in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Center Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English
Dhamma Sirī, also known as the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center, means 'Prosperity of Dhamma' in Pali. Established in 1990, the center sits on 20 acres of land near the end of a quiet rural road, 45 minutes from downtown Dallas, Texas. The Center is also less than four hours from Austin, Houston, and Oklahoma City. Dhamma Sirī holds approximately 25 courses annually serving over 2500 students. Instructions and discourses can be provided in over 40 languages.
How to Apply to Attend or Serve a Course
- Access the application form by clicking Apply for the desired course.
- Please carefully read the Introduction to the Technique and Code of Discipline which you will be asked to follow during your course.
- Fully and completely fill out all the sections of application form and submit it.
- An application is required to register for all courses.
- Await notification. All correspondence will be through e-mail if you give an e-mail address in your application.
- Due to the large volume of applications, it may take up to two weeks before receiving notification.
- If your application is accepted you must confirm you will be attending in order to secure your place in the course. You will receive an email requesting you to confirm when it is time.
| Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center General Information [email protected] | General Course Registration Voice Mail and Fax: [1] (972) 346-8020 [email protected] | Dhamma Service Registration Voice Mail and Fax: [1] (972) 346-8020 [email protected] |
| Children / Teenager's Course Registration Voice Mail and Fax: [1] (972) 692-3244 [email protected] | Executive Course Registration Voice Mail and Fax: [1] (815) 301-9321 [email protected] | Long Course Registration Fax: [1] (815) 301-9196 [email protected] |
TEST BEFORE YOU APPLY
Although the Center is taking all precautions, there still remains the risk of exposure to COVID-19 while at the Center. If you are at risk of serious illness from Coronavirus, it is advised that you not place yourself at risk to COVID-19 by coming to the Center at this time.
Those with any of the following conditions should not apply at this time:
- Not consistently wearing a mask or not maintaining 6' distance from others when away from home.
- In close contact with others who are not consistently wearing a mask or not maintaining 6' distance from others when away from home
- Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, including
- new or worsening cough, mild or moderate difficulty breathing
- fever, chills, sore through, vomiting, or diarrhea
- fatigue, headache, body/muscle aches
- sustained loss of smell, taste, or appetite
Everyone coming to the Center will be screened at the time of their arrival. Anyone with any symptoms of COVID-19, flu, virus, or other serious communicable illnesses will be asked to return home immediately.
VACCINATION, QUARANTINE & TESTING REQUIREMENTS
All attendees to our courses are required either to be fully vaccinated or to quarantine for 7 full days immediately prior to the course and take a PCR COVID-19 test after the 3rd full day of quarantine. Please ensure you understand and follow below requirements. You will be required to show your vaccination card or negative COVID-19 PCR test results. You will not be admitted to the course without one of these. Note the additional requirements for international travelers.
| Protocol | ---- | Fully Vaccinated | ---- | Not Fully Vaccinated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their final dose of COVID-19 vaccine. If your final dose of vaccine will not be at least 2 weeks prior to the course, you must quarantine and test in order to be admitted to the course. | ||||
------------------------- International Travelers | ------------------------------------------ Must follow CDC Guidelines for Vaccinated International Travelers, including taking a PCR test after your travel and prior to the course. | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Presently not accepting unvaccinated international travelers | ||
------------------------- Travel to Dallas | ------------------------------------------ May take any mode of transit, while observing strict masking and distancing protocols. | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Out of area travelers within the US may take any mode of transit. Anyone coming by public transit, air, train, bus etc. must quarantine for 7 full days after arrival in the Dallas area. Follow all CDC guidelines for domestic travel. | ||
------------------------- Travel to the center | ------------------------------------------ A private car is preferred or shared rides with other vaccinated attendees. | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Must arrive in a private car - no shuttles or buses, or other shared transportation. | ||
------------------------- Quarantine prior to course | ------------------------------------------ No requirements | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 full days immediately prior to the course. The quarantine location must be one where you can be isolated from others, like a hotel room, air BnB, private residence. Trips away from quarantine are for urgent necessities only, while fully masked and distanced. | ||
------------------------- COVID-19 Testing | ------------------------------------------ No requirements | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PCR test taken after 3 full days of quarantine. The test should be taken no sooner than the 4th day of quarantine. | ||
------------------------- Documents | ------------------------------------------ COVID-19 vaccination card showing last dose at least 2 weeks prior to the course. International travelers must provide both vaccination card and negative PCR test results. | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Negative PCR test results |
Students may apply to sit only one course at a time, even if the course is at another center or if the course is waitlisted.
Click the 'Apply' link to complete an application. Enrollment opens approximately 4 months prior to the course.
Students are expected at the center between 1 and 5 pm for the registration period and the orientation. The course ends the morning of the last day by 7:00 am.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15 - Sep 26 | 10-Day | In Progress | Kaufman | ||
| Sep 26 - Sep 28 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Kaufman |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course, apply for service period - please contact "[email protected]" |
|
| Apply | Sep 29 - Oct 10 | 10-Day | Open | Kaufman | |
| Oct 10 - Oct 12 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Kaufman |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course, apply for service period - please contact "[email protected]" |
|
| Apply | Oct 13 - Oct 24 | 10-Day | Open | Kaufman | |
| Oct 24 - Oct 28 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Kaufman |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course, apply for service period - please contact "[email protected]" |
|
| Oct 29 - Oct 31 | 2-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Kaufman |
For old students |
|
| Nov 01 - Nov 02 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Kaufman |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course, apply for service period - please contact "[email protected]" |
|
| Nov 03 - Dec 04 | 30-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Kaufman |
For old students |
|
| Apply | Nov 03 - Dec 19 | 45-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Kaufman |
For old students |
| Dec 19 - Dec 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 05 | Kaufman |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course, apply for service period - please contact "[email protected]" |
|
| Apply | December 22, 2021 - January 02, 2022 | 10-Day | Open | Kaufman |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 02 - Jan 04 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 19 | Kaufman |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course, apply for service period - please contact "[email protected]" |
|
| Jan 05 - Jan 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 18 | Kaufman |
The online application form encrypts your information before it is sent from your computer to our application server. However, it may not be totally secure even though encryption is used. If you are concerned about the possibility of security risks of your confidential information while it is on the Internet, do not use this form and instead download an application. Print and complete it. Then please send the form to the course organizers. By faxing or posting your application form it may delay the registration process by one to two weeks.
To access the Old Student Regional Site please click http://siri.dhamma.org/os. A user name and password will be required to access these pages.
Questions may be addressed to Email: [email protected]
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.
Bilingual courses are courses which are taught in two languages. All students will hear daily meditation instructions in both languages. The evening discourses will be heard separately.
Meditation courses are held at both center and non-center locations. Meditation centers are dedicated facilities where courses are held regularly throughout the year. Before meditation centers were established in this tradition, all courses were held at temporary sites, such as campgrounds, religious retreat centers, churches and the like. Today, in regions where centers have not yet been established by local students of Vipassana who live in the area, 10 Day meditation courses are held at non-center course sites.
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.
30-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of six 10-day courses (one since their first 20-day course), one 20-day course, one Satipatthana Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two years.
Applications must be submitted well in advance as processing may take some time. Students who speak neither English nor one of the other announced course languages may apply for the course, however acceptance into the course will depend on the availability of required course materials, suitable translators and permission of the teacher conducting the course.
45-day Courses are open only to persons involved in Dhamma Service and Assistant Teachers who have completed a minimum of seven 10-day courses (one since their first 30-day course), two 30-day courses, one Satipatthana Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for at least three years.
Applications must be submitted well in advance as processing may take some time. Students who speak neither English nor one of the other announced course languages may apply for the course, however acceptance into the course will depend on the availability of required course materials, suitable translators and permission of the teacher conducting the course.
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 participate. 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.
