Course Information
Vipassana meditation has three practical aspects to develop. Firstly, throughout the 10 days you will follow Sīla, a code of conduct whereby you refrain from speech and actions that are harmful to yourself and others. Secondly, for the first three and a half days you will practice Anapana Meditation, the observation of the breath, to help calm down and concentrate the mind. And, thirdly, from Day 4 onward, you will practice Vipassana, the meditation of mental purification by insight. You will be given instructions regularly every day. As well, the teachers will meet with you in small groups to see that you are practicing correctly. There will be other opportunities to meet with them on your own if you wish. Every evening you will hear a talk of about one hour on the practice by our late teacher, S.N. Goenka. On Day 10 you will learn a new meditation of Mettā, loving kindness, and then the rule of silence will end. You will then have time to talk to those with whom you have spent the last 9 nine days in silence. At about 7:00 AM on Day 11, after the final talk, the course is officially over. Breakfast is offered and students take the time to clean their rooms and help prepare the center for the next group of students. Since the center is maintained by volunteers, the help you give at the end of the course is very much appreciated. Most of you will have left by 9:30 AM. This course of meditation is a very serious undertaking. If you feel you are really ready to take this course, to work diligently on the course, and to follow the instructions carefully, you will gain a great gift of wisdom. If you maintain your practice of meditation, it will be a jewel and a refuge to you for the rest of your life.
Ten-Day & Other Adult Courses
The Central Texas Vipassana Meditation Center, Dhamma Sukha, has been offering residential meditation courses since June of 2023. You should be 18 years or above to be eligible to sit on an adult course.
Basics
How do I learn Vipassana?
New students learn Vipassana by taking an intensive, residential 10-day course (see the Course Timetable below). Instructions are provided by S.N. Goenka on video and audio tapes. One or more assistant teachers are also present to provide guidance and answer any questions about the technique.
After reviewing information about the program, course requirements, Introduction to the Technique, and the Code of Discipline, you can check the Course Schedule to see which dates are available and register for a course online.
The Course Timetable
The following timetable (CST) for the residential courses has been designed to maintain the continuity of practice. For best results, students are advised to follow it as closely as possible.
4:00 AM Morning wake-up bell
4:30-6:30 AM Meditate in the hall or your room
6:30-8:00 AM Breakfast and break
8:00-9:00 AM Group meditation in the hall
9:00-11:00 AM Meditate in the hall or your room according to the teacher’s instructions
11:00 AM-12:00 Noon Lunch break
12:00 Noon-1:00 PM Rest and interviews with the teacher
1:00-2:30 PM Meditate in the hall or your room
2:30-3:30 PM Group meditation in the hall
3:30-5:00 PM Meditate in the hall or your room according to the teacher’s instructions
5:00-6:00 PM Tea break
6:00-7:00 PM Group meditation in the hall
7:00-8:15 PM Teacher’s Discourse in the hall
8:15-9:00 PM Group meditation in the hall
9:00-9:30 PM Question time in the hall
9:30 PM Retire to your own room–Lights out
You may download a copy of the Code of Discipline in Adobe Acrobat format here for careful reading and review before you register for a course. You may apply for a Vipassana meditation course by completing and submitting an application for a scheduled course.
How much does a course cost?
Each student who attends a Vipassana course is given this gift by a previous student. There is no charge for either the teaching or for room and board. All Vipassana courses worldwide are run on a strictly voluntary donation basis. At the end of your course, if you have benefited from the experience, you are welcome to donate for the coming course, according to your volition and your means.
Are there courses shorter than ten days?
Actually, the 10-day course is the minimum; it provides an essential introduction and foundation to the technique. To develop in the practice is a lifetime job. Experience over generations has shown that if Vipassana is taught in periods of less than ten days, the student does not get a sufficient experiential grasp of the technique. Traditionally, Vipassana was taught in retreats lasting seven weeks. With the dawning of the 20th century, the teachers of this tradition began to experiment with shorter times to suit the quickening pace of life. They tried thirty days, two weeks, ten days, down to seven days–and they found that less than ten days is not enough time for the mind to settle down and work deeply with the mind-body phenomenon.
How many students attend each course?
Course size varies, ranging from approximately 20 to 40 students. Courses that fall during a holiday generally have higher attendance.
What are the accommodations like?
Accommodations are simple rooms with a single bed (twin-size). Both the men’s and women’s residences have single rooms all with attached bathrooms.
What kind of food is served?
The menu is a tasty and nutritious vegetarian menu. Special diets due to medical conditions and serious allergies can be accommodated with advance notice. Please discuss any dietary issues with the Registrar during the registration process.
Inclusivity
Cultural Diversity
We are very fortunate to live in an area rich with people of different colors, genders, backgrounds, cultures, and religions.
The Central Texas Vipassana Association, Dhamma Sukha, welcomes everyone to our courses. We embrace and respect the diversity of everyone, including all colors, identities, genders, religions, backgrounds, and cultures. Despite our unique lives and lived experiences, when we come to a Vipassana course we are united by a common purpose: to discover the way to self-transformation through self-observation.
Non-sectarian Program
Although this teaching comes from Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, it is presented in a non-sectarian format. The Buddha was not interested in converting people. He had found the Path to the end of suffering and his only interest was to share this with others. It is the same today. The cause of suffering lies within each of us, and we only need to look inside to find its solution. This works for anyone regardless of their origins or traditions. And that is what you will learn here.
Languages
In every course, we have many students whose native language is not English. Course materials are available in almost 50 languages. If English is not your native language, then someone from the center will contact you to see how we can accommodate you.
Gender Diversity
People of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome to our courses.
The campuses at all the meditation centers in this tradition are separated into two sides, one for women and one for men. This extends to the residential accommodations, the walking areas, the dining rooms, and the meditation hall. This structure is designed to reduce the tension that derives from the mixing of genders.
We recognize this doesn’t work for everyone and that sometimes members of the LGBTQIA+ community may not feel comfortable on either side of the campus, or having to identify as male or female. If conforming to binary gender separation is a concern for you, please let us know when you apply to the course. You can let us know about your concerns in the section of the application where we ask, “Anything you wish to add to the above information?” We will contact you and together we will try to make a plan that works for you. Your private information is kept confidential for the teacher of the course and for accommodation arrangements only.
Physical Health Needs
Some applicants may have a special requirement because of a health issue, physical limitation, pregnancy, or a medical dietary restriction. We are prepared to accept most people with limitations, but we need to know the extent of someone’s requirements well in advance of their arrival. If you have a special need, please describe in the section “Anything to you wish to add to the above information?” on the application form. We will contact you to discuss your needs.
We can supply back support or chairs for meditation for those who need it.