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
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
UPDATED June 8, 2022
Registration is currently open to all students, both vaccinated and unvaccinated
Applications will be accepted beginning on the date specified at just after 8:00 am Pacific time (The "Apply" will only appear for a course sometime between 8:01 & 8:05 am on the day that the course opens for applications).
Courses can be cancelled 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.
Before applying, please consider applying later if you have conditions that put you at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19
Please check this page regularly for further information.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Aug - 11 Aug | Children | Applications accepted starting 11 Apr | Merritt | ||
| 13 Aug - 15 Aug | Teen | Applications accepted starting 09 Apr | Merritt |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 14 Dec - 18 Dec | 3-Day | Wait List | Merritt |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jun - 11 Jun | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 05 Mar | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 04 Oct - 08 Oct | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 02 Jul | Merritt |
For old students |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Nov - 11 Dec | 10-Day | In Progress | Merritt |
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| Apply | 12 Dec - 14 Dec | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 19 Dec - 21 Dec | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 21 December, 2022 - 01 January, 2023 | 10-Day | Course Full | Merritt |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 02 Jan - 04 Jan | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 04 Jan - 15 Jan | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Course Full Servers - Wait List | Merritt | |
| Apply | 16 Jan - 18 Jan | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 18 Jan - 29 Jan | 10-Day | Women - Course Full New Men - Course Full Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt | Old students, please consider applying to serve. |
| Apply | 30 Jan - 01 Feb | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 01 Feb - 12 Feb | 10-Day | Women - Course Full Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt | Servers Needed |
| Apply | 13 Feb - 15 Feb | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 15 Feb - 26 Feb | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Merritt | |
| Apply | 27 Feb - 01 Mar | Between Courses Service Period | Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| Apply | 01 Mar - 22 Mar | 20-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Merritt |
For old students |
| 29 Mar - 09 Apr | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 01 Jan | Merritt | . | |
| 12 Apr - 23 Apr | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 08 Jan | Merritt | . | |
| 26 Apr - 07 May | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 22 Jan | Merritt | . | |
| 10 May - 21 May | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 05 Feb | Merritt | . | |
| 22 May - 04 Jun | Spring Work Period | Applications accepted starting 19 Feb | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 14 Jun - 25 Jun | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 12 Mar | Merritt | . | |
| 28 Jun - 09 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 26 Mar | Merritt | . | |
| 12 Jul - 23 Jul | Bilingual Burmese-English | Applications accepted starting 09 Apr | Merritt | Registration priority will initially be given to Burmese speakers. | |
| 26 Jul - 06 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 23 Apr | Merritt | . | |
| 18 Aug - 27 Aug | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 14 May | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 28 Aug - 05 Sep | Fall Work Period | Applications accepted starting 28 May | Merritt |
For old students |
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| 06 Sep - 17 Sep | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 04 Jun | Merritt | . | |
| 20 Sep - 01 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 18 Jun | Merritt | . | |
| 11 Oct - 22 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 09 Jul | Merritt | . | |
| 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.
20-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.
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.
