in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Centre Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following languages: French and English
The Québec Vipassana Centre, also called in Pali, Dhamma Suttama, meaning “the best of Dhamma,” is located halfway between Montréal and Ottawa/Gatineau, five kilometers north of Montebello. On this exceptional property, in a tranquil, open valley surrounded by forest, the centre can accommodate more than 100 students per course. Purchased in February 2011, the new centre continues to uphold the mission of the former Sutton centre established in 1999.
- Access the application form by clicking Apply for the desired course. Old students will be given the option to serve.
- Please carefully read the Introduction to the Technique and Code of Discipline which you will be asked to follow during your course.
- Fully and completely fill out all the sections of application form and submit it. An application is required to register for all courses.
- Await notification. All correspondence will be through e-mail if you give an e-mail address in your application. Due to the large volume of applications, it may take up to two weeks before receiving notification.
- If your application is accepted then we require you to confirm you will be attending in order to secure your place in the course.
| Québec Vipassana Meditation Centre - Dhamma Suttama | |
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Health Measures:
The Centre has implemented sanitary measures to limit the transmission of infectious respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, influenza and the common cold, in accordance with the recommendations of the Government of Quebec. In order to take as many precautions as possible to avoid the spread of infectious respiratory diseases during your stay at the Centre:
- We recommend that you take a rapid test prior to your arrival at the Centre, to ensure that you do not have COVID-19;
- We ask that you bring at least 3 rapid tests in the event that you develop one or more symptoms of COVID-19 and are asked to test yourself;
- We will ask you to leave the Centre if you test positive for COVID-19;
- We ask that you bring a sufficient number of procedural masks or N95 (KN95) because if you develop one or more symptoms of infectious respiratory diseases, we may ask you to wear a procedural mask or N95 (KN95) until all symptoms have disappeared (cloth masks are not accepted);
- Please note that if you develop symptoms of infectious respiratory diseases, we may ask you to leave even if you test negative for COVID-19;
- You may voluntarily choose to wear the procedure mask or a N95 (KN95) at any time even though it remains optional.
The only way to register at this time is online. We cannot process paper forms sent by fax or mail or forms attached to an email. Therefore, from the course calendar: Open the registration request form by clicking on "Apply" for the desired course. Old students will have the option to serve. The "Apply" option is only available when registration is open.
It is not possible to register before the announced date. The registration system opens at 6 a.m.
Students may apply to sit no more than one 10-day course. Any additional applications will not be processed.
Students are expected at the centre between 2 and 4 pm for the registration period and the orientation.
The course ends the morning of the 11th day by 6:30 am.
Virtual Vipassana Meditation Program for old students
A Virtual Vipassana Meditation Program of weekly group sittings & half-day sittings for old students only - and the links to join - can be found at the Dhamma Suttama's Old Student website, on the Vipassana Activities page
Courses for children and teenagers:
The schedule for the children's and teenagers' courses is presented at the bottom of this page.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 19 Mar - 22 Mar | Work Period | In Progress | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 22 Mar - 02 Apr | 10-Day | New Women - Course Full Old Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Montebello | The team of servers is incomplete. |
| 02 Apr | Board Meeting (at the centre) | Open | Montebello | All old students are welcome to attend the Board meetings as observers. This meeting will be held at the centre at 10:15 AM. Lunch is at 12:00 and the meeting resumes at 1:00 PM. | |
| Apply | 02 Apr - 05 Apr | Work Period | Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 05 Apr - 09 Apr | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students |
| 09 Apr | Open house day | Open | Montebello | Welcome to all; from 1PM to 4PM. | |
| Apply | 09 Apr - 12 Apr | Work Period | Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 12 Apr - 23 Apr | 10-Day | New Women - Course Full Old Women - Wait List New Men - Wait List Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Montebello | |
| Apply | 23 Apr - 26 Apr | Work Period | Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 26 Apr - 07 May | Special 10-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 26 Apr - 07 May | 10-day women only | New Women - Course Full Old Women - Wait List Men - Closed Servers - Open | Montebello | 10-day course parallel to the old students special course. For women only. |
| 30 Apr | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 29 Mar | Quebec |
For old students |
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| Apply | 07 May - 10 May | Work Period | Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 10 May - 21 May | 10-Day | New Women - Course Full Old Women - Open Men - Open Servers - Open | Montebello | |
| 13 May | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 12 Apr | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 21 May | Board Meeting (virtual on Zoom) | Open | Montebello | All old students are welcome to attend the Board meetings as observers. This meeting will be held on Zoom at 9:30 AM. Lunch is at 12:00 and the meeting resumes at 1:00 PM. For the connection information, please consult https://suttama.dhamma.org/en/os/about-the-vipassana-foundation/ | |
| 21 May - 02 Jun | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 01 Apr | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 28 May | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 27 Apr | Quebec |
For old students |
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| 05 Jun - 07 Jun | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 15 Apr | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 07 Jun - 18 Jun | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 15 Apr | Montebello | ||
| 17 Jun | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 14 May | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 18 Jun - 21 Jun | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 29 Apr | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 21 Jun - 02 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 29 Apr | Montebello | ||
| 02 Jul | Board Meeting (at the centre) | Open | Montebello | All old students are welcome to attend the Board meetings as observers. This meeting will be held at the centre at 10:15 AM. Lunch is at 12:00 and the meeting resumes at 1:00 PM. | |
| 02 Jul - 05 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 13 May | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 05 Jul - 16 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 13 May | Montebello | ||
| 15 Jul | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 18 Jun | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 16 Jul - 19 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 27 May | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 19 Jul - 30 Jul | 10-day for women only | Applications accepted starting 28 Jun | Montebello | 10-day cours in parallel with the Satipatthana course. For women only. | |
| 21 Jul - 30 Jul | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 22 Mar | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 30 Jul - 02 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 10 Jun | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 02 Aug - 13 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 10 Jun | Montebello | ||
| 12 Aug | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 16 Jul | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 13 Aug - 16 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 24 Jun | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 16 Aug - 27 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 24 Jun | Montebello | ||
| 27 Aug | Board Meeting (virtual on Zoom) | Open | Montebello | All old students are welcome to attend the Board meetings as observers. This meeting will be held on Zoom at 9:30 AM. Lunch is at 12:00 and the meeting resumes at 1:00 PM. For the connection information, please consult https://suttama.dhamma.org/en/os/about-the-vipassana-foundation/ | |
| 27 Aug - 30 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 08 Jul | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 30 Aug - 03 Sep | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 08 Jul | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 03 Sep | Open house day | Open | Montebello | Welcome to all; from 1PM to 4PM. | |
| 03 Sep - 06 Sep | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 15 Jul | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 06 Sep - 17 Sep | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 15 Jul | Montebello | ||
| 09 Sep | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 13 Aug | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 17 Sep - 29 Sep | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 22 Jul | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 02 Oct - 04 Oct | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 12 Aug | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 04 Oct - 15 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 12 Aug | Montebello | ||
| 14 Oct | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 10 Sep | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 15 Oct | Board Meeting (at the centre) | Open | Montebello | All old students are welcome to attend the Board meetings as observers. This meeting will be held at the centre at 10:15 AM. Lunch is at 12:00 and the meeting resumes at 1:00 PM. | |
| 15 Oct - 18 Oct | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 26 Aug | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 18 Oct - 29 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 26 Aug | Montebello | ||
| 29 Oct - 03 Nov | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 03 May | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 03 Nov - 24 Nov | 20-Day | Applications accepted starting 03 May | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 11 Nov | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 15 Oct | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 24 Nov - 29 Nov | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 07 Oct | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 29 Nov - 10 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 07 Oct | Montebello | ||
| 10 Dec | Board Meeting (virtual on Zoom) | Open | Montebello | All old students are welcome to attend the Board meetings as observers. This meeting will be held on Zoom at 9:30 AM. Lunch is at 12:00 and the meeting resumes at 1:00 PM. For the connection information, please consult https://suttama.dhamma.org/en/os/about-the-vipassana-foundation/ | |
| 10 Dec - 13 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 21 Oct | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 13 Dec - 17 Dec | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 21 Oct | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 16 Dec | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 12 Nov | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 17 Dec - 20 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 28 Oct | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 20 Dec - 31 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 28 Oct | Montebello | ||
| 31 December, 2023 - 03 January, 2024 | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 11 Nov | Montebello |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Jun | Children | Applications accepted starting 03 Apr | Montebello | ||
| 04 Jun | Teen | Applications accepted starting 03 Apr | Montebello | ||
| 30 Sep | Children | Applications accepted starting 01 Aug | Montebello | ||
| 01 Oct | Teen | Applications accepted starting 01 Aug | Montebello |
The online application form encrypts your information before it is sent from your computer to our application server.
To access the Old Student Regional Site please click http://suttama.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.
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.
