The name of the art of making life blissful is Vipassana. Vipassana Courses are conducted at Various Vipassana Centers of the world. It is that precious spiritual path, after which one does not need to follow any other spiritual path. But this rare gem is not easily obtained. For this one has to move forward with determination and effort.
Vipassana Courses
To learn Vipassana, we have to attend its 10-Day Course. This course is conducted at Vipassana Centers in more than 90 countries of the world. Apart from the 10-Day Course, some other courses are also conducted at these centers.
In this article, we will discuss all Vipassana courses to be conducted at Vipassana Centers. You will learn about the structure, rules, and timetable of these courses. The process of joining Vipassana Courses will also be discussed in detail.
11 Types Of Vipassana Courses
Let us provide you information about various Vipassana Courses to be conducted at Vipassana Centers:
1. 10-Day Vipassana Course
The 10-day Vipassana Meditation Course is conducted for people above 14 years of age. Students are practiced Anapana for the first 3 days of the course. Vipassana is taught on the fourth day. Vipassana is practiced from the fourth day to the last day of the course.
The 10-day course has some rules and a fixed timetable. Students have to follow these strictly. No exemption of any kind is given in following the rules.
Read Everything About 10-Day Course
2. 7-Day Vipassana Course
The 7-Day course is conducted only for teenagers of 15 to 19 years. This age is very fragile. At this age, rapid and major changes take place in the body as well as in the mind. The main objective of the 7-Day course is to put welfare seeds in the form of Vipassana in the minds of teenagers.
If teenagers learn Vipassana at the right time and make it a part of their life, then paths for a bright future, success, and progress are opened for them. Thousands of teenagers have changed their lives by taking benefits of Vipassana.
All the rules of the 10-Day Course and the 7-Day Course are the same. Only the timetables are slightly different. Let’s have a look at the 7-Day Course timetable:
| 5 am | Wake Up |
| 5:30 am To 6:30 am | First Session |
| 6:30 am To 8:00 am | Breakfast |
| 8:00 am To 8:45 am | Group Meditation |
| 9:00 am To 10:15 am | Meditation & Checking |
| 10:30 am To 11:15 am | Morning Discourse |
| 11:15 am To 11:45 am | Q & A |
| 11:45 am To 1:45 pm | Lunch & Rest |
| 1:45 pm To 2:15 pm | Meditation |
| 2:30 pm To 3:15 pm | Group Meditation |
| 3:30 pm To 4:30 pm | Meditation & Checking |
| 4:30 pm To 5:00 pm | Tea/Milk/Snacks |
| 5:20 pm To 5:50 pm | Walking |
| 6:00 pm To 6:45 pm | Group Meditation |
| 6:50 pm To 7:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:45 pm To 8:30 pm | Evening Discourse |
| 8:45 pm To 9:00 pm | Meditation |
| 9:00 pm To 9:30 pm | Q & A |
3. 10-Day Vipassana Courses For Executives
These 10-Day Vipassana Courses are specially organized for Business Executives and Government Officials. This course is like a normal 10-day course. Its rules and timetables are just like a normal 10-Day course. These courses are not organized at all Vipassana centers but only at a few selected centers.
At present, there are 2 such centers in India where these Vipassana Courses are organized:
- Dhamma Pattana (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- Dhamma Vipula (Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra)
How To Apply
You can apply in 10 days Executive Vipassana Course in 3 ways:
- Online: This is the easiest and the best way to apply in the course. You can apply on the official website of Vipassana.
- Through E-mail/Fax: You can download the application from the official website, fill it and email or fax it.
- Through Mail/Fax: You can take the print of the application, fill it, and mail or courier it to the address of the center.
4. Satipatthana Sutra Courses
This course is for old students only. Some criteria have been set for joining this course. Such as:
- The student must have completed at least three 10-day courses.
- The student has been practicing Vipassana for at least a year.
- The student has been following 5 precepts after applying for the course.
The rules of the Satipathana Sutra course are similar to the rules and timetable 10-day courses. Only in the evening video discourses are different. In these video discourses, the Satipathana Sutra is explained in depth. Video discourses strengthen the practice of Vipassana of the students.
5. 10-Day Vipassana Courses For Old Students
There are some important criteria to participate in the 10- Day Vipassana Courses conducted for old students. like:
- The student must have completed at least three 10-day courses.
- The student must have completed at least one Satipatthana Sutra course.
- The student has been following 5 precepts.
- The student has been practicing Vipassana for at least one year.
The rules of this course are the same as normal 10-day courses.
6. Special 10-Day Vipassana Courses
This course is organized for serious old students. To attend this course, the student must have:
- Completed at least five 10-day courses.
- Completed one Satipatthana Sutra course.
- Given Dhamma Service at least one 10-day course.
- Been practicing Vipassana for at least one year.
Rules and timetables are the same as normal 10-day courses.
7. 20-Day Vipassana Courses
This course is organized for serious old students. To attend this course, the student must have:
- Completed six 10-day courses.
- Completed one Satipatthana Sutra course.
- Given one Dhamma Service.
The rules of this course are the same as the 10-day course.
8. 30-Day Vipassana Courses
To attend these 30-Day Vipassana Courses, the student must have:
- Completed at least six 10-day courses.
- Completed one Satipatthana Sutra course.
- Been practicing Vipassana for at least two years.
The rules of these courses are the same as 10-day courses.
9. 45-Day Vipassana Courses
This is not a common course. These Vipassana Courses are conducted only for Dhamma Sevaks and Assistant Teachers. To attend this course, the Dhamma Sevaks/Assistant Teachers must have:
- Completed at least seven 10-day courses.
- Completed two 30-day courses.
- Completed one Satipatthana Sutra course.
- Been practicing Vipassana for at least three years.
The rules of these Vipassana Courses are the same as 10-day courses.
10. 60-Day Vipassana Courses
These courses are reserved only for Assistant Teachers of Vipassana. Eligibility to join this course:
- The Assistant Teacher must have done at least two 45-day courses.
- The Assistant teacher must conduct at least four 10-day courses in a year.
- Those who are going to take assistant teacher training, have completed two 45-day courses, and have served at least four 10-day courses in the last 12 months.
11. Self Vipassana Courses (For Old Students)
The rules and timetables of these courses are similar to the ordinary 10-day courses. The only difference is that there are no assistant teachers to conduct these courses. To attend these courses, the student must have:
- Completed three 10-day courses.
- not been practicing other Meditations.
- Been practicing Vipassana for at least one year.
- Been trying to follow the five precepts.
Other Available Vipassana Courses
In addition to the above-mentioned Vipassana Courses, some other courses are also conducted at the Vipassana Centers. like:
- Anapana Courses For Teenagers: Teenagers from 13 to 18 years can attend these courses. These courses of Anapana Meditation are very beneficial for teenagers of this age.
- Children’s Courses: These courses are conducted at Vipassana Centers for children from 8 to 12 years. The purpose of these courses is to put the seed of meditation in the mind of the children so that the children’s mind is free from the impurities.
- Short Courses (1-3 days for old students): Those students who have completed the 10-day Vipassana course even once can attend this course. For this, students have to get in touch with Vipassana Center. For students whose practice of Vipassana has become weak, these short Vipassana Courses are very beneficial.
One Day Group Sitting
Old students who have completed the 10-day course at least once can participate in the 1-day Group Sitting. The main purpose of this 1 day Garuo Sitting is to strengthen the practice of Vipassana of the students.
For the first time, when the students regularly practice Vipassana at their home after completing the 10-day Vipassana Course, they face a variety of difficulties. During Vipassana Courses, the atmosphere of the center helps the students practice smoothly. But after the completion of the course, there is no atmosphere like the center at home. In such a situation, meditators face many difficulties even after regular practice of Vipassana. Such as:
- Mind-wandering
- Not experiencing subtle physical sensations
- Laziness
- Leg pain
- Sleep during practice
It is common for such problems to occur during practice. Students who have recently completed their first 10-day course often have similar problems with them.
But these problems do not arise only for new meditators but also for many old meditators. A concrete solution is to “Strengthen Our Practice“.
To strengthen the practice of seekers, 1-Day Group Sittings are conducted at many Vipassana Centers of the world. Every center has a different day and time for it.
Vipassana seekers whose practice has been weakened for any reason or have difficulties during the practice must attend these 1-Day Group Sittings. Students should contact their nearest Vipassana center to participate in it.
1-Day Group Sittings are conducted throughout the year (365 days) at the Mumbai-based Global Vipassana Pagoda.
FAQ
- Is Vipassana taught differently in different courses of Vipassana?
Ans: No. Vipassana is done only in one way. Despite Vipassana having different courses, the way to practice it is the same.
- Then why does Vipassana have so many courses?
Ans: Different courses of Vipassana are for different level meditators. The one who progresses on this path is provided with a course of that level.
- What is the fee for joining Vipassana courses?
Ans: All Vipassana Courses are free.
- Vipassana is related to which religion?
Ans: Not from any religion. Vipassana is completely based on science and science has no religion.
- What do we practice in Vipassana?
Ans: In Vipassana, we practice observing gross and subtle sensations arising on our body with equanimity. By doing this, we are gradually free from the impurities of our minds and lead a life of peace.
- Is it necessary to do a 10-day course to learn Vipassana?
Ans: Yes. Without taking a course, neither one can learn Vipassana nor can anyone teach anyone. It requires determination, a strong mind, and a proper environment to learn, which can be found only at Vipassana Centers. Therefore, to learn Vipassana, it is mandatory to do a 10-day course.
- What to do if we want to ask practice-related questions after the course?
Ans: After the completion of the course, all the students are given the phone number of the Assistant Teacher. For any questions related to the practice of Vipassana, you can call the teacher without any hesitation.
- What is the importance of Anapana in learning Vipassana?
Ans: Not only in learning Vipassana, but also after that, Anapana has an important role. To learn Vipassana it is necessary to have a subtle and sharp mind. Through the practice of Anapana, we make our mind subtle and sharp which helps us in Vipassana.
Conclusion
Vipassana Courses are organized at various Vipassana Centers in more than 90 countries of the world. While there is only one type of practicing Vipassana, different types of Vipassana Courses are conducted at these centers to strengthen the practice of Vipassana. Regardless of the different types of courses, the method of practice remains the same.
These courses are divided on different bases. These courses have been divided based on New Students, Old Students, Teenagers, Children, Government Officials, Dhamma Sevakas, and Assistant Teachers. 10-day courses are organized for new students while different courses are available for old students. Courses of 45 and 60 days are conducted for assistant teachers.
As we all know that Anapana is an important part of Vipassana. Anapana Meditation courses are also conducted at various Vipassana Centers. Anapana Meditation courses are conducted separately for children and teenagers.
Do you also want to be free from the impurities of your mind and live a life of peace and joy? Do you also want to know and understand the unbreakable relationship between your body and mind? Do you also want to create such an environment around you that people feel happy after meeting you? If your answer is “yes” then apply for Vipassana Course today without wasting time.
Famous Vipassana Centers In India:
- Jaipur Vipassana Center (Dhamma Thali)
- Igatpuri Vipassana Center (Dhamma Giri)
- Mumbai Vipassana Center (Dhamma Pattana)
- Delhi Vipassana Center (Dhamma Sota)
- Bangalore Vipassana Center (Dhamma Paphulla)
- Kolhapur Vipassana Center (Dhammalaya)
- Pune Vipassana Center (Dhamma Punna)
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