Vipassana

Wheel of Dhamma

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Dhamma Karuṇā, Youngstown, Alberta, Canada
Centre Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English

Dhamma Karuṇā means "Compassion of Dhamma" in Pali. The centre is located on 8.5 acres on the outskirts of Youngstown, Alberta – a small farming village in the Canadian Badlands. This area is noted for its wildlife including waterfowl, deer, antelope and moose. It is also famous for some of the most important fossil deposits in the world, including the Bearpaw Shale. Youngstown is three to five hours by car from four major cities: Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, and Regina and Saskatoon in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan.

How to Apply to Attend or Serve a Course

Access the application form by clicking Apply for the desired course. Old students will be given the option to serve.
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 then we require you to confirm you will be attending in order to secure your place in the course.

Additional information

Alberta Vipassana Meditation Centre

Dhamma Karuṇā
Tel: [1](403) 457-7842
Fax: [1](877) 230-9484

Email: [email protected]

Mailing address:

Alberta Vipassana Foundation
PO Box 84124 Market Mall
Calgary, AB, T3A 5C4

May 30th, 2021 Update: Centre is planning to reopen in July for courses.

Applications will be accepted beginning on the date specificed at about 8:00 am Mountain time.

Courses will be cancelled or curtailed, at short notice if Alberta cautions against gatherings (currently 15% of our regular capacity) and/or if servers/teachers are unavailable.

During the registration process, you will be receiving a number of e-mails from us. If you don't receive these emails, please check your Spam/Junk Mail box.

Before applying, please note the following changes in procedures that will be in place at the centre:

The menu choices will be far fewer than previously and we cannot accommodate special diet needs.
Until further notice, we can only accept applications from people who have been in Alberta for 14 days before the start of the course.
Ride sharing is not encouraged, so the RideBoard will NOT be available.
Students and servers will be required to wear face coverings while at the Centre.
Face coverings are mandatory while meditating in the meditation hall. If you have a hard time breathing through a face covering please consult with your healthcare practitioner or reconsider submitting an application at this time.
- You are permitted to remove your face covering anytime you are outdoors, in your private room, or eating/drinking.
We can only accommodate a small number of students and waitlists will also be short.
All acceptances are provisional until students complete an on-line Covid-19 Screening Form three days before the start of the course.
Please consider applying later if you have conditions that put at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19

Teenagers' and Children's Courses

Courses for young people.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.

No courses are currently scheduled.

Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

All ten day courses begin on the evening of the first day and end on the early morning of the last day.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.

2024 Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

Dates	Course Type	Status	Location	Comments
05 Apr - 16 Apr	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 05 Feb	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
16 Apr - 26 Apr	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 16 Feb	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
26 Apr - 07 May	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 26 Feb	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
07 May - 17 May	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 08 Mar	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
17 May - 28 May	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 18 Mar	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
28 May - 07 Jun	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 29 Mar	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
07 Jun - 18 Jun	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 08 Apr	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
18 Jun - 28 Jun	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 19 Apr	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
28 Jun - 09 Jul	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 29 Apr	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
09 Jul - 19 Jul	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 10 May	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
19 Jul - 23 Jul	3-Day English / French	New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open	Youngstown	For old students
23 Jul - 02 Aug	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 24 May	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
02 Aug - 13 Aug	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 03 Jun	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
13 Aug - 16 Aug	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 14 Jun	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
16 Aug - 27 Aug	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 17 Jun	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
27 Aug - 30 Aug	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 28 Jun	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
30 Aug - 10 Sep	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 01 Jul	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
10 Sep - 20 Sep	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 12 Jul	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
20 Sep - 01 Oct	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 22 Jul	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
01 Oct - 04 Oct	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 02 Aug	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
04 Oct - 15 Oct	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 05 Aug	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
15 Oct - 18 Oct	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 16 Aug	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
18 Oct - 29 Oct	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 19 Aug	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
29 Oct - 08 Nov	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 30 Aug	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
08 Nov - 19 Nov	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 09 Sep	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
19 Nov - 24 Nov	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 20 Sep	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
24 Nov - 03 Dec	Satipatthana Sutta English / French	Applications accepted starting 25 Sep	Youngstown	For old students Please click on link to the left for requirements
03 Dec - 06 Dec	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 04 Oct	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
06 Dec - 17 Dec	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 07 Oct	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
17 Dec - 20 Dec	Service Period - Part Time Welcome English / French	Applications accepted starting 18 Oct	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
20 Dec - 31 Dec	10-Day English / French	Applications accepted starting 21 Oct	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.

2025 Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

Dates	Course Type	Status	Location	Comments
01 Jan - 10 Jan	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 02 Nov	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
11 Jan - 22 Jan	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 12 Nov	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
22 Jan - 25 Jan	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 23 Nov	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
25 Jan - 05 Feb	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 26 Nov	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
05 Feb - 15 Feb	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 07 Dec	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
15 Feb - 26 Feb	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 17 Dec	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
26 Feb - 15 Mar	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 28 Dec	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
15 Mar - 26 Mar	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 14 Jan	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
26 Mar - 05 Apr	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 25 Jan	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
05 Apr - 16 Apr	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 04 Feb	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
16 Apr - 26 Apr	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 15 Feb	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
26 Apr - 07 May	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 25 Feb	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
07 May - 17 May	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 08 Mar	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
17 May - 28 May	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 18 Mar	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
28 May - 07 Jun	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 29 Mar	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
07 Jun - 18 Jun	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 08 Apr	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
18 Jun - 28 Jun	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 19 Apr	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
28 Jun - 09 Jul	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 29 Apr	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
09 Jul - 19 Jul	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 10 May	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
19 Jul - 23 Jul	3-Day	New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open	Youngstown	For old students
23 Jul - 02 Aug	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 24 May	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
02 Aug - 13 Aug	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 03 Jun	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
13 Aug - 16 Aug	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 14 Jun	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
16 Aug - 27 Aug	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 17 Jun	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
27 Aug - 30 Aug	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 28 Jun	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
30 Aug - 10 Sep	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 01 Jul	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
10 Sep - 20 Sep	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 12 Jul	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
20 Sep - 01 Oct	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 22 Jul	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
01 Oct - 04 Oct	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 02 Aug	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
04 Oct - 15 Oct	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 05 Aug	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
15 Oct - 18 Oct	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 16 Aug	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
18 Oct - 29 Oct	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 19 Aug	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
29 Oct - 08 Nov	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 30 Aug	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
08 Nov - 19 Nov	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 09 Sep	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
19 Nov - 24 Nov	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 20 Sep	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
24 Nov - 03 Dec	Satipatthana Sutta	Applications accepted starting 25 Sep	Youngstown	For old students Please click on link to the left for requirements
03 Dec - 06 Dec	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 04 Oct	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
06 Dec - 17 Dec	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 07 Oct	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.
17 Dec - 20 Dec	Service Period - Part Time Welcome	Applications accepted starting 18 Oct	Youngstown	For old students To reduce the time spent on cooking, servers are asked to bring some eggless vegetarian meals.
20 Dec - 31 Dec	10-Day	Applications accepted starting 21 Oct	Youngstown	Servers are asked to arrive a day before the start of the course (Day -1) Please see top of the page for COVID protocols being implemented.

Non-Centre Courses

Courses and Activities conducted at other locations.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.

No courses are currently scheduled.

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://karuna.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.

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.

Work 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.

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.