Dhamma Sirī

Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center, Kaufman, Texas, USA

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Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

Basics

How do I learn Vipassana?

New students learn Vipassana by taking an intensive, residential ten-day course. Instructions are provided by S.N. Goenka on video and audio tapes. One or more assistant teachers are also present to provide guidance and answer any questions about the technique.

After reviewing information about the program, course requirements, and the Code of Discipline, you can check the Course Schedule to see which dates are available and register for a course online.

How much does a course cost?

Each student who attends a Vipassana course is given this gift by a previous student. There is no charge for either the teaching, or for room and board. All Vipassana courses worldwide are run on a strictly voluntary donation basis. At the end of your course, if you have benefited from the experience, you are welcome to donate for the coming course, according to your volition and your means.

Are there courses shorter than ten days?

Actually, the ten-day course is the minimum; it provides an essential introduction and foundation to the technique. To develop in the practice is a lifetime job. Experience over generations has shown that if Vipassana is taught in periods of less than ten days, the student does not get a sufficient experiential grasp of the technique. Traditionally, Vipassana was taught in retreats lasting seven weeks. With the dawning of the 20th century, the teachers of this tradition began to experiment with shorter times to suit the quickening pace of life. They tried thirty days, two weeks, ten days, down to seven days–and they found that less than ten days is not enough time for the mind to settle down and work deeply with the mind-body phenomenon.

How many students attend each course?

Course size varies, ranging from approx 20 to 90 students. Courses that fall during a holiday generally have higher attendance.

What are the accommodations like?

Accommodations are simple rooms with a single bed. The Men’s residence has rooms with attached bath for senior old students, as well single rooms adjacent to an attached bath house with private showers and changing rooms. The Women’s residence has single rooms all with attached baths.

What kind of food is served?

The menu is a tasty and nutritious vegetarian menu. Special diets due to medical conditions and serious allergies can be accommodated with advance notice. Please discuss any dietary issues with the Registrar during the registration process.

Checklist

Please find below the information for those who have been accepted for a meditation course at Dhamma Siri.

If you have any further questions regarding the courses, please do not hesitate to contact the Registrar at [email protected] or 1-972-346-8020.

Confirm Registration

A few weeks prior to the course, you will receive an email with a link that will allow you to confirm your registration.
If you do not confirm your registration, your enrollment will be bumped from the course and your spot given to a student on the waitlist.

If at any time you need to cancel the course, you may do so using the link in your acceptance letter, or by sending email to [email protected].

Code of Discipline

If you have not already done so, please read the Code of Discipline.

This document contains important information about the content, structure, and rules of the course. By submitting your application, you have agreed to follow the “Code of Discipline” during this course.

Clothing

No shorts, tank tops, tights or revealing clothing.

Tights or leggings should be worn only under a knee-length top or shirt. Please read the “Code of Discipline” carefully and note the rules regarding clothing.

Please anticipate your individual needs in this environment. The rooms and the meditation hall are climate-controlled by central heat and air conditioning. Many people like a sweater, shawl or light blanket in the meditation hall. As outdoor shoes are not worn in the meditation hall or residential quarters, it is advisable to bring shoes that are easy to slip on and off.

Bring sufficient clothing for the duration of your stay. Although automated laundry facilities are not available, facilities are available for hand wash and line dry.

Toiletries

No perfumed or scented creams, powders, shaving lotions, etc.

Bring all items necessary for personal hygiene such as:

  • Towel
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Bath soap
  • Shampoo / conditioner
  • Shaving/Sanitary supplies

Bedding

A single extra long twin sized bed with a mattress, pillow, and a blanket is provided.

Students and volunteers must bring bed sheets and a pillow case.  Mattresses are extra long twin, 38″ x 80″.

Meditation Cushions

The meditation hall is carpeted and a cotton meditation cushion is provided. Meditation benches are also available. You may bring your own meditation cushion if you desire. Please request a chair if you need one on the first day of the course after your arrival.

Other Articles

Please do not bring unnecessary valuables or jewelry. Also, please do not bring food items, books, radios, computers, tape players, writing materials, journals, or religious objects.

All cell phones, palm pilots, pagers and other communication devices will need to be checked in with the management on the first day. Checked items will be returned when the course is over.

It is advisable to bring a watch and/or a non-ticking alarm clock. You may want to bring a flashlight and a small umbrella. Bring walking shoes if you want to do any walking exercise during the course.

Arrival and Departure Times

Arrival:

Please arrive between 1.00 and 5:00 PM for the registration period on the day the course begins. A light meal will be served at 5.00 PM and orientation will follow at 6.00 PM. If your arrival will be delayed past 5.00 PM on the day the course begins please contact the Meditation Center at 1-972-962-8858. If you have not arrived by 6:00 PM, and we haven’t heard from you, we will assume you are not coming, and your seat may be given to another student.

Departure:

The 10 day, 20 day, 30 day, 45 day and Satipatthana courses will end at approximately 7:00 AM on the last day, followed by breakfast and clean up. Students can expect to leave the center between 8 – 10 AM. Please plan any flights for after 11:00 am on the last day, to allow time for transportation from the center to the local airports.

The 1 day, 2 day and 3 day courses will end at approximately 5:00 PM on the last day, after a short clean up.

All new students, as well as returning students taking a full course, are expected to remain until the very end of the course.

Cancellation Instructions

It takes a tremendous amount of planning and expense to organize each of our 10-day residential courses. The courses at Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center are usually between 30 and 100 students and are run strictly on a donation basis. These courses are the only events at the facility; so it is essential to know the exact number of participants for each course.

If for any reason you will not be able to attend, it is essential for you to cancel, even if it is the day of the course. You many cancel by sending an e-mail to [email protected], or by calling the Registrar at 1-972-346-8020.

Register for a course

Register Online

Unless otherwise specified online registration is available for all courses. Please follow the steps below:

Guidelines

  • One form per course: You must submit a separate form for each course for which you apply.
  • One form per person: Each individual must submit their own application (i.e. one form per person).
  • Changing courses: If, after submitting a course application, you wish to change your original course date for a different one (at another time), it would be helpful if you would submit a new application. This will save the registrar time and avoid possible confusion in the system.

Transportation

Please make sure you inform the Registrar of your travel plans. If your plans change (e.g. missed a flight, found alternative transportation etc.) or are delayed in anyway, please inform both the Registrar at [email protected] and Transportation at [email protected] . You may also call 1-972-962-8858 for all updates to your transportation information.

Please refer to Arrivals and Departure Times section above for arrival and departure times at the center, return flight planning, etc.

Ride Share Board

Please offer rides if you will have extra space in your vehicle. Sometimes people can’t attend simply because they lack transportation.

If you need a ride or can offer rides for others to get to the course site, please follow the self-service ride board instructions on your Acceptance email. If you mentioned needing or offering a ride on your application, you will be automatically entered on the ride board. 

Once you have posted a ride request, start monitoring the Ride Board routinely for new listings of ride offers. The activity picks up in the days leading up to the course.

Shared Shuttle from Dallas

If enough participants need rides, the Center may arrange for a shuttle to reach/ depart from the Center and Dallas. YOU MUST INFORM REGISTRATION IF YOU NEED THE SHUTTLE. Please provide all the Arrival information requested below.

Arrival:

  • Arrival location (Airport – DFW or Love Field / Bus Station / Train Station),
  • Date
  • Time
  • Airline / Bus / Train operator
  • Flight number
  • Cell phone number

Departure:

If you don’t have return transportation to leave at the end of the course, center management will coordinate rides / shuttles a day before the course ends.

If you do not inform registration that you need the shuttle, you will need to make your own arrangements to arrive at the center (see next few sections for helpful tips).

The Center will make the reservation on your behalf with the shuttle company. There may be more than one shared shuttle van, depending upon number of participants and arrival times. Currently, each shuttle can accommodate a maximum of four passengers and the cost is shared equally by those on board.

Shuttle Fares – (current rates may vary:)

  • The rates are the same from DFW airport or Love Field airport / Dallas downtown bus or train stations.
    • For one through four passengers: One – $95, Two – $60, Three – $50, Four – $40.
  • Please add a tip for the driver; suggested tip is $2 per bag, with a minimum of $3. You will pay the driver on arrival at the Center. You can pay either in cash or by credit card.

About 1-2 weeks before course starts, the transportation team will email all participants who’ve confirmed their attendance to write back if any transportation assistance is needed to reach the center.

Note: The final departure time(s) and location of the pick-up points for the shuttles will be published by the Transportation team only two to three days before the course begins, once we have travel details from most students requesting a ride.

IF YOU MISS THE SHUTTLE

If you miss the shuttle, you must do the following two things:

1) Call the primary shuttle driver to inform him of your new flight arrival time. The driver will assist in getting you on another shared shuttle to the center or book you on a regular full-price shuttle, depending on what is available when you get in.

2) Be sure to also call the center at 1-972-962-8858, to inform that you have missed the shuttle and when you expect to be arriving.

Arrivals by Airplane

Please try to arrive in Dallas before or around 12:00 noon on the day the course begins. Your departing flight should leave after 12:00 noon on the last day of the course, to allow time to get to the airport.

Please see the Shared Shuttle to / from Dallas section, if you are interested in sharing the cost of transportation to reach the Center.

There are also numerous other taxi and shuttle services from both airports, however most of them are likely unfamiliar with getting to the center as it is about 60+ miles away. The few that are familiar are listed on this page.

Arrivals by Bus or Rail

  • From Downtown Dallas Bus/Rail Stations only: From Downtown Dallas Bus/Rail Stations only: The shuttle can pick you up from Greyhound, Megabus and Amtrak stations in downtown Dallas. Please see the Shared Shuttle from Dallas section for more information.
  • From Terrell Greyhound Bus Station: If you take a Greyhound bus to the city of Terrell (approximately 20 miles from the Center), you can take the STAR public transportation service. Contact the STAR service at least 24 hours but not more than two weeks in advance of the trip date at 1-877-631-5278 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM CST to make a reservation from the bus station to the Meditation Center. The rate is approximately $5 one way (Current rates may be different). You will need to provide the address of the Center when you book your reservation with STAR: 10850 Country Road 155A, Kaufman, Texas 75142.If scheduling permits, subject to availability of driver and bus, STAR Transit may provide “same day” service at a higher fare rate. Contact STAR for these rates.

Arrivals by Uber / Lyft / Other Rideshare / Taxi Service

Alternatively, you can choose to make your own arrangements using any of these services.

The center is located about 60 miles away from Dallas in a rural area. For reference, here is the Google maps directions to Dhamma Siri Vipassana Meditation center. Follow the directions carefully to avoid getting lost.

Driving to the Center

For driving directions to and maps of the Center please refer this page for directions to reach the center by car.

NOTE: GPS systems do not always give the correct directions. Please compare any GPS directions with the directions provided by the website.