Wheel of Dhamma

Bodhi Leaf

 
Setu
Dhamma Setu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Centre Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English / Tamil

Dhamma Setu, meaning 'Bridge of Dhamma', is situated amid paddy fields and open farmland on the outskirts of the major South Indian metropolis of Chennai (formerly Madras), about 10 kms from the Chennai Airport. The 18 sq acres of land, previously used for rice cultivation, was purchased from 1991 onwards. The long and painstaking process of making the plot suitable for construction bore fruit in May 2000 with Goenkaji’s visit in September of the same year, when Dhamma Setu was formally established.
 
Teenagers' and Children's Courses
Courses for young people.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
2024 Teenagers' and Children's Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
03 Nov Children / Teens Completed Chennai
15 Dec - 23 Dec 7-day Vipassana course for teens CANCELLED Chennai Due to heavy rain course stands CANCELLED.
23 Dec - 31 Dec 7-day Vipassana course for teens Completed Chennai This course is only for Girls.
2025 Teenagers' and Children's Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
Apply 19 Jan Children / Teens Open Chennai Children Course - Age: 10 to 19 Years Old & Awareness Course for General Publick and Parents.
Apply 23 Mar Children / Teens Open Chennai Children Course Age: 10 to 19 Years Old & Awareness course for General Publick & Parents
20 Apr Children / Teens Applications accepted starting 20 Jan Chennai Children Course Age: 10 to 19 Years Old & Awareness course for General Publick & Parents
14 May - 22 May 7-day Vipassana course for teens Applications accepted starting 13 Feb Chennai Applicants Age: 15 to 19 Years Old only.
25 May Children / Teens Applications accepted starting 24 Feb Chennai Children Course Age: 10 to 19 Years Old & Awareness course for General Publick & Parents
29 Jun Children / Teens Applications accepted starting 31 Mar Chennai Children Course Age: 10 to 19 Years Old & Awareness course for General Publick & Parents
27 Jul Children / Teens Applications accepted starting 28 Apr Chennai
13 Aug - 21 Aug 7-day Vipassana course for teens Applications accepted starting 15 May Chennai Only for Boys, Age from 15 to 19 Years old only.
28 Sep Children / Teens Applications accepted starting 30 Jun Chennai Children's Course.
30 Nov Children / Teens Applications accepted starting 01 Sep Chennai Children Course
28 Dec Children / Teens Applications accepted starting 29 Sep Chennai Children Course
 
Short Courses
1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day courses are short courses for old students.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
2024 Short Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
10 Oct - 13 Oct 3-Day Completed Chennai For old students
Male course is full and closed.
27 Oct 1-Day CANCELLED Chennai For old students
One day course stands CANCELLED due to maintenance works.
28 Oct - 31 Oct 3-Day CANCELLED Chennai For old students
Course stands CANCELLED due to maintenance works at the Centre.
17 Nov 1-Day Completed Chennai For old students
01 Dec 1-Day CANCELLED Chennai For old students
Course stands CANCELED due Rain and Maintenance work at Dhamma Halls
19 Dec - 22 Dec 3-Day Completed Chennai For old students
26 Dec - 29 Dec 3-Day Completed Chennai For old students
3-day course applicants are full and closed.
2025 Short Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
Apply 12 Jan 1-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai For old students
Apply 16 Jan - 19 Jan 3-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai For old students
Apply 23 Feb 1-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai For old students
Old Students Only
Apply 09 Mar 1-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai For old students
Old Students Only
06 Apr 1-Day Applications accepted starting 06 Jan Chennai For old students
Old Students Only
24 Apr - 27 Apr 3-Day Applications accepted starting 24 Jan Chennai For old students
Old Students Only
11 May 1-Day Applications accepted starting 10 Feb Chennai For old students
Old Students Only
22 May - 25 May 3-Day Applications accepted starting 21 Feb Chennai For old students
Old Students Only
08 Jun 1-Day Applications accepted starting 10 Mar Chennai For old students
Old Students Only
13 Jul Guru Poornima. Applications accepted starting 14 Apr Chennai For old students
Only for Old Students
10 Aug 1-Day Applications accepted starting 12 May Chennai For old students
Only for Old Students
28 Aug - 31 Aug 3-Day Applications accepted starting 30 May Chennai For old students
Only for Old Students
14 Sep 1-Day Applications accepted starting 16 Jun Chennai For old students
Only for Old Students
12 Oct 1-Day Applications accepted starting 14 Jul Chennai For old students
16 Oct - 19 Oct 3-Day Applications accepted starting 18 Jul Chennai For old students
Only for Old Students
16 Nov 1-Day Applications accepted starting 18 Aug Chennai For old students
Only for Old Students
14 Dec 1-Day Applications accepted starting 15 Sep Chennai For old students
Only for Old Students
 
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.
2024 Ten Day & Other Adult Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
05 Oct - 13 Oct Satipatthana Sutta Completed Chennai Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
16 Oct - 27 Oct 10-Day Completed Chennai Male & Female Old & New course is full and closed.
06 Nov - 17 Nov 10-Day Completed Chennai Male Old & New Applicants are full and closed.
20 Nov - 01 Dec 10-Day Completed Chennai Male Old & New course is full and closed.
04 Dec - 15 Dec 10-Day Completed Chennai Male old & new course is full and closed.
2025 Ten Day & Other Adult Courses
Attend / Serve Dates Course Type Status Location Comments
01 Jan - 12 Jan 10-Day In Progress Chennai Male & Female applicants Old & New are full and closed.
Apply 22 Jan - 02 Feb Special 10-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Old Students Course
Apply 22 Jan - 12 Feb 20-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Old Students Only
Apply 22 Jan - 22 Feb 30-Day New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Old Students Only
Apply 26 Feb - 09 Mar 10-Day Women - Open Men - Wait List Servers - Open Chennai Male Old & New applicants are in wait list
Apply 12 Mar - 23 Mar 10-Day Open Chennai
Apply 29 Mar - 06 Apr Satipatthana Sutta New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open Chennai Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Old Students Only
09 Apr - 20 Apr 10-Day Applications accepted starting 09 Jan Chennai
30 Apr - 11 May 10-Day Applications accepted starting 30 Jan Chennai
28 May - 08 Jun 10-Day Applications accepted starting 27 Feb Chennai
11 Jun - 22 Jun 10-Day Applications accepted starting 13 Mar Chennai
22 Jun Other Applications accepted starting 24 Mar Chennai Dhamma Servers Workshop
02 Jul - 13 Jul 10-Day Applications accepted starting 03 Apr Chennai
19 Jul - 27 Jul Satipatthana Sutta Applications accepted starting 20 Apr Chennai Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Only for Old Students
30 Jul - 10 Aug 10-Day Applications accepted starting 01 May Chennai
23 Aug - 24 Aug Other Applications accepted starting 25 May Chennai CCT Workshop
03 Sep - 14 Sep 10-Day Applications accepted starting 05 Jun Chennai
17 Sep - 28 Sep 10-Day Applications accepted starting 19 Jun Chennai
01 Oct - 12 Oct 10-Day Applications accepted starting 03 Jul Chennai
25 Oct - 02 Nov Satipatthana Sutta Applications accepted starting 27 Jul Chennai Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
Only for Old Students
05 Nov - 16 Nov 10-Day Applications accepted starting 07 Aug Chennai
19 Nov - 30 Nov 10-Day Applications accepted starting 21 Aug Chennai
03 Dec - 14 Dec 10-Day Applications accepted starting 04 Sep Chennai
17 Dec - 28 Dec 10-Day Applications accepted starting 18 Sep Chennai
 
 

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://setu.dhamma.org/os. A user name and password will be required to access these pages.

Questions may be addressed to Email: info@setu.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.


This is 7 Days Vipassana course for Teenagers of age group 15 to 19 years old.

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.


Old Student Course Qualification Requirements

Special 10-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.

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.

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.