Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center

Dhamma Pakāsa

Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center, Pecatonica, Illinois, United States
Surrounded by trees, grass and spring fed ponds, the center provides a supportive atmosphere where one can learn the practice of Vipassana meditation. This technique, discovered by Buddha twenty-five centuries ago, uses the breath and one's own body as the basis for developing concentration and insight. The courses provide a unique opportunity to direct one's attention inward, and set about a process of inner discovery through direct experience.
Additional information
   

Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center -- Dhamma Pakasa
10076 Fish Hatchery Road Pecatonica, IL 61063
www.pakasa.dhamma.org
Phone: (815) 489-0420
General Inquiries: [email protected]

General Course Registration
10076 Fish Hatchery Road Pecatonica, IL 61063
Fax: (360) 283-7068
Adult Courses: [email protected]
Child/Teen Courses: [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

Students may apply to sit for up to two courses at this center if both courses have waiting lists.  Once an application is enrolled, the other application will be canceled.  Students with applications to sit at other centers will be asked to choose which center they want to attend. 
 
COVID Information - Please read before applying.
The health-safety protocol for the Meditation Center in Pecatonica, IL is as follows: 
  • No Covid vaccination required 
  • No masking required  
  • No antigen or PCR test required  
  • Rideshare and public transportation allowed​

Illness While At The Center:  Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to accommodate course participants who arrive or become ill while at the Center.  Participants with signs and symptoms of Covid-19 or other influenza-like symptoms (including stomach flu) will be asked to leave as soon as possible.  Anyone who is unable to independently go home or to a safe destination, will need to ask their emergency contact for assistance. Please make arrangements for this possibility prior to the course.

 

Rideshare: Ride offers are on a volunteer basis and there is no guarantee that a ride will be available from your area. Alternate means of transportation should be considered well in advance. If you need a ride or if you're willing to give a ride to another student, we have course-specific Rideshare board. You will find the link to the Rideshare board for your course in the acceptance letter under the Directions and Transportation section.

If you have any questions, please contact us at: [email protected]
CHECK SPAM/JUNK MAIL or you may miss important email communications.
 

Filters

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

Teenagers' and Children's Courses

3 courses
Courses for young people.
Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
2027
May 15
Children
Pecatonica

For girls & boys 8-12 yrs

Children
Applications accepted starting 31 Mar
Jul 24
Teen
Pecatonica

For girls 13-17 yrs

Teen
Applications accepted starting 09 Jun
Jul 25
Teen
Pecatonica

For boys 13-17 yrs

Teen
Applications accepted starting 10 Jun

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

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

9 courses
1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day courses are short courses for old students.
Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
Dec 16 - Dec 20
3-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
3-Day
New Women- Closed
Old Women- Open
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
2027
Jan 3
1-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
1-Day
New Women- Closed
Old Women- Open
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Open
Servers- Open
Feb 24 - Feb 28
3-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 26 Dec
Apr 25
1-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 24 Feb
May 16
1-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 17 Mar
Jun 2 - Jun 6
3-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 03 Apr
Sep 8 - Sep 12
3-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 10 Jul
Nov 12
1-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
1-Day
Applications accepted starting 13 Sep
Dec 15 - Dec 19
3-Day
Pecatonica
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 16 Oct

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.

Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

61 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 4 - Nov 13
Satipatthana Sutta
Pecatonica
Satipatthana Sutta
Completed
Nov 13 - Nov 15

Annual Trust Retreat/Old Student Program


Pecatonica
For old students

Annual Trust Retreat; all old students are encouraged to apply and attend. Please apply as a server. More information can be found here.

Old Student Program
In Progress
Nov 16 - Nov 18

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Servers- Open
Nov 18 - Nov 29
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Women- Wait List
Men- Wait List
Servers - Women- Wait List
Servers - Men- Open
Nov 29 - Dec 2

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Servers- Open
Dec 2 - Dec 13
10-Day
Pecatonica

*** Servers Needed ***

10-Day
Women- Wait List
Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
Dec 13 - Dec 16

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Servers- Open
Dec 20 - Dec 23

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Servers- Open
Dec 23, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Closed
Servers- Wait List
2027
Jan 3 - Jan 10

Work Period


Pecatonica
For old students
Service Period
Servers- Open
Jan 10 - Jan 13

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Servers- Open
Jan 13 - Jan 24
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 14 Nov
Jan 24 - Jan 27

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 25 Nov
Jan 27 - Feb 7
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 28 Nov
Feb 7 - Feb 10

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 09 Dec
Feb 10 - Feb 21
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Dec
Feb 21 - Feb 24

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 23 Dec
Feb 28 - Mar 5

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 30 Dec
Mar 5 - Mar 14
Satipatthana Sutta
Pecatonica
Satipatthana Sutta
Applications accepted starting 04 Jan
Mar 14 - Mar 17

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 13 Jan
Mar 17 - Mar 28
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 16 Jan
Mar 28 - Mar 31

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 27 Jan
Mar 31 - Apr 11
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 30 Jan
Apr 11 - Apr 23

House & Garden Days


Pecatonica
For old students

House & Garden Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 10 Feb
Apr 24
Open House
Pecatonica
Open House
Applications accepted starting 23 Feb
Apr 26 - Apr 28

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 25 Feb
Apr 28 - May 9
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 27 Feb
May 9 - May 14

Work Period


Pecatonica
For old students
Service Period
Applications accepted starting 10 Mar
May 17 - May 19

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 18 Mar
May 19 - May 30
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 20 Mar
May 30 - Jun 2

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 31 Mar
Jun 6 - Jun 9

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 07 Apr
Jun 9 - Jun 20
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 10 Apr
Jun 20 - Jun 23

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 21 Apr
Jun 23 - Jul 4
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 24 Apr
Jul 4 - Jul 7

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 05 May
Jul 7 - Jul 18
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 08 May
Jul 18 - Jul 23

Work Period


Pecatonica
For old students
Service Period
Applications accepted starting 19 May
Jul 26 - Jul 28

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 27 May
Jul 28 - Aug 8
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 29 May
Aug 8 - Aug 11

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 09 Jun
Aug 11 - Aug 22
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Jun
Aug 22 - Aug 25

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 23 Jun
Aug 25 - Sep 5
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 26 Jun
Sep 5 - Sep 8

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 07 Jul
Sep 12 - Sep 26

House & Garden Days


Pecatonica
For old students

House & Garden Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 14 Jul
Sep 26 - Sep 29

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 28 Jul
Sep 29 - Oct 10
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 31 Jul
Oct 10 - Oct 13

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 11 Aug
Oct 13 - Oct 24
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 14 Aug
Oct 24 - Oct 27

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 25 Aug
Oct 27 - Nov 7
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 28 Aug
Nov 7 - Nov 11

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 08 Sep
Nov 13 - Nov 14

Annual Trust Retreat/Old Student Program


Pecatonica
For old students

Annual Trust Retreat; all old students are encouraged to apply and attend.

Old Student Program
Applications accepted starting 14 Sep
Nov 15 - Nov 17

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 16 Sep
Nov 17 - Nov 28
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 18 Sep
Nov 28 - Dec 1

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 29 Sep
Dec 1 - Dec 12
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 02 Oct
Dec 12 - Dec 15

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 13 Oct
Dec 19 - Dec 22

Between Course Service Period


Pecatonica
For old students

Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome.

Service Period
Applications accepted starting 20 Oct
Dec 22, 2027 - Jan 2, 2028
10-Day
Pecatonica
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 23 Oct

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.

Annual Trust Retreat/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.

Between 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.

Open House

Open Houses are held between meditation courses. All are welcome to attend and learn about Vipassana Meditation and the Center.

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.

Non-Center Courses

0 courses
Non-Center Courses
All old students must register online to attend one day courses in Ravenswood - Chicago.
Information about additional one-day courses is (or may be) listed on the Old Student portal of Dhamma Pakasa website:
 https://pakasa.dhamma.org/
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.

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