What to Expect

All courses offered are conducted by assistant teachers of S. N. Goenka using audio and video tapes of Mr. Goenka’s instructions and discourses. All ten day courses begin the evening of the arrival day and end early morning of the departure day.

Introduction To The Technique And Code Of Discipline

It is essential that you understand the serious nature of the ten-day course before applying. Therefore, as part of the application process, all course applicants must read the Introduction to the Technique and Code of Discipline.

These ten-day Vipassana meditation courses are very serious, a deep operation of the mind. They can be a rigorous undertaking, both physically and mentally. They are residential, in a rural setting, and presuppose a high level of responsibility and maturity from each student. It requires students to spend most of their time alone, without speaking to other students, inside their own mind, meditating for up to ten hours per day over a period of ten days. While the course includes lectures, instructional tapes, a few meetings with the teacher, and some limited time for questions, the bulk of the ten days is spent within the autonomous, private sphere of a person’s own mind. The meditation course requires a reasonable capacity to maintain focus, cooperate in a large-group setting, follow detailed instructions, keep to a delineated time schedule, maintain silence, not disturb other students, and to work with a teacher with honesty and full cooperation.

How Courses Are Offered

Courses are made possible by volunteers who serve the courses and by donations made by students who participate in them. The teachers conducting the course, the course managers and all those who work in the kitchen are all volunteers.

All courses at the Vipassana Meditation Center are run solely on a donation basis. Donations are accepted only from students who have completed at least one ten-day course with S.N. Goenka or one of his assisting teachers and have experienced for themselves the benefits of Vipassana. Thus Vipassana is offered free from commercialism.

Students taking the course for the first time may give a donation at the end of the course. You may give a donation, small or large according to your means and volition. You donate not with the idea of paying for what you have received, but to give someone else the same opportunity in the future. Each center is financially autonomous and these donations are the only source of funding; there is no wealthy foundation or individual sponsoring the courses. Returning students may give a donation at any time. Once you have completed one 10-day course in this tradition, you are welcome to apply for volunteer service at any center around the world.

Accommodations

Men’s and Women’s accommodations are dormitory style with shared bathrooms. 
 
Construction is underway to provide some single rooms with en suite bathrooms that will be available by fall of 2020. The Center masterplan includes a private room and bath for each student in the future.
 

Arrival Time

Please arrive between 2:00 and 5:00 pm. on the day the course begins.

This allows time for you to check in, get your accommodation and unpack. Late arrivals make it difficult for the staff to serve everyone efficiently and to start the course on time. If you have an emergency and are unable to arrive at the requested time, please notify us as soon as possible.

A light meal will be served at 6:00 pm. followed by a pre-course orientation.

Departure Time

Please make your return travel plans before arriving at the center, as you will not have access to your cell phone until after the course is completed.

You are expected to stay until the course is completed at approximately 7:00 a.m. on the last day of the course. Although the course ends at 7:00 a.m., please allow enough time to clean your room before you leave. We rely on students to prepare the center for the next course.

When making travel arrangements, please allow sufficient time for travel to and from the center.

After being accepted into a course, if your plans change in any way, please notify us immediately.

Health

A Vipassana meditation course is very demanding both physically and mentally. It is important that you are prepared for the rigorous nature of the course. After you have completed the application process if anything related to your physical or mental health changes, please contact the center prior to the course.

For the health and safety of all the students, it is important that you are in good health when you arrive at the center. If you are sick, or should become ill close to the start of your course, we ask that you reschedule for a future date. If you should need to cancel from the course because of illness, your next course application will be given priority.

If there is any significant change in your physical or mental health, or medications, please notify the center registrar. If you are presently taking medication, please remember to bring enough for the entire course.

Please do not come to the center if you have any flu-like or cold symptoms prior to or on the course date. Also please do not come if you have had contact with someone with flu within 10 days of course start date. Let us know as soon as possible so that we can give your spot to someone on the wait list. If you need to cancel due to illness, you will be given priority on the next course.

Please Bring
Required Items (Not Provided)
  • Alarm Clock, flashlight, and batteries for both.
    (You may not use your cell phone or other personal electronic device as an alarm clock)
  • Top and bottom sheet and pillowcase for a twin-size bed
  • Enough comfortable, modest, non-binding clothing for the duration of your stay. Pants or skirts that cover your knees while you are seated are acceptable. Midsection and shoulders should also be covered. Modest dress is required for both men and women.
  • Towel and all needed toiletries, non-scented personal hygiene articles and feminine sanitary protection
  • Water Bottle
  • Any medication you are taking. Please make sure you bring enough for the entire course
Suggested Items
  • Indoor footwear/slippers: easy slip-ons e.g. clogs, flip flops, etc.
  • A shawl or light blanket other than your sleeping blanket for use in the meditation hall
Seasonal Items
  • Seasonal outdoor wear: raincoat, umbrella, boots, hat, warm clothing, and Yak Trax (or similar shoe traction devices for the ice/snow).
We Provide
  • Meditation cushions: We supply a large base cushion for every student. We have a limited supply of smaller sitting cushions, so please bring any additional cushions that you may need.
  • Bedding: sleeping pillow and one light fleece blanket. A limited supply of extra blankets is available so you may wish to bring one of your own.
Please Do Not Bring
Clothing
  • Tight, transparent, revealing or otherwise striking clothing (such as low risers, shorts, short skirts, tights, leggings, sleeveless, tank or skimpy tops) may not be worn at the center.
  • Skirts, shorts, and capri pants must cover the upper legs and knees when you are sitting cross-legged.
  • All tights and leggings must be worn only under a knee length top or skirt.
Other
  • Cell phones and other personal electronic devices may not be used as alarm clocks during the course; they must be deposited with the management upon registration. They will be returned on the last day when the course is over.
  • Computers, fitbits, devices that can access the internet, or other electronic equipment
  • books, diaries, journals and other reading/writing materials
  • musical instruments
  • personal food items (see Food below for more information)
  • tobacco in any form
  • non-prescribed drugs
  • Scented toiletries or perfumes
  • religious or spiritual objects
  • jewelry or other unnecessary valuables

NOTE: If you arrive with any of the above items you will be asked to leave them with the management until the end of the course.

 

Food

A simple vegetarian menu, developed to satisfy the needs of most students, is offered at all courses. A sample menu is available. Please note, no outside food is allowed at the center and we are unable to accommodate special food requests. However, if you have food requirements because of a medically diagnosed condition such as diabetes or pregnancy, please contact the center immediately to see if we can meet your needs. For your information there are menu cards at each meal indicating foods that contain soy, gluten, dairy, and nuts. In addition, there is a detailed list of all ingredients in each dish posted at every meal for any other allergy concerns.

Sample Menu

The food served at Dhamma Pubbananda changes based on the season, vegetable availability, and recipe adjustments.

Breakfast (everyday)Oatmeal, stewed prunes, dry cereals, granola, yogurt, fresh fruit bowl, wheat, raisin, and gluten free bread, rice cakes, butter, non dairy butter spread, jam, peanut butter, orange juice, soy, rice and regular milk, herbal and black tea, instant coffee, and coffee substitute.
Day 0Lemon basil lentil soup, white and brown rice, salad
Day 1Gluten free pasta, marinara sauce, steamed broccoli, rices, herbed bread, salad, and fruit
Day 2Coconut curry with tofu, sweet potatoes, rices, salad, coconut raisin cookies
Day 3Mung dal, yellow squash and peas, rices, salad, fruit
Day 4Miso soup, baked nutritional tofu, steamed kale, quinoa, brown rice, salad, gingerbread
Day 5Spiced beans, flour tortillas, steamed broccoli, rices, condiments for beans, salad, fruit
Day 6Tofu vegetable stir fry, rice noodles, peanut sauce, quinoa, brown rice, salas, chocolate cake
Day 7Baked marinated tempeh, mashed potatoes and gravy, zucchini and mushrooms, salad, fruit
Day 8Red lentil dal, curried peas and potatoes, rices, salad, apple crisp
Day 9Black bean soup, cornbread, steamed kale, fruit
Day10Mac and cheese (both dairy, non dairy, and gluten free), tomato bisque, steamed broccoli, salad, chocolate chip cookies
Day 10 TeatimeHummus and chips, carrot and celery sticks, salad and leftovers