Dhamma Surabhi – Vipassana Meditation Centre of BC

Vipassana Meditation as Taught by S.N. Goenka

in the Tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin

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Preparing for Your Course

If you have not already done so, please review the following:

Arrival & Departure

For the directions on how to get to the centre, visit the Directions section. If you are interested in sharing a ride, you will also find instructions on how to use our rideshare board in the same section.

  • All students are asked to arrive between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the day the course begins (Day 0).
  • If you are arriving by bus, upon arrival in Merritt you can see if there are other meditators on your bus, catch a taxi together (up to 4 per taxi), and split the approximately $80 fare. The taxi takes about half an hour from town. Alternatively, you can phone Merritt Cabs at 250-378-4444 upon arrival to see if other students have pre-booked a pick-up. Also, to get to the centre more quickly, please pre-arrange a taxi to meet you when your bus arrives in Merritt.
  • If you have not arrived by 6:00 p.m. and we haven't heard from you, we will assume that you are not coming, and your enrollment may be cancelled.
  • After registration is completed, a light meal and orientation (6:00 p.m.) will precede the start of the course at 7:30 p.m.
  • The course will end at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the last day (Day 11) of the course.
  • Please allow enough time to clean your room and help clean the common facilities before you leave. We rely entirely on the departing students to prepare the centre for the next course.
  • All new students are required to remain until the very end of the course.
  • In the morning on of the final day (Day 11), there may be a video presentation for 30 to 60 minutes around 9:00 a.m. You are welcome to attend.

Items to Bring to Your Course

Bring
Do Not Bring
                  
CLOTHING:

Only minimal hand-washing facilities are available, so please bring enough comfortable, loose fitting clothing for the duration of your stay. Summer temperatures, June through September, range from 4C (39F) at night to 32C (90F), or sometimes hotter, in the afternoon. Winter temperatures range from -20C (-4F) to 5C (41F) with snow.

  • Jacket
  • Warm hat
  • Warm socks
  • Raincoat
  • Umbrella
  • Boots
  • House slippers and/or quiet slip-on shoes for inside the meditation centre.
  • Yak Trax (or similar over the boot traction devices for the ice/snow).
 
BEDDING:
  • top and bottom sheet and a pillowcase for a twin size bed (A pillow and duvet are provided)
 
MEDITATION CUSHIONS:
  • Please try to bring your own cushions if possible, as meditation cushions at the centre are limited.
  • Meditation floor mats will be supplied for each student.
  • Please bring your own warm shawl or blanket for use in the Meditation hall.
 

TOILETRIES:

  • Towel
  • Bath Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Toothpaste
  • Unscented Deoderant
  • Shaving/Sanitary Supplies
 
                             

OTHER ARTICLES:

  • Unscented mosquito repellent
  • Liquid laundry soap
  • Small travel alarm clock
                  
REVEALING CLOTHING:

All students should observe the rules for modest dress as outlined in the Code of Discipline. Shorts, tank tops, transparent, tight or revealing clothing, etc. are not permitted. Tights or leggings should be worn only under a knee length top or skirt/dress.

 
SCENTED TOILETRIES:

For the comfort of the other students, please do not bring any perfumes or scented creams, powders, shaving lotions, etc.

 
                                    
                                    
OTHER:

Students are asked not to bring to the course any personal food, cell phones, pagers, laptop computers, palm pilots, reading materials, or journals to write in.

If you arrive with any of these items you will be asked to leave them with the management until the end of the course.

If you still have any doubts or questions please contact [email protected] When you send an email to registration@... or info@ .... you MUST include the word VIPASSANA in the subject line. Otherwise your email might end in the spam folder which we can no longer check. Or you may call 778-785-4080 in Vancouver, 250-412-5372 in Victoria or 250-469-7180 in Kelowna, and leave a message and telephone number to get back to you.

An Important Request

  • In order to prevent the possible spread of flu during the course, we ask that if you experience any flu-like symptoms during the 7 days before the course starts, please contact us to CANCEL your attendance.
  • Flu-like symptoms include fever over 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, muscle aches, weakness, profound fatigue, headache, and generally feeling very unwell. These differ from symptoms of a cold, which may include coughing, sneezing, congestion, mild fatigue, etc.
  • Similarly, if you develop flu-like symptoms during the course, please alert the teachers or managers immediately. We will help you make arrangements to leave the course for your benefit and the benefit of the other participants.