Mid-Atlantic Vipassana Association

Dhamma Pubbananda

Mid-Atlantic Vipassana Association, Claymont, Delaware, United States

Dhamma Pubbananda (Joy of the East), is the first urban center in North America. Situated on 13 acres in a quiet residential neighborhood, it is owned and operated by the Mid-Atlantic Vipassana Association. Since its purchase in 2013, it has undergone extensive renovations and we are able to provide 30 of our 60 students with private rooms and en suite bathrooms in addition to a small pagoda with 30 cells. The master plan includes completion of another 30 private rooms and cells as well as a larger Dhamma Hall and Teacher’s residence. 


Additional information

Dhamma Pubbananda

2901 Green Street, Claymont, DE 19703, USA

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 202-556-3882 (202-55-METTA)  

Please check your SPAM folder regularly after applying so that you do not miss any important communications regarding your registration.

Courses will open at 8:00 AM EST on the day specified.

Health and Safety Updates:

Check this link for the latest updates (updated March 2025) on our health and safety policy. As of March 2025, there are no COVID-specific requirements to attend a course at this center.

Filters

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

Teenagers' and Children's Courses

0 courses
Courses for young people.
Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
No courses are currently scheduled.

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.

Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

56 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
Nov 11 - Nov 22
10-Day
Claymont

Female servers needed

10-Day
In Progress
Nov 22
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
New Women- Closed
Old Women- Open
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Open
Servers- Open
Nov 22 - Nov 25
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
Nov 25 - Nov 29
3-Day
Claymont
For old students
3-Day
New Women- Closed
Old Women- Long Wait List
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Short Wait List
Servers- Short Wait List
Nov 29 - Dec 2
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
Dec 2 - Dec 13
10-Day
Claymont

Servers Needed

10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
Dec 13
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
New Women- Closed
Old Women- Open
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Open
Servers- Open
Dec 13 - Dec 16
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
Dec 16 - Dec 27
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers- Short Wait List
Dec 27, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
2027
Jan 1 - Jan 10
Satipatthana Sutta
Claymont
Satipatthana Sutta
New Women- Closed
Old Women- Wait List
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
Jan 10
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 11 Dec
Jan 10 - Jan 13
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
Jan 13 - Jan 24
10-Day
Claymont

Servers Needed

10-Day
Women- Wait List
New Men- Short Wait List
Old Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
Jan 24 - Jan 27
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
Jan 27 - Feb 7
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Women- Wait List
New Men- Wait List
Old Men- Open
Servers- Open
Feb 7
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 08 Jan
Feb 7 - Feb 10
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
Feb 10 - Feb 21
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Women- Wait List
Men- Open
Servers- Open
Feb 21 - Feb 24
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Applications accepted starting 23 Nov
Feb 24 - Feb 28
3-Day
Claymont
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 26 Nov
Feb 28 - Mar 3
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Applications accepted starting 30 Nov
Mar 3 - Mar 14
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 03 Dec
Mar 14
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Feb
Mar 14 - Mar 17
Service Period
Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Applications accepted starting 14 Dec
Mar 17 - Mar 28
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 17 Dec
Mar 31 - Apr 11
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 31 Dec
Apr 11
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Mar
Apr 14 - Apr 25
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 14 Jan
Apr 28 - May 9
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 28 Jan
May 9
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 09 Apr
May 12 - May 23
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 11 Feb
May 23 - Jun 7

Spring Dhamma Service Period


Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Applications accepted starting 21 Feb
Jun 7 - Jun 18
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 09 Mar
Jun 23 - Jun 27
3-Day
Claymont
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 25 Mar
Jun 27
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 28 May
Jun 30 - Jul 11
English, Khmer
10-Day
English, Khmer
Claymont

Priority to sit is given to students who speak Khmer. Others will be initially waitlisted

Servers of any language are welcome

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 01 Apr
Jul 11
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 11 Jun
Jul 14 - Jul 25

10-Day Black Heritage Course


Claymont

Priority consideration will be extended to applicants who identify as having Black heritage.

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 15 Apr
Jul 28 - Aug 8
English, Nepali
10-Day
English, Nepali
Claymont

For this bi-lingual course priority to sit is given to students who speak Nepali. Others will be initially waitlisted.

Servers of any language are welcome

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 29 Apr
Aug 8
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 09 Jul
Aug 11 - Aug 22
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 13 May
Aug 25 - Sep 5
English, Burmese
10-Day
English, Burmese
Claymont
  1. Priority to sit is given to students who speak Burmese. Others will be initially waitlisted.
  2. Servers of any language are welcome
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 27 May
Sep 8 - Sep 19
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 10 Jun
Sep 19
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 20 Jun
Sep 29 - Oct 10
English, Spanish
10-Day
English, Spanish
Claymont

Priority to sit is given to students who speak Spanish. Others will be initially waitlisted.

Servers of any language are welcome

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 01 Jul
Oct 10
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 11 Jul
Oct 10 - Oct 23

Fall Dhamma Service Period


Claymont
For old students
Service Period
Applications accepted starting 11 Jul
Oct 16 - Oct 17
Old Student Program
Claymont
For old students
Old Student Program
Applications accepted starting 17 Jul
Oct 23 - Nov 7
14 Day Gratitude Course
Claymont
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements

The 14-Day Gratitude Course was previously called the Teacher's Self Course. One of the qualities we develop as we meditate is gratitude - gratitude towards one’s teachers, Goenkaji and Mataji, and towards the long tradition of Vipassana teachers, right back to the Buddha.

14-Day Gratitude Course Requirements are:

  • Must be a serious old student who is active in giving Dhamma Service.
  • Must be practicing Vipassana exclusively (not practicing any other meditation techniques).
  • Must have sat at least one Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta course and three 10-Day courses.
  • Must be trying to maintain the five precepts to the best of one’s ability.
  • Must be trying to maintain two-hour daily practice since last 10-Day course.
  • Must have local Teacher’s recommendation.
14 Day Gratitude Course
Applications accepted starting 26 May
Nov 10 - Nov 21
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Aug
Nov 21
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 22 Oct
Nov 24 - Nov 28
3-Day
Claymont
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 26 Aug
Dec 1 - Dec 12
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 02 Sep
Dec 12
1-Day
Claymont
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Nov
Dec 15 - Dec 26
10-Day
Claymont
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 16 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.

1-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.
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.
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.

14 Day Gratitude Course

The 14-Day Gratitude Course was previously called the Teacher's Self Course. One of the qualities we develop as we meditate is gratitude - gratitude towards one’s teachers, Goenkaji and Mataji, and towards the long tradition of Vipassana teachers, right back to the Buddha.

The course is open to old students who are active in giving service. Requirements include 3 x 10day courses plus one Satipaṭṭhāna course, being active in Dhamma service, trying to maintain two-hour daily practice since last 10-Day course, and trying to maintain the five precepts to the best of one's ability. Local teacher’s recommendation is required. The course follows the usual format of 3x group sittings with instructions in the day, but students work more independently and the teaching materials are drawn from the 20-day course. This is a half-way step to help students mature for long courses, and serves to inspire students to work more deeply in Dhamma.

Old Student Program

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

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 Period

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.

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