applications accepted starting 02 Dec | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 05 Jan - 16 Jan | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 05 Dec | Merritt | ||
| 19 Jan - 30 Jan | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 19 Dec | Merritt | ||
| 02 Feb - 13 Feb | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 02 Jan | Merritt | ||
| 16 Feb - 27 Feb | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 16 Jan | Merritt | ||
| 02 Mar - 13 Mar | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 30 Jan | Merritt | ||
| 16 Mar - 27 Mar | Special 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 24 Dec | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 30 Mar - 10 Apr | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 27 Feb | 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.
