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 Karuṇā means "Compassion of Dhamma" in Pali. The centre is located on 8.5 acres on the outskirts of Youngstown, Alberta – a small farming village in the Canadian Badlands. This area is noted for its wildlife including waterfowl, deer, antelope and moose. It is also famous for some of the most important fossil deposits in the world, including the Bearpaw Shale. Youngstown is three to five hours by car from four major cities: Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, and Regina and Saskatoon in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan.
How to Apply to Attend or Serve a Course
- 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.
Alberta Vipassana Meditation Centre Dhamma Karuṇā Tel: [1](403) 908-0346 Fax: [1](877) 230-9484 Email: [email protected] | Mailing address: Alberta Vipassana Foundation8 Meadow Ridge Bay Rocky View County, AB T1Z 0J2 |
Course Registration Notes
We continue to be vigilant for the development of infectious respiratory diseases. Please take extra precautions for 3 days before coming to the course, to protect yourself from exposure to viruses.
- Masking is optional during the course.
- Students who develop symptoms of illness will be asked to wear a mask.
- If someone tests positive on a Rapid Antigen Test or becomes too ill to participate, they will be asked to leave.
- Some students may be asked to share a room with other students.
- Ride-sharing is available.
- We are accepting applications from students:
- Who are within one day's driving distance and will drive themselves to Youngstown, or
- Who will fly into Alberta and will rent a car for the duration of the course, or
- Who will accept a ride from another student AND have someone local who can pick them up if needed, in case of illness or other emergency.
- Servers: if you are serving the course and do not have a ride, please let us know; it may be possible to arrange transportation. Contact:[email protected](NOTE: Volunteer drivers are needed.)
- If the course needs to be cancelled for any reason, we will provide 5 days’ notice before the course start day.
Please consider applying later if you have any conditions that put you at greater risk of serious illness from viral infections.
Please note that the above guidelines may change at any time if Public Health measures are implemented.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | 27 Sep | Children / Teens | Open | Edmonton |
New Course!! One-day Anapana course for ages 8-15, held at 11730 - 82 St NW, Edmonton, AB. For more information, click here.
Parents do not need to have completed a 10-day Vipassana course for their children to attend.
Old students who wish to serve, please apply as soon as possible.
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See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug | 1-Day | In Progress | Elbow Valley |
For old students Pre-registration is not required. Please email: [email protected] as space is limited. Arrive at 8:45 am with an egg-free vegetarian lunch and travel mug. Filtered water and hot water are available. Chairs are available; bring floor mat and sitting supplies. More information and directions here. |
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| Apply | 17 Sep - 21 Sep | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
| 28 Sep | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Edmonton |
For old students For Old Students Only Pre-registration is not required. Please arrive at 8:45 am with a vegetarian, egg-free lunch and water or a beverage. Tap water and kettles available at lunch break. Chairs and some floor mats are available. More information here. Grovenor Community Hall 14325 104 Ave NW |
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| 28 Sep | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Elbow Valley |
For old students Pre-registration is not required. Please email: [email protected] as space is limited. Arrive at 8:45 am with an egg-free vegetarian lunch and travel mug. Filtered water and hot water are available. Chairs are available; bring floor mat and sitting supplies. More information and directions here. |
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| 26 Oct | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Edmonton |
For old students For Old Students Only Pre-registration is not required. Please arrive at 8:45 am with a vegetarian, egg-free lunch and water or a beverage. Tap water and kettles available at lunch break. Chairs and some floor mats are available. More information here. Grovenor Community Hall 14325 104 Ave NW |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr - 26 Apr |
3-Day Old Student Course |
Applications accepted starting 21 Feb | Youngstown |
For old students Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 23 Sep - 27 Sep |
3-Day Old Student Course |
Applications accepted starting 25 Jul | Youngstown |
For old students Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
- Courses open for applications at approximately 8:00 AM Mountain Time (MT) . If you do not see the 'Apply' Link at 8:00 am, close your browser and re-open the page.
- Courses may be cancelled with limited notice should the Governament of Alberta public health measures require cancellation or if within 5 days before start of a course, a sufficient number of servers or Assistant teachers are unavailable to support the course.
- All ten-day courses begin on the evening of the first day, continue for ten full days and end on the early morning of the last day.
- 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.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug - 24 Aug |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
CANCELLED | Youngstown |
For old students
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| Apply | 24 Aug - 27 Aug |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
In Progress | Youngstown |
For old students |
| Apply | 27 Aug - 07 Sep | 10-Day | Women - Filling Up Men - Filling Up Servers - Open | Youngstown |
We require one full time server. Both men and women are welcome to serve, either full-time or part-time. Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
| Apply | 07 Sep - 17 Sep |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students |
| Apply | 21 Sep - 24 Sep |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students |
| Apply | 24 Sep - 05 Oct | 10-Day | New Women - Wait List Old Women - Open Men - Open Servers - Open | Youngstown |
Truth & Reconciliation Day, Sept. 30 Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
| Apply | 05 Oct - 08 Oct |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students |
| Apply | 08 Oct - 19 Oct | 10-Day | Open | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
| Apply | 19 Oct - 22 Oct | Work Period | Servers - Open | Youngstown |
For old students |
| Apply | 22 Oct - 02 Nov | 10-Day | Open | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
| 19 Nov - 30 Nov |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 20 Sep | Youngstown |
For old students
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| 30 Nov - 05 Dec |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 01 Oct | Youngstown |
For old students
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| 05 Dec - 14 Dec | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 06 Oct | Youngstown |
Note: New Dates!Old Student Course Qualification Requirements Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 14 Dec - 24 Dec |
Service Period - Part Time Welcome |
Applications accepted starting 15 Oct | Youngstown |
For old students |
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| 24 December, 2025 - 04 January, 2026 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 25 Oct | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jan - 01 Feb | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 22 Nov | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 11 Feb - 22 Feb | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 13 Dec | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 11 Mar - 22 Mar | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 10 Jan | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 03 Apr - 12 Apr | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 02 Feb | Youngstown |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 06 May - 17 May | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 07 Mar | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 27 May - 07 Jun | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 28 Mar | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 24 Jun - 05 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 25 Apr | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 15 Jul - 26 Jul | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 16 May | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 29 Jul - 09 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 30 May | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 19 Aug - 30 Aug | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 20 Jun | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 02 Sep - 13 Sep | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 04 Jul | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 07 Oct - 18 Oct | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 08 Aug | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 02 Dec - 13 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 03 Oct | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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| 23 December, 2026 - 03 January, 2027 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 24 Oct | Youngstown |
Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1). |
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://karuna.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 Anapana 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 open for all teenagers aged 13-18 years old who wish to learn to meditate. Their parents/guardians do not have to be 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.
