Wheel of Dhamma

Bodhi Leaf

 
Dhara
Dhamma Dharā, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, United States
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.

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.

 

View New York Courses

 

 
Teenagers' and Children's Courses
Courses for young people.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
2025 Teenagers' and Children's Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
May 10

Children's Course (ages 8 - 12)

Applications accepted starting Mar 29 Shelburne Falls

Children's course for ages 8 - 12.

Oct 18 - Oct 19

Teen Course (ages 13-17]

Applications accepted starting Sep 06 Shelburne Falls

Teen Course for ages 13-17.

 
Ten Day & Other Adult Courses
All ten day courses begin on the evening of the first day and end on the early morning of the last day.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
2025 Ten Day & Other Adult Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
Jan 01 - Jan 12 10-Day In Progress Shelburne Falls

For new students and old students

Apply Jan 12 - Jan 15 Service Period Servers - Open Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Jan 15 - Feb 15 30-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Shelburne Falls Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Apply Jan 15 - Mar 02 45-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Shelburne Falls Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Apply Mar 02 - Mar 05 Service Period Servers - Open Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Mar 05 - Mar 09 3-Day Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Mar 09 - Mar 12 Service Period Servers - Open Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Mar 12 - Mar 23 10-Day Women - Course Full Men - Wait List Servers - Open Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Servers Needed

Apply Mar 23 - Mar 26 Service Period Servers - Open Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Mar 26 - Apr 06 10-Day Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Apply Apr 06 - Apr 09 Service Period Servers - Open Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Apr 09 - Apr 20 10-Day Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Apply Apr 20 - Apr 30

Seasonal Dhamma Service Period

New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Apr 30 - May 09 Satipatthana Sutta New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Shelburne Falls Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
May 11 - May 14 Service Period Applications accepted starting Jan 11 Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply* 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.

May 25 - May 28 Service Period Applications accepted starting Jan 25 Shelburne Falls For old students
May 28 - Jun 08 10-Day Applications accepted starting Jan 28 Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Jun 08 - Jun 11 Service Period Applications accepted starting Feb 08 Shelburne Falls For old students
Apply Jun 11 - Jun 22 10-Day
English / Mandarin
Open Shelburne Falls

Priority will be given to Mandarin-speaking students

Jun 22 - Jun 25 Service Period Applications accepted starting Feb 22 Shelburne Falls For old students
Jun 25 - Jul 06 10-Day
English / Burmese
Applications accepted starting Feb 25 Shelburne Falls

Priority will be given to Burmese-speaking students

Jul 06 - Jul 09 Service Period Applications accepted starting Mar 08 Shelburne Falls For old students
Jul 09 - Jul 20 10-Day
English / Thai
Applications accepted starting Mar 11 Shelburne Falls

Priority will be given to Thai-speaking students

Jul 20 - Jul 26 Service Period Applications accepted starting Mar 22 Shelburne Falls For old students
Jul 26 - Aug 16 20-Day Applications accepted starting Mar 28 Shelburne Falls Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Aug 16 - Aug 20 Service Period Applications accepted starting Apr 18 Shelburne Falls For old students
Aug 20 - Aug 31 10-Day
English / Khmer
Applications accepted starting Apr 22 Shelburne Falls

Priority will be given to Khmer-speaking students

Aug 31 - Sep 03 Service Period Applications accepted starting May 03 Shelburne Falls For old students
Sep 03 - Sep 14 10-Day
English / Vietnamese
Applications accepted starting May 06 Shelburne Falls

Priority will be given to Vietnamese-speaking students

Sep 14 - Sep 17 Service Period Applications accepted starting May 17 Shelburne Falls For old students
Sep 17 - Sep 28

10-Day Black Heritage Course

Applications accepted starting May 20 Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Sep 28 - Oct 08

Seasonal Dhamma Service Period

Applications accepted starting May 31 Shelburne Falls For old students
Oct 08 - Oct 17 Satipatthana Sutta Applications accepted starting Jun 10 Shelburne Falls Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Oct 19 - Oct 22 Service Period Applications accepted starting Jun 21 Shelburne Falls For old students
Oct 22 - Nov 02 10-Day Applications accepted starting Jun 24 Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Nov 02 - Nov 05 Service Period Applications accepted starting Jul 05 Shelburne Falls For old students
Nov 05 - Nov 16 10-Day
English / Spanish
Applications accepted starting Jul 08 Shelburne Falls

Priority given to Spanish-speaking students

Nov 16 - Nov 19 Service Period Applications accepted starting Jul 19 Shelburne Falls For old students
Nov 19 - Nov 30 10-Day Applications accepted starting Jul 22 Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Nov 30 - Dec 03 Service Period Applications accepted starting Aug 02 Shelburne Falls For old students
Dec 03 - Dec 14 10-Day Applications accepted starting Aug 05 Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

Dec 14 - Dec 17 Service Period Applications accepted starting Aug 16 Shelburne Falls For old students
Dec 17 - Dec 21 3-Day Applications accepted starting Aug 19 Shelburne Falls For old students
Dec 21 - Dec 24 Service Period Applications accepted starting Aug 23 Shelburne Falls For old students
December 24, 2025 - January 04, 2026 10-Day Applications accepted starting Aug 26 Shelburne Falls

For new and old students

2026 Ten Day & Other Adult Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
Jan 04 - Jan 07 Service Period Applications accepted starting Sep 06 Shelburne Falls For old students
 
New York Vipassana Association
New York courses are held in either the New York City Dhamma House or Fishkill, NY, in two different sections of Sharpe Reservation.
2025 New York Vipassana Association Courses    Website | Map
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
Apply Jan 05

Dhamma Service Day


English
In Progress New York, NY For old students

More info: DSD at DH

Apply Jan 11 1-Day
English
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed New York, NY For old students
Apply Jan 11 1-Day
English
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Parsippany, NJ For old students

Led by an Assistant Teacher.

At 120 Littleton Rd, Parsippany NJ

Apply Jan 12 1-Day
English
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open New York, NY For old students
Apply Jan 18 1-Day
English / Burmese
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open New York, NY For old students
Apply Jan 19 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 Jan 25 1-Day
English
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed New York, NY For old students
Jan 26 1-Day
English
Applications accepted starting Jan 12 New York, NY For old students
Feb 01 1-Day
English / Mandarin
Applications accepted starting Jan 18 New York, NY For old students
Apply Feb 02

Dhamma Service Day


English
Servers - Open New York, NY For old students

More info: DSD at DH

Feb 08 1-Day
English
Applications accepted starting Jan 11 Parsippany, NJ For old students

Led by an Assistant Teacher.

At 120 Littleton Rd, Parsippany NJ

Feb 15 1-Day
English / Burmese
Applications accepted starting Feb 01 New York, NY For old students
Feb 22 1-Day
English
Applications accepted starting Jan 25 New York, NY For old students
Mar 01 1-Day
English / Mandarin
Applications accepted starting Feb 15 New York, NY For old students
Mar 15 1-Day
English / Burmese
Applications accepted starting Mar 01 New York, NY For old students

Led by Assistant Teachers.

Mar 15 1-Day
English
Applications accepted starting Feb 08 Parsippany, NJ For old students

Led by an Assistant Teacher.

At 120 Littleton Rd, Parsippany NJ

May 10 - May 11

Camp Set Up


English
Applications accepted starting Feb 08 Fishkill, NY New Course!!For old students
May 14

Day 0 Service


English
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 Fishkill, NY New Course!!For old students
May 14 - May 25 10-Day
English
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 Fishkill, NY New Course!!
May 25

Day 11 Service


English
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 Fishkill, NY New Course!!For old students
May 26 1-Day
English
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 Fishkill, NY New Course!!For old students

Led by Assistant Teachers with several language options.

May 27

Day 0 Service


English
Applications accepted starting Feb 10 Fishkill, NY New Course!!For old students
May 27 - Jun 07 10-Day
English
Applications accepted starting Feb 27 Fishkill, NY New Course!!
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://dhara.dhamma.org/os. A user name and password will be required to access these pages.

Questions may be addressed to Email: info@dhara.dhamma.org

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 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

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.


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.

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.