Vipassana Centers
Dhamma Sobhana means "Beauty of Dhamma" in Pali language and is the first Vipassana centre to be established in the Nordic area. It's located in central Sweden, near Ödeshög, Vadstena and Linköping. By car it's about two and a half hours from Stockholm and Gothenburg (Göteborg), and about three and a half hours from Malmö. The centre was established in 2007 to serve mainly the Nordic area but students come from all over the world. Dhamma Sobhana offers 20-25 courses a year, with about 1 600 students.
Dhamma Sota meaning “ Stream of Dhamma” is situated at Village Rahaka, Sohna (Haryana) almost 70 Kms. from New Delhi Railway Station. Established in the year 2000, the centre is in 16 acres of land surrounded by deep green valley of Aravali Hills. The accommodation available at the centre is presently sufficient for 120 meditators (72 males and 48 females). All rooms are for single accommodation. Some are with attached bathroom and some with common bathroom. The meditation hall has a capacity for 125 students, and the Pagoda has 108 meditation cells.
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills, an Art of Living. Vipassana is the process of self-purification by self-observation. One begins by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind. Then, with a sharpened awareness, one proceeds to observe the changing nature of body and mind and experiences the universal truths of impermanence, suffering and egolessness. This truth-realization by direct experience results in mental purification.
Dhammasugandha (Fragrance of Dhamma) is a new Vipassana centre coming up on 4.25 acre land at the base of Dandoba Forest sanctury hills surrounded by the forest land on three sides.
The center is located near Bhose village on Miraj – Pandharpur highway about 20 kms from Miraj Railway station in Sangli District in the state of Maharashtra.
All statutory Government compliances for the centre development activities are complete. Till permanent facilities are ready, temporary facilities for residential dormitory, Dhamma Hall, Kitchen & Dining areas for single gender courses for about 20 students have been put up since Jan 2017.
One day/Two day courses have already started. One 10 Day course are being held every month from June 2017.
Dhamma Sukhada in Pali language means "Giving the Happiness of Dhamma"
It is the first Vipassana Meditation Center in Argentina, located in the outskirts of the town of Brandsen, 70km from the Federal Capital, in the province of Buenos Aires.
Purchased in January 2018, Dhamma Sukhakāri is the UK’s second ten-day centre. Set in 20 acres of land in the Suffolk countryside, it offers a programme of 10- day and 3-day courses for up to 80 students, as well as courses for children and young people. Dhamma Sukhakāri means ‘giving the happiness of Dhamma’
The Swiss Vipassana Centre, also called in Pali, Dhamma Sumeru, meaning “the heavenly mountain of the Dhamma” is located on the Mont-Soleil ("Mount Sun") in a village of the Swiss Jura mountains on an altitude of 3600 feet surrounded by pastures and forests. Mont-Soleil means in English "Mount Sun" as it is one of the sunniest places in Switzerland and is situated near St.Imier, between Biel and La Chaux-de-Fonds. It was founded in November 1999.
Dhamma Surabhi, which means the Fragrance of Dhamma, is one of many Vipassana centers around the world 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 60 people and a meditation hall that holds 70 people.
Dhamma Suvaṇṇa, meaning ‘Gold of Dhamma’, is located in Khonkaen, one of the important cities in Northeast Thailand. Easily accessible by car, bus, train, or by plane, the city is approximately 500 km northeast of Bangkok and 300 km from Vientian, Laos. The Centre is located 30 km away from Khonkaen city. The first portion of the land was donated by old students. With a later purchase, the site has now 28 acres of shady and quiet forestland with different kinds of local trees, two large beautiful ponds in the front serve well as water reservoirs for the whole year. This natural environment helps the land retain its pleasant coolness even during the hot season from March to May.
Dhamma Suvatthi, meaning 'Welfare of Dhamma' is situated in the ancient capital city of Shravasti, the city so often mentioned in the life of the Buddha. The Centre was established in June 2003 in the serene surrounding of the historical Jetvan where Lord Buddha stayed for 25 rainy season retreats. The nine acre meditation centre is situated across the road from the Jetavana Archaeological Park, next to a government rest house, and down the road from several monasteries. As the exact boundaries of the original Vihara are unknown, it is quite likely that Dhamma Suvatthi is located on a section of the original grounds of the Vihara.
Dhamma Tapovana, meaning Meditation Grove of Dhamma, was established on New Year's Day year 2000, on the land adjacent to the southern side of Dhamma Giri. It is exclusively dedicated for long courses. The Centre has a total of 141 spacious cottages, with attached baths. The Dhamma hall can comfortably seat 130 students. Two smaller Dhamma halls are used for discourses. The Pagoda, of the same height as the Dhamma Giri Pagoda, has 200 cells.
Dhamma Tapovana, meaning Meditation Grove of Dhamma, was established on New Year's Day year 2000, on the land adjacent to the southern side of Dhamma Giri. It is exclusively dedicated for long courses. The Centre has a total of 141 spacious cottages, with attached baths. The Dhamma hall can comfortably seat 130 students. Two smaller Dhamma halls are used for discourses. The Pagoda, of the same height as the Dhamma Giri Pagoda, has 200 cells.
Dhamma Tarai means the Plain of Dhamma. Established in 1996, Dhamma Tarai is the second oldest Vipassana center in Nepal. The center is situated on a lush green 5-hector land, surrounded in the South and the North by two rivers, respectively called Kiyasut and Sirsiya, and located near the settlement of Parwanipur, about 9 km north of Birgunj, a town on the Nepal-India border. The nearest airport called Simara, is about 10 km from the center, with regular flights from Kathmandu. The nearest railway junction is at Raxaul, about 13 km from the center and 4 km from the town of Birgunj.
Dhamma Thali ('the place of dhamma'), situated on the outskirts of Jaipur, is bounded by idyllic hills on all sides. Besides Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri, it is the largest Centre and among the oldest, being set up in 1977. With two large and two mini Dhamma halls spread over 1.6 hectares, it has the capacity to accommodate 200 students comfortably with solitary accommodation and attached bathrooms. Dhamma Thali has a three-storied octagonal pagoda comprising 200 cells for serious solitary meditation.