Chattha Sangayana CD - Vipassana Research Institute
Preface

Vipassana meditation is the quintessence of Buddha's teaching. It is a technique of self-observation, an objective observation of the mind-body phenomena with a view to achieving purification of mind which leads to total eradication of mental defilements and inculcates such wholesome qualities as loving-kindness, equanimity, sympathetic joy and compassion. The technique is simple, scientific, universal and available to all irrespective of caste, creed, nationality or beliefs.

For the practice of Vipassana meditation a quiet and congenial environment is an important requirement. When Sayagyi U Ba Khin, the most distinguished world teacher of Vipassana, established the first Vipassana meditation centre in Yangon (Rangoon) in Myanmar (Burma) he conceived a novel idea of building a hollow pagoda with cells inside for individual meditation.

India lost the technique about 500 years after Buddha's passing away, but fortunately it was preserved in its pristine purity by a chain of dedicated teachers in the neighbouring country of Myanmar. Sayagyi U Ba Khin received Vipassana in this lineage. He deeply felt that Myanmar owed a debt to India in receiving the precious gem of Vipassana Dhamma from India. India needed it, indeed, the whole world needed it!

S. N. Goenka, then a citizen of Myanmar, took his first Vipassana course from Sayagyi in 1955. Sayagyi trained him for several years and prepared him for his mission. Goenkaji came to India, the land of his forefathers, in 1969 and started teaching Vipassana meditation in makeshift campsites.  In 1976, the first Vipassana centre, the Vipassana International Academy, was established at Igatpuri in Maharashtra. Campsite courses (non-centre courses) continue to grow as do the established centres in India and abroad. People from all walks of life throng to these courses to receive the nectar of Dhamma. People from more than ninety different countries have participated in Vipassana courses. Goenkaji has set in motion the wheel of Dhamma, which once again has started rotating in the country of its origin.

Ten-day residential Vipassana courses are organised for new students. As a student becomes more established in the technique, more serious courses of Satipaµµh±na are offered, as well as long duration courses of 20, 30 and 45 days.  In addition, Anapana courses are held for children of eight to fifteen years of age.

Vipassana centres provide an institutional framework and environment for the practice and training of Vipassana meditation. Goenkaji has laid down guidelines for their maintenance and management. The guidelines are:

• The centre should confine itself to the practice and training of Vipassana only. No other activity, however wholesome, is permissible.

• The location and the layout of the centre should be conducive for serious meditation.

• The purity of a Dhamma environment should be maintained at all times.

• No fee should be charged for the course from the students including board and lodging.

• Donations should be accepted from grateful students only.

• No teacher imparting teaching in Vipassana should receive any remuneration. Selfless service, without expecting anything in return, is the basic principle.

• Members of trusts and managing committees should receive no remuneration.

With the above background, and the informative account that follows about the centres, we hope that readers will learn about the centres, the spread of Dhamma and the benefit the technique provides, here and now.

Vipassana Research Institute

Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri-422 403, India

INDEX

India

Maharashtra

Dhamma Giri, Igatpuri

Dhamma Tapovana, Igatpuri

Dhamma Pattana, Mumbai

Dhamma Sarit±, Khadavli, Near Mumbai

Dhamm±laya, Kolhapur

Dhamm±nanda, Pune

Dhamma Sarovara, Dhule

Dhamma Ajant±, Aurangabad

Dhamma N±ga, Nagpur

Dhamma Vaµ², Nashik

Gujarat

Dhamma Sindhu, Bada, Kutch

Dhamma Koµa, Rajkot

Dhamma Piµha, Ahmedabad

Dhamma Div±kara, Mehsana

North India

Dhamma Thal², Jaipur

Dhamma Salila, Dehradun

Dhamma Sikhara, Dharamsala

Dhamma Dhaja, Punjab

Dhamma Sota, Near New Delhi

Dhamma Tihar, New Delhi

Dhamma Rakkhaka, New Delhi

Dhamma Suvatthi, Sravasti, UP

Dhamma Licchav², Bihar

Dhamma Upavana, Bihar

Dhamma Bodhi, Bodh Gaya

Dhamma Cakka, Sarnath, UP

Dhamma Vimutti, Kushinagar, UP

Central and East India

Dhamma Gaªg±, Calcutta

Dhamma K±nana, Balaghat

Dhamma Ketu, Durg

Dhamma P±la, Bhopal

South India

Dhamma Khetta, Hyderabad

Dhamma Sumana, Bangalore

Dhamma Setu, Chennai (Madras)

Dhamma Giri

Vipassana International Academy

Igatpuri 422 403, Dist. Nasik, Maharashtra, INDIA

Tel: [91] (02553) 84076, 84302, 84086 Fax: [91] (02553) 84176

e-mail: dhamma@vsnl.com   Website: www.vri.dhamma.org

Mumbai Office:

Shri Kirtan Kendra, Sant Dhyaneshwar Marg, Opp. Utpal Sanghvi School,

J.V.P.D. Scheme, Mumbai 40004. Tel: 022-6244813 (2 pm to 5 pm only)

Sayagyi U Ba Khin, the distinguished Vipassana teacher, cherished a deep desire to have a Vipassana centre in India, in order to re-establish the Dhamma in the land of its birth, and to function as a base from which Dhamma could spread throughout the world.

Shortly before he passed away he expressed this wish to an Indian meditator, who was the first student of Mr. S. N. Goenka to come to Sayagyi U Ba Khin's meditation centre in Rangoon. The student returned to India full of Dhamma enthusiasm to realize Sayagyi's wish. Other meditators soon joined with him in the effort to establish a centre, understanding the great benefits which would result.

In 1974, a twenty-acre property was purchased outside of Igatpuri, a town on the Central Railway, three hours from Bombay. Goenkaji had already come to India with Sayagyi's mission to pay back the debt that Myanmar owed to India and had started teaching Vipassana at temporary sites. He named the new centre Dhamma Giri: Hill of Dhamma.

Dhamma Giri was a windy and barren hilltop with a few old mango trees. Much work was needed for this to become a world centre for the practice of Vipassana meditation. The most essential work began first. Established meditators began to come to the centre to meditate in self courses. Some stayed for longer periods and gave Dhamma service taking care of the meditators, assisting in construction, planting gardens, and doing other work to make Dhamma Giri a hill of peace.

Dhamma Giri was opened in October 1976 for its first ten-day course for the general public. Since then, several courses have been held each year at the Academy, attended by thousands of people from every part of India, and from every continent in the world.

The most remote and quiet portion of the centre was set aside to be used exclusively for meditation. Goenkaji named it the Sh±nti Paµh±r (Plateau of Peace). In March of 1979, the central core of the pagoda building was inaugurated, consisting of a central meditation room for the Principal Teacher, surrounded by concentric rings of cells in which students could meditate individually. A year later, an adjacent meditation hall capable of holding 300 people was built.

Over the years the centre has grown and developed. In 1998 about 13,500 adults and 2,500 children attended courses at Dhamma Giri. The original hall has been expanded and six more rings of cells have been added to the cell complex. At present there are over 400 cells. In the early 1990's at the upper level an outer ring of thirty-two cells was built. This then served as a base for a larger hollow pagoda, within which the original pagoda remains intact. This superb Burmese-style structure rises sixty feet (eighteen metres) above the second level of cells.

There is comfortable accommodation for about 600 students, in addition to living quarters for Dhamma workers, kitchen staff and a separate accommodation block for bhikkhus (monks) who come for the courses. A second Dhamma hall seating four hundred meditators has been completed. This allows for separate halls for males and females on a ten-day course or two different types of courses held simultaneously. Third and fourth Dhamma halls cater to concurrent old-student courses and foreign language discourses. A fifth Dhamma Hall, recently constructed, is utilised for Dhamma Workers' group sittings.

Old student courses are frequently held, simultaneously with the continuous ten-day courses held throughout the year. The courses include the three day course, the Satipaµµh±na Sutta course, the special ten-day course, the twenty-day course and the thirty-day course. Each winter Dhamma Giri also hosts longer courses (thirty and forty-five days) which allow more experienced students to practise at deeper levels. These are followed by an annual international conference in which assistant teachers and Dhamma workers meet together with Goenkaji. This is an important event which permits a sharing of experiences and coordination of work throughout this worldwide organization.

Continuous gardening, landscaping and tree planting have transformed the site. Thousands of trees and shrubs have been planted, and more are being planted all the time. What began as a dry, barren, scrubby hill has now become a lush garden of trees and flowering shrubs which gives food and shelter to numerous birds as well as shade, delight and protection to the meditators.

Vipassana International Academy (VIA) is the principal world centre of Vipassana meditation. This biggest and unique centre provides a serene and sublime environment for a deep dip within for the exploration of mind-body phenomenon which is the sine quo non for liberation from all suffering.

Vipassana Research Institute

Adjoining the meditation centre, but separate from it, is the Vipassana Research Institute (VRI). The Institute was established in 1986 to conduct research into the pariyatti (theory) and paµipatti (practice) of the Buddha's teaching. Its research includes the application of Vipassana in such fields as health, education, and social development. The Institute offers a P±li language program, for serious old students. It also publishes works of interest to Vipassana students.

VRI has organised several international seminars at Dhamma Giri on meditation topics in the P±li canon, for scholars from different countries. These seminars combined with ten-day courses have proven a beneficial blend of the theory and practice of Dhamma.

Publication of P±li Tipiµaka

The P±li literature includes the Tipiµaka-the preserved words of the Buddha, commentarial works such as the Aµµhakath±s, Ý²k±s and Anu-Ý²k±s and other non-canonical literature. Unfortunately, this invaluable part of the ancient heritage of India had been lost to India. VRI has completed the monumental task of publishing the entire P±li Tipiµaka and allied commentarial literature of more than 140 volumes in Devan±gar² P±li. The source for the material is the original Myanmese (Burmese) edition compiled on the basis of Chaµµha Saªg±yana (Sixth Buddhist Council) held in 1954-56 in Myanmar. The texts have been published sequentially as sets and extreme care has been taken to preserve the purity of the material.

In addition, VRI has produced the Chaµµha Saªg±yana CD-ROM containing the most comprehensive edition of the P±li texts, including the Tipiµaka, Aµµhakath±s (commentaries), T²k±s (sub-commentaries) and Anuµik±s (sub-sub-commentaries), as finalised and authenticated by the congregation of Bhikkhus from all over the world gathered at Myanmar at the Chaµµha Saªg±yana (the Sixth Council) during the years 1954-56 A.D. The first version of the CD contained the P±li text in 140 volumes in three scripts: Devan±gar², Roman and Myanmese and offered an easy-to-use search and navigation facility. In the second version, Sri Lankan, Thai, Cambodian and Mongolian scripts and a P±li-English dictionary were added. 45 new Pali texts were added. The third version will be published during the later part of 1999. It will contain many more non-canonical P±li texts. The search facility will be much faster. As was done in the first two versions, this version of the CD will also be distributed worldwide as Dhamma d±na to research scholars, institutions and others wishing to read the Tipiµaka in P±li.

The Vipassana International Academy and the Vipassana Research Institute are exceptional facilities where thousands have benefited and will continue to benefit from the pure practice of Vipassana, preserved in a living tradition, and offered in an environment uniquely suited to the delicate and valuable art of meditation; and from the publication of the P±li literature.

Dhammakula: A Dhammakula will be established in VRI in the near future, where students of different countries will be taught Pali, Hindi, Sanskrit and other languages. At Dhammakula, serious research work will also be done to understand why the beneficial technique of Vipassana and its related literature was lost in this country. Awareness of these causes will help to preserve Vipassana and its literature for a long time.

Sayagyi U Ba Khin Vipassana Village: On the adjacent land to the east of Dhamma Giri, an ideal village only for Vipassana meditators will be built, where along with necessary facilities for residence, a good Dhammic atmosphere will be available to meditators, which will help them to develop in Dhamma.

Dhamma Tapovana

Igatpuri-422 403, Dist. Nashik, Maharastra, INDIA

A new Vipassana centre will be constructed on the adjacent land to the west of Dhamma Giri where only long courses will be conducted.

This centre will give serious students of Vipassana an opportunity to meditate in a peaceful silent atmosphere enveloped with Dhamma vibrations. There will no disturbance in meditation because there will be no simultaneous ten-day course at Dhamma Tapovana for the whole year. Dhamma Tapovana will offer not only 20-day, 30-day, and 45-day courses but also 60-day and 90-day courses.

The work of construction is to be started soon so that meditators can benefit from it next year. In the first phase of construction, self-contained rooms with all necessary facilities and meditation cells will be built for 200 meditators. At the completion of this project, these facilities will be available for 500 male as well as 500 female meditators in the centre. The centre will have two pagodas, in which ultimately there will be one thousand meditation cells. Adequate number of meditation halls, dining halls, kitchens, and residences for Teachers and assistant teachers will also be built.

Before holding courses longer than 45 days, Goenkaji wishes that long courses should be conducted at the new centre for a period of at least one year so that 60-day and 90-day courses may be successfully conducted in the year 2001.

Dhamma Tapovana will play an important role in establishing the beneficial teaching of the Buddha for a long time. For the establishment and spread of the true Dhamma in its pure form once more, it is necessary that serious meditators of future generations should establish themselves in the beneficial path of liberation. This is the goal of Dhamma Tapovana. Goenkaji himself will conduct and give the Dhamma discourses for the 60-day and 90-day courses, which will be recorded on tape to enable them to be used for the training of future generations.

This meditation centre will abundantly fulfil the Dhamma wish of our revered Teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, of re-establishing Vipassana in India as well as in the rest of the world.

Generous meditators from India and abroad have started giving d±na for this noble project and construction work is expected to start without delay.

Dhamma Thal²

Vipassana Centre, P.O. Box 208, Sisodia Baug Galtaji Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

Tel:[91](0141) 641 520, Teacher's Res.: 641 411 Fax: c/o [91] (0141) 561 283

E-mail: dhammajpr@jpi.dot.net.in

Dhamma Thal² (Place of Dhamma) the Vipassana Centre of Jaipur, is situated on a four acre pentagonal-shaped piece of forest land. Dhamma Thal² is situated about ten kilometres from Jaipur, the Pink City, which is a popular place for tourists. Except for a tiny village about three kilometres away, there is no habitation close to the centre, which makes it an ideal place for meditation.

The campus of the Vipassana Centre consists of a meditation hall seating 150 students, a Pagoda and a cell complex, a Teacher's residence, a P±li study house, comfortable accommodation for students and Dhamma workers, a guest house, an administrative block, kitchen, dining hall, toilet and bathing facilities.

Construction began in 1977. The buildings have been constructed from a utilitarian point of view. They are mostly of simple design, except for the three-story pagoda, which is a graceful blend of Burmese pagoda and Rajasthani architecture. This makes it a symbolic expression of the abiding gratitude of Rajasthan to Myanmar, which preserved the technique of Vipassana in its pristine purity. The central cell at  the ground floor of the pagoda is encircled by three rings totalling 160 cells. The second story has thirty-two cells and the third storey has eight cells enclosed by the spacious arched verandah to provide protection against extreme heat and cold. The porches, on the ground floor and on the third storey, give a unique shape to this magnificent structure.

In March 1998, Goenkaji inaugurated the new underground meditation hall with a capacity of more than 250 for ten day courses. This makes it possible for the centre to run long courses along with ten day courses providing proper seclusion to the long course students.

Accommodation is provided in comfortable single or twin bed cottages, some with private bathrooms. Men and women have well-separated compounds featuring stone paved pathways. There are flower beds and a big lawn. Throughout the gardens colourful peacocks stroll and many other birds add their song. The result is a centre that is ideally suited for Vipassana meditation.

Dhamma Khetta

Vipassana International Meditation Centre

12.6 km. Nagarjunsagar Road, Kusumnagar, Vanasthali Puram,

Hyderabad 500 070, A.P., INDIA

Tel:Centre Office: [91] (040) 402 0290 ,Teacher's Res.: 402 1746;

 City Office: 473 2569, Fax: c/o [91] (040) 573 941

e-mail: vimc_hyd@hotmail.com

 The Vipassana Meditation Centre at Hyderabad, known as Dhamma Khetta (Field of Dhamma), was inaugurated in 1976 by Goenkaji, who planted a Bodhi sapling from Bodhgaya. It is situated on six acres of land in Sahebnagar, about twelve kilometres from the city of Hyderabad. The city has many transport connections by air, rail, and road. It is a place where people of many languages, religions and creeds live happily together. The climate is moderate in all seasons.

A local businessman had spent years on a quest for peace and harmony. He learned about Vipassana when he heard a conversation between a Jain monk and a Professor of Jainology in which Vipassana was discussed. He fulfilled his search by practising Vipassana. The Dhamma quality of ehi passiko (come and see) overwhelmed him. Thus the centre was established.

With increasing demand, expansion became inevitable. A large Dhamma hall, which can accommodate 350 students has been constructed. The high shell roof creates an environment conducive to meditation. The hall was scientifically designed with intricate details of muted light, maximum ventilation and insulation techniques in mind. Adjacent to the hall is a pagoda building with seventy-two cells in three concentric rings. There is a provision to increase the number of cells to two hundred and fifty in the future. There is residential accommodation for 110 males and 60 females.

Dhamma Sindhu

Kutch Vipassana Centre

Bada, Tal: Mandvi, Dist: Kutch 370 475, Gujarat, INDIA

Tel: Office: [91] (02834) 73303, Teacher's Res.: 73304

Fax: c/o [91] (022) 306 1795     e-mail: dhammasindhu@yahoo.com

Dhamma Sindhu (Ocean of Dhamma) is situated on the west coast of India, near the village of Bada, three kilometres inland from the Arabian Sea. A cool sea breeze keeps the climate temperate. To reach the centre, there are daily flights from Bombay to Bhuj, and train services to and from Gandhidham (130 km away) or Bhuj (75 km away). There are bus and taxi services from Mandvi (22 km away).

Since the inaugural course conducted by Goenkaji in November 1991, the centre has served the already large number of Vipassana meditators who live in the district by conducting ordinary ten-day courses as well as longer courses for serious old students. The centre comprises thirty-five acres of previously undeveloped, very quiet, attractive land. There is an abundant and continuous supply of drinking water. Peacocks and various other birds add to the scenic beauty. The atmosphere is therefore calm, peaceful and unpolluted, ideal for deeper meditation.

Facilities for a hundred and fifty meditators include a meditation hall, a three-storey pagoda with 180 cells, a dining hall, kitchen, staff quarters, guest house and accommodation for eighty-four male and sixty female meditators. The dormitories and double and single rooms all have attached bathrooms with solar hot water. Future plans include the expansion of the pagoda with another 200 cells. The construction of a new rectangular meditation hall to seat about 400 students and additional residential blocks are also planned. As funds permit, the facilities will be extended to serve 250 students. A new Teacher's Residence, servers' quarters and office complex have recently been constructed.

Dhamma Gaªg±

Vipassana Centre, Bara Mandir Ghat, Panihati (Sodpur),

Dist. 24 Parganas (North), West Bengal-743 176, INDIA. Tel: [91] (033) 553 2855

City Office: 22 Bonfield Lane, 2nd Floor, Room no. 10, Calcutta 700 001,

Tel: [91] (033) 242 1767, 242 8043  Fax: [91] (033) 225 5174.

e-mail: badani@giascl01.vsnl.net.in

Dhamma Gaªg± (the Ganges of Dhamma) is so named because of its scenic location on the bank of the Ganges, close to the city of Calcutta.

The property, which was purchased by the Calcutta Vipassana Trust in January 1988, was formerly the residence and office of a local businessman. There is a flower garden within the walled compound and views of the river from some parts of the garden.

The large two-storey building is over one hundred years old and can easily accommodate fifty students. The dining facilities are on the ground floor, with dormitories above. The meditation hall and interview room are on the upper floor. Courses are generally scheduled once a month.

The centre is located in the town of Sodpur, which can be reached by road and rail from Calcutta.

Dhamma Tihar

Jail No. 4, Tihar Prison, New Delhi, INDIA

Dhamma Tihar (Dhamma in Tihar) was established inside Jail No. 4 of the Tihar prison complex, one of the largest prisons in Asia with eight to nine thousand inmates, in April 1994 after the largest course ever held by Goenkaji and Mataji was conducted there with fifteen assistant teachers. One thousand and three male students participated in the course and forty-nine female inmates attended a simultaneous course. Only inmates and prison staff can participate in courses held in Dhamma Tihar. In a press conference held at the end of the inaugural course, Goenkaji stressed that everyone in the world is a prisoner, a prisoner of his or her own negative mental habits. He urged that everyone should practise Vipassana to be free from the bondage of this suffering.

The jail inmates who attend courses come from a prison population where approximately ninety percent are awaiting trial while ten percent have been convicted of serious crimes such as murder, armed robbery, rape, drug trafficking, and terrorist activities.

Of the many reforms which are being carried out in Tihar Prison, Vipassana meditation is unique. Research has indicated many positive changes in participants including the admission of guilt, a decrease in feelings of revenge, improved self-discipline and better relations with other prisoners and staff. Continuing research is being conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The centre is administered by the jail authorities under Goenkaji's guidance. Two ten-day courses and a one-day course are being held each month, and similar facilities are being provided for female inmates.

Since the first course in April 1994, thousands of inmates have benefited from Vipassana courses. Satipaµµh±na courses and a 20-day course have also been held. In March 1999, Goenkaji inaugurated the newly constructed meditation cells at Dhamma Tihar. The inmates continue to derive more and more benefit from the practice of pure Dhamma.

Dhamma Salila

Dehradun Vipassana Kendra

Village Jaitanwala (Dhaulas), Santala Devi Marg, P O Box 275, Dehradun 248 001, INDIA

Tel: Centre: [91] (0135) 653 366, 654 189  Fax: [91] (0135) 655 580

Contact Tel: [91] (0135) 654189; Fax: [91] (0135) 650 704. E-mail: lakshya@nde.vsnl.net.in

Dhamma Salila (Water of Dhamma) is located in Dehradun, the picturesque hill station known for its prestigious schools and institutes. The six acre piece of land sits in a mountain valley next to a flowing river. The centre is about 16 km from the city and accessible by bus. The first course was conducted in 1995. The following year, twenty-five courses were conducted which included two courses for children as well. The centre has grown rapidly and already has all facilities required for a ten day course. A Dhamma hall, residences for twenty-one male and twenty-one female students, dining hall, administrative block and assistant teachers' residences are complete. Construction of additional male residences is underway as well as the construction of a pagoda with thirty-two cells. Following the first course in 1995, now ten-day, Satipaµµh±na and children's courses are being organised throughout the year.

Dhamma Sikhara

Himachal Vipassana Centre

MacLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, 176 219, Dist. Kangra, H.P., INDIA

Tel: [91](01892) 21309   Fax: [91] 21309 (6 p.m. to 9 a.m. only)

e-mail: info@sikhara.dhamma.com

Dhamma Sikhara (Peak of Dhamma) is about two thousand metres high in the Himalayas of North India. The site, comprising three acres of magnificent deodar cedar forest, was donated in 1975.

The first ten-day courses were held in the spring of 1993, using tents for the Dhamma hall and accommodation. The centre could only be used in spring and autumn, as the monsoon is very heavy, and winter brings snow.

However, in 1995, some permanent residential structures and bathrooms were built, along with a temporary hall and dormitories with metal roofs. In 1997, a kitchen and dining hall were added. In 1998, construction began for a new Dhamma Hall and Teacher's residence. New accommodation will increase the capacity to eighty students. The centre is now in use for the greater part of the year, and almost every course is fully booked. Many foreigners visit the area seeking inspiration. Goenkaji and Mataji came to the centre for the first time in 1998, generating even greater participation from the local community, army officers and schools. The construction of the new Dhamma hall and the new Teacher's residence has since been completed increasing the capacity from sixty to seventy students.

Dhamma Sarovara

Khandesh Vipassana Centre

Near Dedargaon Water Purification plant

Dedargaon, Post: Tikhi, Dhule, Maharashtra, INDIA

Contact: 12, Tulsiram Nagar, Deopur, Dhule: 424 002

Tel: c/o [91] (02562)22 741, 22 614

Dhamma Sarovara (Lake of Dhamma) is located in North Maharashtra, 15 km from the city of Dhule, and is easily accessible by bus. The district, known for its educational institutions, has been notably free from strife and conflicts for a long time. The centre is located close to forest land on the bank of a serene lake on thirty acres of land. Extensive tree plantation has been done. Various migratory birds add to the beauty of the centre.

The main Dhamma hall can seat about 100 meditators. It has spacious corridors on all sides and the arches of the verandah are particularly impressive. A small hill on the campus has a bamboo pagoda. This is also the proposed site for the pagoda-meditation cell complex. Currently the centre can accommodate up to fifty students. Since November 1995, Vipassana courses have been regularly held, attracting a large number of people from neighbouring areas. Guruji and Mataji visited the centre in March 1997. In May 1997, Dhamma Sarovara held its first Satipaµµh±na course.

Two thousand trees have been planted to enhance the beauty of virgin forest land around the centre. The forest has been declared a bird sanctuary by the Government.

Dhamma Ajant±

Ajanta International Vipassana Samiti, 11 Ashok Vihar Society, Opp. MIDC office, Station Road, Aurangabad-431005, INDIA. Contact: Tel. 0240-334532, 332324, 484445.

Sixteen acres of land have been donated for the Vipassana centre in Aurangabad which has been named Dhamma Ajant±. Aurangabad is close to the Ajanta and Ellora caves; and is accessible by road, rail and air.

Dhamm±nanda

Pune Vipassana Centre

Near Markal village, 8 kms from Alandi

30 kms from Pune Railway Station    Tel: (020) 885979

City Office: 2 Vinay Chambers,  Vetal Chowk, 971 S. B. Rd. Pune 411 053

Tel: (020) 567 5132 (5 to 7 p.m. from Mon-Sat)  Fax: 567 5759

e-mail: webmaster@pune.dhamma.org

Dhamm±nanda (Joy of Dhamma) comprises twenty-three acres of land, 30 km from Pune and 8 km from the sacred village of Alandi. It is located on the bank of the Indrayani river, near Markal village. Buses ply regularly from Pune to Markal.

Goenkaji and Mataji visited Dhamm±nanda on mett± day of the first ten-day course held in February 1997. Two ten-day courses are now being conducted at the centre every month.

Facilities include a Teacher's residence and Dhamma hall seating 200 meditators. Construction of twenty new double rooms with attached bathrooms and dormitories for male and female meditators have been completed. This has increased the capacity of the centre to seventy students. Accommodation for Dhamma workers as well as spacious dining hall and kitchen have also been built. The entire area of the centre has been fenced and plantation and landscaping work has commenced. More than 10,000 trees have been planted, creating a verdant, congenial atmosphere for meditation.

Dhamm±laya

Deccan Vipassana Centre

City Office: 'Khushbu', 6 Shivaji Park, Kolhapur 416001

 Tel: (0231) 651 146

Dhamm±laya (Storehouse of Dhamma), Deccan Vipassana Centre, is located in southern Maharashtra twelve kilometres from the town of Jaisingpur a thirty acre piece of land has been developed. Since this area has been declared as Industrial Zone, the centre will be shifted in March 2000 to A/P Alate, Near Ramling Road, Tal. Hatkanangale, Dist. Kolhapur 416123. It is 4 km from Hatkanangale Railway Station. The new centre is situated on a hillock at the base of a forest hill. The largest nearby city is Kolhapur and the surrounding area has a population of over two million.

Dhamma Vaµ²

Nashik Road Central Prison, Nashik, Maharashtra, INDIA

The first Vipassana course in Nashik Road Central Prison was successfully conducted in March 1996. Goenkaji visited the prison on the tenth day of the course to teach mett±-bh±van± to the hundred prisoners who participated in the course. Only inmates and prison staff can participate in courses held in Dhamma Tihar.

Since then, more than fifty Vipassana courses have been organised here with the help of the prison authorities and the State Government for the benefit of the inmates. The place and the facilites that have been made available for Vipassana courses has been named Dhamma Vaµ².

Dhamma Sarit±

Matoshree Vriddhashram campus, Khadavli CR Station,

Padhaga, Dist. Thane, Khadavli-421 101, INDIA.  Tel: (02522) 68474

 Mumbai Contact: Tel: (022) 422 6133; e-mail: sumedh@bom3.vsnl.net.in

Dhamma Sarit± (River of Dhamma) has been established with the help of the State Government near Mumbai, close to Khadavli Railway Station, on the scenic bank of a river. A Vipassana centre has been built on the land adjacent to an Old People's Home, where not only the residents of the Old People's Home, but also other people of the area can take part in courses. Vipassana courses for about fifty people have been organised in this centre since early 1999.

Dhamma N±ga

Nagpur Vipassana Centre

Village Mahurjhari, Near Nagpur-Kamaleshwar Rd., Nagpur, Maharashtra, INDIA

Contact Address: Kalyanmitra Charitable Trust, Abyankar Smarak Trust Bldg.,

Abyankar Road, Dhantoli, Nagpur-440012, INDIA

Tel: (0712) 558 686, 527 860; Fax: 539716

 e-mail: cecorp@nagpur.vsnl.net.in

Dhamma N±ga is located about 16 km from Nagpur city-the winter capital of Maharashtra. Being centrally placed, it is easily accessible by road, rail and air from all parts of India. 'N±ga' refers to the natives of the area. 'N±ga', in P±li, means 'elephant', symbolising strength and endurance.  N±ga is also an epithet of the Buddha.

Construction on the centre began in 1995 on twenty acres of picturesque land. So far, a meditation hall for 360 students, kitchen and dining hall complex, office buildings and a dormitory for seventy students have been completed. Regular ten-day courses have been held since August 1997. In the second phase of construction a pagoda and one more dormitory will be built.

Dhamma P²µha

Gurjar Vipassana Centre

Village: Ranoda, Tal: Dholka, Dist.: Ahmedabad 387 810, INDIA. Phone: (02714) 22473

Contact in Ahmedabad: Res.: (079) 562 4631, 562 4253, 7450300; Fax: 212 2016

Dhamma P²µha (Seat of Dhamma) is located at Ranoda, 40 km from the centre of Ahmedabad, the industrial capital of Gujarat, and is easily accessible via the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar state highway. The site comprises fifteen acres of land.

For many years, ten-day Vipassana courses were held regularly in Ahmedabad at temporary sites. Dhamma P²µha has a Dhamma Hall, accommodation for up to 30 meditators, store room and administration building. Courses began in 1998. Goenkaji and Mataji were present for a large course later that year, during which a temporary infrastructure for 200 students was provided. During this time, Goenkaji also gave public talks, each attended by about 7000 people.

Dhamma Koµa

Saurashtra Vipassana Centre

Kotharia road, Lothada village, Rajkot, Gujarat. Phone: (02827) 52104

Contact Address: Bhabha Guest House, Panchanath Road, Rajkot: 360 001, INDIA

Tel: [91] (0281) 220861, 220862; Fax: 221 384

Dhamma Koµa (Fort of Dhamma) is located at a distance of 15 km from the historic city of Rajkot in the centre of Saurashtra. A direct flight from Mumbai makes it easy for busy executives and businessmen from Mumbai to go for a course in Rajkot. Fourteen acres of land were acquired in 1995 and construction started in 1996. This progressed rapidly and the centre opened in January 1997. The centre now holds regular ten-day courses throughout the year with facilities for about eighty students. Many trees have been planted. The next construction phase will include a large Dhamma hall seating 200 meditators and a pagoda with meditation cells. Goenkaji and Mataji visited the centre in 1998 and found the atmosphere very conducive for meditation. During their stay, a one-day course was attended by 550 old students, and a series of public talks were arranged, attended by more than 5,000 people.

Dhamma Bodhi

Bodh Gaya International Vipassana Meditation Centre

Post: Magadh University Campus, Gaya-Dhoba Road (15 km.),

Gaya 824 231, Bihar, INDIA.    Tel: (0631) 400 437

Office: Shanti Dham, Kankarbagh Road, Patna 800020, Bihar, INDIA

Tel & Fax: [91] (0612) 352874

Dhamma Bodhi, located in Bodhgaya in South Bihar, is where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodhi means enlightenment. The Maha Bodhi Temple commemorates the Buddha's enlightenment, and its grounds contain the Bodhi Tree under which he attained enlightenment. This temple can be seen from Dhamma Bodhi. The twelve acre centre is near Magadh University. Goenkaji has conducted many Vipassana courses in Bodhgaya, the first of these as early as 1970. However, the first course on the centre was held in November 1995 in which sixty-five students participated.

Dhamma Cakka

Sarnath Vipassana Centre

Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA

Contact Address: Mangalam, C-27/273 Indian Press Colony, Maldahia, Varanasi

Tel: Res.: [91] (0542) 346 644; Fax: [91] (0542) 511 118

Dhamma Cakka (Wheel of Dhamma) is located in Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first discourse-Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Turning of the Wheel of the Dhamma).

Dhamma Vimutti

Kushinagar Vipassana Centre

Contact Address: Arogya Mandir, Aam Bazar, Gorakhpur 273 003, U.P., INDIA

Tel: Res:. [91] (0551) 310 805; Office: 310 469

Dhamma Vimutti is located in Kushinagar, near Gorakhpur. Vimutti means liberation. And Kushinagar, called Kusin±r± at the time of the Buddha, is the place where the Buddha attained mah±parinibb±na under twin s±la trees on the full moon night of Ves±kha in 544 B.C. The Buddha gave his last exhortation: vaya-dhamm± saªkh±r±, appam±dena samp±detha-decay is inherent in all compounded things, work out your own salvation with diligence.

Dhamma Licchav²

Contact Address: Vaishali Vipassana Centre,

Village: Ladaura, Ladaura Pakri, Muzzaffarpur 843 113, INDIA

 Office: Lalit Kunj, Atardah, Muzzaffarpur 842 002, Bihar

 Tel: (0621) 247 750, 243 206, 243 407

Dhamma Licchav² is in northern Bihar, about twenty kilometres from Vaishali (Vesali) and twelve kilometres from Muzaffarpur. Goenkaji has named it after the clan that lived in that area at the time of the Buddha. Vaishali is an important place where the Buddha stayed many times. The seven acre piece of land was purchased in 1993. Regular ten day courses are offered here.

Dhamma Dhaja

Post: Melanwali,Village: Ananda Garh,

Dist. Hoshiarpur 146 110, Punjab, INDIA. Tel: (01882) 72333

Dhamma Dhaja (Banner of Dhamma) is located on forty acres of land, donated by a meditator, at the foot of the Shivalika mountains in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Guruji and Mataji visited Dhamma Dhaja on the mett± day of the first ten-day course in March 1998. The Teacher's residence has been built but students are currently accommodated in tents. The first priority is the construction of dormitories for students.

Dhamma Dhaja is surrounded by unspoiled fertile farmland and the majestic snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas can be seen in the far distance.

Dhamma K±nana

Vipassana Meditation Centre

Balaghat, M.P., INDIA

C/o Ratan-Kuti, 126, Ward No. 13, I.T.I. Road, Budhi,

Balaghat 481001, Tel: (07632) 73145

Dhamma K±nana (Grove of Dhamma) is located in a quiet forest. Eleven acres have been purchased on the bank of a river near a National Park. For a long time, non-centre Vipassana courses were being held in neighbouring areas. The centre has the requisite facilities for sixty students. After the first course in April 1995, regular courses have been held on the site.

Dhamma Pattana

The Grand Vipassana Pagoda

Goraigaon, near Essel World, Mumbai

Office: Green House, Green Street, Fort, Mumbai, INDIA

Contact: Mr. M M Khandhar, Tel: (022) 671 8287, Mobile: 98211-36447

or: Mr Sanjeev Gandhi: Tel: (022) 862 4349, 8682576, 869 9957 Ext. 549;

e-mail: mhhomes@hotmail.com; Web site: www.grandpagoda.org

Dhamma Pattana (Port of Dhamma) is the site of Grand Vipassana Pagoda in Mumbai (Bombay), the commercial capital of India and its most populated metropolis. Thousands of people visit Mumbai every day.

This 325 feet high monument of the Buddha will generate widespread awareness of, and remove misconceptions about the Buddha and his teachings in its country of origin.

The pagoda will have a meditation hall where 10,000 Vipassana meditators will be able to meditate together. It will also contain exhibits of various inspiring incidents from the life of the Buddha, highlighting his universal teaching of S²la (morality), Sam±dhi (control of mind), and Paññ± (purification of mind by insight) to emphasize that his teachings are beneficial to one and all.

Construction of this massive monument began in October, 1997.

Other centres in India

The following Vipassana meditation centres are in various stages of development.

Dhamma Sota

City Office: Vipassana Sadhana Sansthan, Hemkunt Towers, 16th Floor, 98 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019,

Tel: (011) 645 2772; Fax: (011) 647 0658, e-mail: logicstat@vsnl.com

Dhamma Sota (Stream of Dhamma) is located in Haryana, near Delhi. The land was acquired in 1994. The Delhi Trust has plans to build a Vipassana centre to accommodate many hundreds of meditators. The first ten-day course is likely to be held around February 2000.

Dhamma Rakkhaka

New Delhi

A ten-day Vipassana course was conducted at the Police Training College in New Delhi in March, 1999 in which 1021 Delhi Police personnel participated. A special message from Goenkaji for the police personnel was played after mett± bhavan±. It described the importance of Dhamma in the security forces citing the example of Emperor Ashoka.

At the end of the course, a new Vipassana centre was inaugurated in the Police Training College so that the Police Department can continue to gain benefit from the practice of Vipassana. Goenkaji has named it Dhamma Rakkhaka (Guardian of Dhamma).

Dhamma Suvatthi

Sravasti, U.P.

Contact address: c/o Mahabodhi Society of India, Sravasti, 271213, Dist. Bahraich, U.P.

Dhamma Suvatthi (Welfare of Dhamma) is located in Shravasti, the most populated city in India at the time of the Buddha. The Buddha spent many rainy retreats here. It is a matter of great happiness that the pure teaching of the Buddha is coming back again to this historical place. Six acres of land is being purchased about half a kilometre from the famous Jetavana.

Dhamma Upavana

Contact Address: Dr. I. C. Sinha. Khabhada Road, Muzaffarpur 842001, Bihar. Tel: Res. (0621) 244 975

Dhamma Upavana (Forest of Dhamma) is located in Baracakiya in Bihar.  The centre has a Dhamma hall where regular group sittings are held.

Dhamma P±la

Contact Address: E-1/82, Arera Colony, Bhopal 462 016, M.P.

Tel: Res. (0755) 563 113; Office: 562 351, 561 243, Fax: 564 520, e-mail: mpveneer@bom2.vsnl.net in

Dhamma P±la (Protector of Dhamma) is located in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, and is yet another place where non-centre courses have been held for a long time. Now, thirty-five acres of hilly land overlooking a body of water have been purchased for the centre. Sanchi, site of the famous stupa, is an hour's distance away. Already a temporary Dhamma Hall and boundary wall have been erected and regular one-day courses are held for old-students.

Dhamma Ketu

Vipassana Meditation Centre, Thanod-491 001, via Anjora, Dist. Durg, M.P.

Contact: B-269, Street 5, Smritinagar, P.O. Nehru Nagar, Bhilai 490 020, M.P. Tel: Res:. [91] (0788) 321 539

Dhamma Ketu (Banner of Dhamma) is located near Durg, an important railway station that is also well-connected by road. The steel city of Bhilai is just 10 km away. Six acres of land have been purchased and Vipassana courses are planned to be held at the centre in the coming year.

Dhamma Sumana

Contact: Tel: (080) 843 7231 (during course time only).

13/1 Vijaya II Main, 5th Block, Kumara Park (W.), Bangalore 560 020, Karnataka.

Tel: (080) 336 0896, Office 336 4220; Fax: c/o (080) 221 5776. e-mail: maitri@blr.vsnl.net.in

Dhamma Sumana (Delight in Dhamma) is a forty acre piece of land that has been purchased in this important industrial city which is at the forefront of the electronic revolution in India. It is just outside the city limits, about 16 km from the city.

Dhamma Setu

Contact Address: Madras Vipassana Centre, c/o Meridian Apparels, 148 Eldames Road, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018. Tel: 044-4334546/47; Fax: 4344504. e-mail: meridian@md3.vsnl.net.in

Dhamma Setu (Bridge of Dhamma), the seven-acre Madras Vipassana Centre in Chennai (Madras) in southern India, was acquired in 1992. Chennai is the largest metropolis in South India. The international airport is 10 km from the centre. The centre will accommodate 100 meditators at the end of the first phase of construction in January 2000.

Dhamma Div±kara

Contact:Upendra Patel, Mehsana, Gujarat. Tel. (02762) 44744, 53315

Land has been bought for Dhamma Div±kara (Sun of Dhamma) in Mehsana. Construction will begin soon.