in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Center Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English
The Shelburne center, founded in 1982, was the first center in North America. The original facility was merely a roomy, comfortable two-story house and barn on eight acres of meadowland. In 1989, a group of meditators donated an adjoining seventy acres of land. Today the center consists of 108 acres and many new buildings have been added, including a bathhouse, two dining rooms, meditation hall for 200, a 140 cell pagoda, separate residences for men and women and a center manager's house.
- 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 Center - Dhamma Dharā
386 Colrain-Shelburne Road
Shelburne, Massachusetts 01370-9672 USA
Tel: [1](413) 625-2160
Fax: [1](413) 625-2170
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.dhara.dhamma.org
The courses will open up to accept applications four months before the start of the course. Course registration will start at 6 AM on the listed dates. Students may apply to sit no more than two 10-day courses per year. Any additional applications will not be processed.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
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Oct 26 |
Children's Course (ages 8-12) |
Applications accepted starting Sep 14 | Shelburne Falls |
Children's Course for ages 8-12. |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
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Aug 28 - Sep 08 | 10-Day | In Progress | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students
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Apply | Sep 08 - Sep 11 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Sep 11 - Sep 22 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
Apply | Sep 22 - Sep 25 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Sep 25 - Oct 06 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
Apply | Oct 06 - Oct 16 |
Seasonal Dhamma Service Period |
Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Short Wait List | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Oct 16 - Oct 25 | Satipatthana Sutta | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Oct 25 - Oct 30 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Oct 30 - Nov 03 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Nov 03 - Nov 06 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Nov 06 - Nov 17 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
Apply | Nov 17 - Nov 20 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Nov 20 - Dec 01 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List New Men - Wait List Old Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
Apply | Dec 01 - Dec 04 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Dec 04 - Dec 15 | 10-Day | Women - Short Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
Apply | Dec 15 - Dec 18 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Dec 18 - Dec 29 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
Apply | December 29, 2024 - January 01, 2025 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apply | Jan 01 - Jan 12 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For new students and old students |
Jan 12 - Jan 15 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 14 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Apply | Jan 15 - Feb 15 | 30-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Apply | Jan 15 - Mar 02 | 45-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Mar 02 - Mar 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Mar 05 - Mar 09 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Mar 09 - Mar 12 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 09 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Mar 12 - Mar 23 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 12 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Mar 23 - Mar 26 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 23 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Mar 26 - Apr 06 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 26 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Apr 06 - Apr 09 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Dec 07 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Apr 09 - Apr 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 10 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Apr 20 - Apr 30 |
Seasonal Dhamma Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Dec 21 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Apr 30 - May 09 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Dec 31 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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May 11 - May 14 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 11 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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May 14 - May 25 |
10-day Course for Leaders |
Open | Shelburne Falls |
Priority will be given to leaders in business, government, non-profits, education and other communities. |
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May 25 - May 28 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 25 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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May 28 - Jun 08 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Jun 08 - Jun 11 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 08 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Jun 11 - Jun 22 |
10-Day
English / Mandarin |
Applications accepted starting Feb 11 | Shelburne Falls |
Priority will be given to Mandarin-speaking students |
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Jun 22 - Jun 25 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Jun 25 - Jul 06 |
10-Day
English / Burmese |
Applications accepted starting Feb 25 | Shelburne Falls |
Priority will be given to Burmese-speaking students |
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Jul 06 - Jul 09 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 08 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Jul 09 - Jul 20 |
10-Day
English / Thai |
Applications accepted starting Mar 11 | Shelburne Falls |
Priority will be given to Thai-speaking students |
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Jul 20 - Jul 26 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Jul 26 - Aug 16 | 20-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 28 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Aug 16 - Aug 20 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 18 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Aug 20 - Aug 31 |
10-Day
English / Khmer |
Applications accepted starting Apr 22 | Shelburne Falls |
Priority will be given to Khmer-speaking students |
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Aug 31 - Sep 03 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 03 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Sep 03 - Sep 14 |
10-Day
English / Vietnamese |
Applications accepted starting May 06 | Shelburne Falls |
Priority will be given to Vietnamese-speaking students |
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Sep 14 - Sep 17 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 17 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Sep 17 - Sep 28 |
10-Day Black Heritage Course |
Applications accepted starting May 20 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Sep 28 - Oct 08 |
Seasonal Dhamma Service Period |
Applications accepted starting May 31 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Oct 08 - Oct 17 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Jun 10 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Oct 19 - Oct 22 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 21 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Oct 22 - Nov 02 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 24 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Nov 02 - Nov 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Nov 05 - Nov 16 |
10-Day
English / Spanish |
Applications accepted starting Jul 08 | Shelburne Falls |
Priority given to Spanish-speaking students |
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Nov 16 - Nov 19 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Nov 19 - Nov 30 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 22 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Nov 30 - Dec 03 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 02 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Dec 03 - Dec 14 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 05 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
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Dec 14 - Dec 17 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 16 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Dec 17 - Dec 21 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 19 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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Dec 21 - Dec 24 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 23 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
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December 24, 2025 - January 04, 2026 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 26 | Shelburne Falls |
For new and old students |
Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 04 - Jan 07 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 06 | Shelburne Falls |
For old students |
Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
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Sep 07 |
1-Day
English |
In Progress | New York, NY |
For old students |
|
Apply | Sep 08 |
Dhamma Service Day English |
Servers - Open | New York, NY |
For old students |
Apply | Sep 14 |
1-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | New York, NY |
New Course!!For old students Full time applicants only. No Walk-ins. Must apply to attend. |
Apply | Sep 15 |
1-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | New York, NY |
For old students |
Apply | Sep 21 |
1-Day
English |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Parsippany, NJ |
Note: New Dates!For old students At 120 Littelton Rd, Parsippany, NJ Led by Assistant Teacher |
Apply | Sep 21 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Wait List | New York, NY |
For old students |
Sep 22 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Sep 08 | New York, NY |
For old students Fulltime attendance only. Must apply to attend. |
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Sep 28 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Sep 14 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Oct 05 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Sep 21 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Oct 06 |
Dhamma Service Day English |
Applications accepted starting Sep 08 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Oct 12 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Sep 28 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Oct 19 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
Applications accepted starting Oct 05 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Oct 19 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Sep 21 | Parsippany, NJ |
For old students At 120 Littelton Rd, Parsippany, NJ Led by Assistant Teacher |
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Oct 20 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Oct 06 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Oct 26 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Oct 12 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Nov 03 |
Dhamma Service Day English |
Applications accepted starting Oct 06 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Nov 09 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Oct 26 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Nov 16 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Oct 19 | Parsippany, NJ |
For old students At 120 Littelton Rd, Parsippany, NJ Led by Assistant Teacher |
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Nov 16 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
Applications accepted starting Nov 02 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Nov 17 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Nov 03 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Dec 01 |
Dhamma Service Day English |
Applications accepted starting Nov 03 | New York, NY |
For old students |
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Dec 07 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Nov 16 | Parsippany, NJ |
For old students |
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Dec 21 |
1-Day
English / Burmese |
Applications accepted starting Dec 07 | New York, NY |
For old students |
Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
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May 10 - May 11 |
Camp Set Up English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
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May 14 |
Day 0 Service English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
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May 14 - May 25 |
10-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!! |
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May 25 |
Day 11 Service English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
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May 26 |
1-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
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May 27 |
Day 0 Service English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
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May 27 - Jun 07 |
10-Day
English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 27 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!! |
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Jun 07 |
Camp Break Down English |
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 | Fishkill, NY |
New Course!!For old students |
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://www.dhara.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.
10-day Executive Courses are an introductory course to Vipassana Meditation especially for business executives and government officials where the technique is taught step-by-step each day. For more information please visit the Executive course website. 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 7:30am.
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 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 Programs are similar to Service Periods where there is time to work on a variety of Centre maintenance, construction, household and gardening projects, but have a more full and structured program, an opportunity to meet with assistant teachers, and possibly committee and trust meetings. All Old Students are welcome to participate. The daily program will include three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods and in the evening there will be tapes played of special discourses and talks that S.N. Goenka has given to Old Students.
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.
Service 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.
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.
30-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of six 10-day courses (one since their first 20-day course), one 20-day course, one Satipatthana Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two years.
45-day Courses are open only to persons involved in Dhamma Service and Assistant Teachers who have completed a minimum of seven 10-day courses (one since their first 30-day course), two 30-day courses, one Satipatthana Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for at least three 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.