in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Centre Location: Website | Map
** All courses are bilingual: English plus one other language, Dutch, German or French.
Vipassana Meditation Centre Dhamma Pajjota (Torch of Dhamma) is situated in a rural area near the Belgian town of Dilsen-Stokkem, close to the borders of the Netherlands and Germany. The 7 hectare (17.2 acres) site is surrounded by forest and farmland, and has spacious walking areas with numerous trees. At present comfortable accommodation is offered for up to 110 students.
- 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.
Vipassana Meditation Centre - Dhamma Pajjota
Driepaal 3
B-3650 Dilsen-Stokkem
Tel. [32] (0) 89 51 82 30
Fax [32] (0) 89 51 82 39
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://pajjota.dhamma.org
GENERAL INFORMATION
Registration will open 3 months before the course starts at 8 pm winter time or 9 pm summer time. Note, the 'apply' link will not be visible until then. You will need to refresh this page to see the link as this page does not auto refresh.
For a 10-day course you can apply until midnight to attend (sit) the course. If the course is not full you can also apply later. Places for attending the 10-day course are allocated by electronic random selection.
Due to the high demand for 10-day courses and to give everyone a fair chance, you can apply for only one 10-day course at a time.
Old students are welcome to apply for a 10-day course if they have NOT sat a 10-day, Satipatthana or long course in the last 6 months.
LONG-TERM SERVERS ARE VERY WELCOME
More information on long-term service and an application form can be found here.
| Dhamma Pajjota |
| 1-day courses Belgium | Teenagers’ and Children’s Courses The Netherlands |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 20 Dec - 23 Dec |
3 Day
English / Dutch |
In Progress | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 24 Dec - 26 Dec | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 26 December, 2024 - 06 January, 2025 |
10 days
English / German |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Long Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Long Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 01 Jan - 31 Dec | Local servers | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students For local servers only. These are dedicated servers that regularly come to the centre for a specific task. |
| Apply* | 07 Jan - 08 Jan | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 08 Jan - 19 Jan |
10 days
English / Dutch |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Long Wait List Old Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Short Wait List Male Server - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| Apply* | 20 Jan - 21 Jan | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 21 Jan - 01 Feb |
10 days
English / French |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Long Wait List Old Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| 01 Feb - 02 Feb | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected].
|
|
| Apply* | 02 Feb - 05 Feb | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 05 Feb - 16 Feb |
10 days
English / Dutch |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Short Wait List New Men - Long Wait List Old Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| Apply* | 17 Feb - 19 Feb | Work Period | Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
| Apply* | 19 Feb - 02 Mar |
10 days
English / German |
New Women - Long Wait List Old Women - Short Wait List Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| 03 Mar - 05 Mar | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 01 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| Apply* | 05 Mar - 16 Mar |
10 days
English / French |
New Women - Long Wait List Old Women - Filling Up New Men - Filling Up Old Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| 17 Mar - 18 Mar | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 15 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| Apply* | 18 Mar - 29 Mar |
10 days
English / Dutch |
New Women - Short Wait List Old Women - Open Men - Filling Up Servers - Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | |
| 29 Mar - 30 Mar | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected].
|
|
| 30 Mar - 02 Apr | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 28 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 02 Apr - 13 Apr |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 02 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 14 Apr - 15 Apr | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 12 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 15 Apr - 24 Apr |
Sati
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 15 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
|
| 24 Apr - 13 May | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 22 Jan | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 13 May - 24 May |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 13 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 24 May - 25 May | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected].
|
|
| 25 May - 28 May | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 25 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 28 May - 08 Jun |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 28 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 09 Jun - 17 Jun | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 09 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 15 Jun | Open Day | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 18 Jun - 21 Jun |
3 Day
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 18 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 22 Jun - 25 Jun | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 22 Apr | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 25 Jun - 06 Jul |
10 days
English / Persian (Farsi) |
Applications accepted starting 25 Mar | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 07 Jul - 09 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 07 May | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 09 Jul - 20 Jul |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 09 Apr | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 21 Jul - 22 Jul | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 21 May | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 22 Jul - 02 Aug |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 22 Apr | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 02 Aug - 03 Aug | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected].
|
|
| 03 Aug - 06 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 03 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 06 Aug - 17 Aug |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 06 May | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 18 Aug - 20 Aug | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 18 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 20 Aug - 31 Aug |
10 days
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 20 May | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 01 Sep - 03 Sep | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 02 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 03 Sep - 14 Sep |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 03 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 15 Sep - 23 Sep | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 15 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 23 Sep - 04 Oct |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 23 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 04 Oct - 05 Oct | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected].
|
|
| 06 Oct - 15 Oct | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 06 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 15 Oct - 26 Oct |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 15 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 27 Oct - 29 Oct | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 27 Aug | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 29 Oct - 01 Nov |
3 Day
English / Dutch |
Applications accepted starting 29 Jul | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 02 Nov - 07 Nov | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 02 Sep | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 07 Nov - 28 Nov |
20-Day
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 07 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
|
| 29 Nov - 30 Nov | TRUST MEETING | Open | Dilsen-Stokkem |
Saturday: committee meetings Sunday morning: trust meeting Old students are welcome. Contact [email protected].
|
|
| 30 Nov - 03 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 30 Sep | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 03 Dec - 14 Dec |
10 days
English / French |
Applications accepted starting 03 Sep | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 15 Dec - 17 Dec | Work Period | Applications accepted starting 15 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 17 Dec - 20 Dec |
3 Day
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 17 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 21 Dec - 26 Dec | Sit & Serve | Applications accepted starting 21 Oct | Dilsen-Stokkem |
For old students |
|
| 26 December, 2025 - 06 January, 2026 |
10 days
English / German |
Applications accepted starting 26 Sep | Dilsen-Stokkem |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 26 Jan | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 09 Feb | 1 day | Women - Long Wait List Men - Filling Up Female Server - Closed Male Server - Filling Up | Brussels |
For old students |
| Apply* | 16 Feb |
Children / Teens
Dutch / French |
Open | Brussels | |
| Apply* | 23 Feb | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 16 Mar | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 27 Apr | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| 18 May | 1 day | Applications accepted starting 18 Jan | Brussels |
For old students |
|
| Apply* | 18 May | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 29 Jun | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 21 Sep | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 19 Oct | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 16 Nov | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Apply* | 07 Dec | 1 day | Open | Ghent |
For old students |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | 16 Feb |
Children / Teens
Dutch / French |
Open | Brussels | |
| 02 May - 04 May |
Course for Girls (8-18 yr)
Dutch / French / German |
Applications accepted starting 02 Feb | Dilsen-Stokkem | ||
| 19 Sep - 21 Sep |
Course for Boys (8-18 yr)
Dutch / French / German |
Applications accepted starting 19 Jun | Dilsen-Stokkem |
As a privacy measure, the online application form encrypts the information you provide us with before it is sent from your device to our application server.
To access the Old Student Regional Site please click http://pajjota.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.
Open Days are held between meditation courses. All are welcome to attend and learn about Vipassana Meditation and the Centre.
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.
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.
