Vipassana Meditation Centre of BC

Dhamma Surabhi

Vipassana Meditation Centre of BC, Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
Dhamma Surabhi, which means the Fragrance of Dhamma, is one of many Vipassana centers around the world conducting courses as taught by S.N. Goenka. In August 1997 a 56-acre property was purchased just above the Coldwater River, near Merritt. Construction of the Centre began in spring 1999 and the first course was conducted in 2002. The Centre consists of a building of approximately 9300 sq. ft. with accommodations for about 45 students and servers.
Additional information

Vipassana Meditation Centre of BC -- Dhamma Surabhi

P.O. Box 699, Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8, Canada

Email: [email protected]

Phone: [1] 778-785-4080 (Vancouver), [1] 250-412-5372 (Victoria), [1] 250-469-7180 (Kelowna) Fax: (toll free) [1] (866) 259-6088

REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

The "Apply" button will first appear for a course only once registration opens, shortly after 8:00 am Pacific Time on the date listed.  If you've logged in early you may need to refresh your browser.

Priority may be given to those who haven't sat recently.

The waitlist is created from applications received through the website.  When the course is listed as "Closed", then the waitlist is also closed.  Waitlists may reopen about 20 days before the course.

During the registration process, you will be receiving a number of e-mails from us. If you don't receive these emails, please check your Spam/Junk Mail box or add @dhamma.org to your safe list.

 

Filters

49 courses
Popular courses
Other courses
New students can only apply to 10 day courses

Teenagers' and Children's Courses

7 courses

Courses for young people.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.

In North America Teen courses  are for those 17 years and younger.

Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
19 Dec

Teen


Douglas College Coquitlam

Teens 13-17 years old

Children / Teens
Applications accepted starting 14 Nov
2027
27 Feb
Children
Douglas College Coquitlam

Ages 8-15

Children
Applications accepted starting 23 Jan
5 Jun

Teen


Douglas College Coquitlam

Teens 13-17 years old

Teen
Applications accepted starting 08 May
30 Jun - 2 Jul

teen


Merritt

Teens 13-17 years old

Teen
Applications accepted starting 02 Mar
3 Jul - 5 Jul
Children
Merritt

Ages 8-12

Children
Applications accepted starting 05 Mar
16 Oct

children


Douglas College Coquitlam

Ages 8-15

Children / Teens
Applications accepted starting 18 Jul
18 Dec

Teen


Douglas College Coquitlam

Teens 13-17 years old

Children / Teens
Applications accepted starting 19 Sep

Course types

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.

Children

Children's Courses are generally open for all children aged 8-12 years old who wish to learn to meditate. However there are local variations in age range, so please check the schedule.

Teen

Children's Anapana Courses are generally open for all children aged 8-12 years old who wish to learn to meditate. However there are local variations in age range, so please check the schedule.

Teenagers' Anapana Courses are generally open for all teenagers aged 13-18 years old who wish to learn to meditate. However, there are local variations in age range. In India and a few other countries there are also 7-day Vipassana courses for older teenagers. Please check the schedule for details.

Teen

Teenagers' Anapana Courses are generally open for all teenagers aged 13-18 years old who wish to learn to meditate. However, there are local variations in age range. In India and a few other countries there are also 7-day Vipassana courses for older teenagers. Please check the schedule for details.

Short Courses

2 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.

NEW: 1-day courses are being held monthly in Coquitlam, the second Saturday of each month. For more information see here.  Login with usual old student password.

 A search for a new Vancouver Vipassana Hall is underway. 

Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
9 Dec - 13 Dec
3-Day
Merritt
For old students
3-Day
Women- Closed
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
2027
7 Jul - 11 Jul
3-Day
Merritt
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 11 Apr

Course types

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.

3-Day
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.

Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

38 courses
All ten day courses begin on the evening of the first day and end on the early morning of the last day.
Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
11 Nov - 22 Nov

Bilingual Punjabi/English Course


Merritt

This course will have support for those speaking only Punjabi.

Punjabi and Hindi speakers will be given priority on the waitlist.

English speaking servers are welcome.

10-Day
In Progress
23 Nov - 25 Nov

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Servers- Open
25 Nov - 6 Dec
10-Day
Merritt

At the time of writing there are no servers on the women's side.

10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Closed
Servers- Open
7 Dec - 9 Dec

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Servers- Open
14 Dec - 16 Dec

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Servers- Open
16 Dec - 27 Dec
10-Day
Merritt

10-day courses are open to new students.

10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
28 Dec - 30 Dec

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Servers- Open
30 Dec 2026 - 10 Jan 2027
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers - Women- Wait List
Servers - Men- Open
2027
11 Jan - 13 Jan

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Servers- Open
13 Jan - 24 Jan
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Women- Wait List
Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
25 Jan - 27 Jan

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Servers- Open
27 Jan - 7 Feb
10-Day
Merritt

10-day courses are open to new students.

10-Day
Women- Wait List
New Men- Wait List
Old Men- Open
Servers- Open
8 Feb - 10 Feb

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Applications accepted starting 13 Nov
10 Feb - 21 Feb
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 15 Nov
22 Feb - 24 Feb

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Applications accepted starting 27 Nov
24 Feb - 7 Mar
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 29 Nov
8 Mar - 10 Mar

Between Courses Service Period


Merritt
For old students
Work Period
Applications accepted starting 11 Dec
10 Mar - 21 Mar
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 13 Dec
24 Mar - 4 Apr
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 27 Dec
7 Apr - 18 Apr
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 10 Jan
19 Apr - 2 May

Spring Work Period


Merritt
For old students

Can apply in-progress.  Part time applications welcomed.

Old Student Program
Applications accepted starting 22 Jan
5 May - 16 May
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 07 Feb
19 May - 30 May
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 21 Feb
2 Jun - 13 Jun
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 07 Mar
16 Jun - 27 Jun
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 21 Mar
14 Jul - 25 Jul

Punjabi / Hindi 10-day course


Merritt

Punjabi and Hindi speakers will be given priority for this course.

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 18 Apr
28 Jul - 8 Aug
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 02 May
11 Aug - 22 Aug
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 16 May
25 Aug - 5 Sept

Farsi / English 10-day Course


Merritt

Farsi speakers will have priority for this course.

English speaking servers are very welcome.

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 30 May
8 Sept - 29 Sept
20-Day
Merritt
20-Day
Applications accepted starting 13 Jun
30 Sept - 12 Oct

Fall Work Period


Merritt
For old students

Can apply in-progress.  Part time applications welcomed.

Old Student Program
Applications accepted starting 05 Jul
1 Oct - 3 Oct

Old Student Weekend


Merritt
For old students

First Annual Old Student Weekend.

All old students are welcome.  This will be a weekend to build friendships, meditate together, and share meals.

Old Student Program
Applications accepted starting 06 Jul
15 Oct - 24 Oct
Satipatthana Sutta
Merritt
Satipatthana Sutta
Applications accepted starting 20 Jul
27 Oct - 7 Nov
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 01 Aug
10 Nov - 21 Nov
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 15 Aug
24 Nov - 5 Dec
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 29 Aug
8 Dec - 19 Dec
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Sep
22 Dec 2027 - 2 Jan 2028
10-Day
Merritt
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 26 Sep

Course types

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.

20-Day

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.

Between Courses Service Period

Work 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.

Bilingual Punjabi/English Course

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.

Satipatthana Sutta

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.

Spring Work Period

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.

Non-Centre Courses

2 courses
Courses at the Po Lam Meditation Vihara will show up here, as well as courses in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
18 Nov - 29 Nov
English, Chinese
10-Day
English, Chinese
Chilliwack

This is an English / Chinese bilingual course.

Male servers needed. Old students please apply.

10-DayNon-Center
Women- Wait List
Men- Wait List
Servers - Women- Wait List
Servers - Men- Open
23 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027
English, Chinese
10-Day
English, Chinese
Chilliwack

This is an English / Chinese bilingual course.

 

10-DayNon-Center
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers- Wait List

Course types

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.

10-Day

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.

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