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 Montebello 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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In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone, it is important to remember to arrive at the Centre in good health.
We continue to be vigilant for the development of respiratory infectious diseases. If necessary, in case of symptoms, we may ask participants to take COVID tests and wear a mask (provided by the Centre).
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.
Please read before you register: Introduction to the technique
To be read if you have already registered to a course: Things to know and check before you go
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 | 27 Apr - 30 Apr | Work Period | In Progress | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 30 Apr - 11 May | 10-Day | In Progress | Montebello |
We are approaching the starting date for this course and the team of servers is still incomplete. Men and women servers are welcome, full-time or part-time. |
| 04 May | 1-Day | Open | Quebec |
For old students TO REGISTER |
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| Apply | 11 May - 14 May | Work Period | Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students |
| Apply | 14 May - 25 May | 10-Day | New Women - FULL Old Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Montebello |
The team of servers is incomplete. |
| 18 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/ | |
| Apply | 26 May - 06 Jun |
Seasonal Service Period |
Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students Welcome to old students for a full-time and part-time service for the seasonal service period. |
| Apply | 08 Jun - 11 Jun | Work Period | Servers - Open | Montebello |
For old students Arrive after the teenagers' course, between 4pm and 5pm. |
| Apply | 11 Jun - 22 Jun | 10-Day | New Women - FULL Old Women - Open Men - Open Servers - Open | Montebello | |
| 21 Jun | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 21 May | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 22 Jun - 25 Jun | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 11 May | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 25 Jun - 06 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 11 May | Montebello | ||
| 06 Jul | 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/ | |
| 06 Jul - 09 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 25 May | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 09 Jul - 20 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 25 May | Montebello | ||
| 19 Jul | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 19 Jun | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 20 Jul - 23 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 08 Jun | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 23 Jul - 01 Aug | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 08 Jun | Montebello |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
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| 01 Aug - 06 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 20 Jun | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 06 Aug - 17 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 22 Jun | Montebello | ||
| 16 Aug | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 16 Jul | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 17 Aug - 20 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 06 Jul | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 20 Aug - 31 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 06 Jul | Montebello | ||
| 31 Aug | 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. | |
| 31 Aug - 03 Sep | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 20 Jul | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 03 Sep - 14 Sep |
10-day Rivière-Ouelle |
Applications accepted starting 27 Jul | Quebec |
Off-centre given in Rivière-Ouelle |
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| 03 Sep - 14 Sep | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 20 Jul | Montebello | ||
| 13 Sep | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 13 Aug | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 14 Sep - 17 Sep | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 03 Aug | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 14 Sep - 18 Sep |
3-day Rivière-Ouelle |
Applications accepted starting 27 Jul | Quebec |
For old students 3 day off-centre in Rivière-Ouelle |
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| 17 Sep - 21 Sep | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 03 Aug | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 21 Sep | Open house day | Open | Montebello | Welcome to all; from 1PM to 4PM. | |
| 22 Sep - 03 Oct |
Seasonal Service Period |
Applications accepted starting 08 Aug | Montebello |
For old students Welcome to old students for a full-time and part-time service for the seasonal service period. |
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| 05 Oct - 08 Oct | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 24 Aug | Montebello |
For old students Arrive after the teenagers' course, between 4pm and 5pm. |
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| 08 Oct - 19 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 24 Aug | Montebello | ||
| 11 Oct | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 11 Sep | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 19 Oct | 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/ | |
| 19 Oct - 22 Oct | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 07 Sep | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 22 Oct - 02 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 07 Sep | Montebello | ||
| 02 Nov - 05 Nov | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 21 Sep | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 05 Nov - 26 Nov | 20-Day | Applications accepted starting 05 Jun | Montebello |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
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| 15 Nov | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 15 Oct | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 26 Nov - 28 Nov | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 12 Oct | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 28 Nov - 30 Nov |
PARTICIPATE to the Foundation Weekend |
Applications accepted starting 14 Oct | Montebello |
For old students All Old students are enthusiastically invited to participate to the Foundation Weekend. On the program: 40th anniversary of the Dhamma in Quebec, inspiring evenings, guided tours, 3 meditations per day.... Schedule to come. |
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| 28 Nov - 30 Nov |
SERVE at the Foundation Weekend |
Applications accepted starting 14 Oct | Montebello |
For old students Welcome to old students full-time and part-time to serve at the kitchen during the foundation weekend. |
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| 30 Nov | 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. | |
| 30 Nov - 03 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 19 Oct | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 03 Dec - 14 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 19 Oct | Montebello | ||
| 13 Dec | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting 13 Nov | Montreal |
For old students TO APPLY |
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| 14 Dec - 17 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 02 Nov | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 17 Dec - 21 Dec | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 02 Nov | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 21 Dec - 24 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 09 Nov | Montebello |
For old students |
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| 24 December, 2025 - 04 January, 2026 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 09 Nov | Montebello |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 07 Jun |
Children's course in French |
Open | Montebello |
Course for Children ages 8-12 in French - SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, June 1st. |
| Apply | 07 Jun |
Children's course in English |
Open | Montebello |
Course for Children ages 8-12 in English- SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, June 1st. |
| Apply | 08 Jun |
Teens' course in English |
Open | Montebello |
Course for Teens ages 13-17 in English - SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, June 1st. |
| Apply | 08 Jun |
Teens' course in French |
Open | Montebello |
Course for Teens ages 13-17 in French - SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, June 1st. |
| 04 Oct |
Children's course in English |
Applications accepted starting 01 Aug | Montebello |
Course for Children ages 8-12 in English- SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, september 28th. |
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| 04 Oct |
Children's course in French |
Applications accepted starting 01 Aug | Montebello |
Course for Children ages 8-12 in French - SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, September 28th. |
|
| 05 Oct |
Teens' course in French |
Applications accepted starting 01 Aug | Montebello |
Course for Teens ages 13-17 in French - SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, September 28th. |
|
| 05 Oct |
Teens' course in English |
Applications accepted starting 01 Aug | Montebello |
Course for Teens ages 13-17 in English - SeeCourse Timetable. Registration closes Sunday, September 28th. |
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.
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.
Teenagers' Anapana Courses are available for teens in different age ranges from 13-18 years old. Their parents/guardians do not have to be Vipassana meditators.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Old Student Short Courses (1-3 days) are for any student who has completed the 10-day course with S.N. Goenka and his assistant teachers. All old students are welcome to apply to attend these courses, including those where it has been some time since their last course.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
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 apply. 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.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
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.
