Bhavana-maya

The Pali term bhavana-maya panna means experiential wisdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some questions arise frequently in the minds of students. They are listed here with corresponding answers to help students in their practice.

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‍Why is the course ten days long?Back to top

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 twentieth 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 hours a day will I be meditating?Back to top

The day begins at 4 am with a wakeup bell and continues until 9 pm. There are about ten hours of meditation throughout the day, interspersed with regular breaks and rest periods. Every evening at 7 pm there is a videotaped lecture by the Teacher, S.N. Goenka, which provides a context for meditators to understand their experience of the day. This schedule has proved workable and beneficial for hundreds of thousands of people for decades.

‍What language is used in the course?Back to top

The course is taught through recordings of S.N. Goenka speaking in English. There is one course a year where the recordings are in both Hindi and English. While the evening discourses can be provided in other languages, it is essential that students can communicate effectively with the course teacher in English. Non-English speakers need to attend courses in a country of their native language.

‍How much does the course cost?Back to top

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.

‍How much are teachers paid to conduct courses?Back to top

Teachers receive no payment, donations or other material benefit. They are required to have their own private means of support. This rule means that some of them may have less time for teaching, but it protects students from exploitation and it guards against commercialism. In this tradition, teachers give Vipassana purely as a service to others. All they get is the satisfaction of seeing people’s happiness at the end of ten days.

‍I can’t sit cross-legged. Can I meditate?Back to top

Certainly. Chairs are provided for those unable to sit comfortably on the floor because of age or a physical problem.

‍I’m on a special diet. Can I bring my own food?Back to top

Nutritious vegetarian food is served on the courses at Dhamma Dipa.  Eggs are not used at all and there is no dairy or honey in prepared dishes.  Dairy foods and honey are served separately.  Therefore the meals offered are suitable for vegans.  Lunch typically consists of a main cooked dish of pulses and vegetables, a grain or pasta or potatoes, two salads, a selection of breads / crackers and a variety of condiments.  Where necessary, gluten-free options can be provided alongside the main offering, and we can cater for people with coeliac or nut allergy.  We can also provide extra meals or snacks if required, for example for diabetics or pregnant women.  Please inform us on your application if any of the above apply to you.  Beyond that, we are unable to prepare alternatives to the main cooked dish.  A list of ingredients is displayed each day so you can decide whether or not to take it.  Renunciation is one of the fundamental principles of the course, therefore students are asked to choose from the food provided to them, rather than bring food for themselves.  Most people find the choice is ample.  If your dietary needs are more specialised and cannot be met within the provisions described above, we ask you to wait until you can be more flexible.  Note:  Applicants on a raw food diet are not accepted unless they agree to eat the full range of foods provided.  The intensive nature and length of the courses mean that participants need sufficient nourishment. There is not enough uncooked food within the menus to sustain those who eat a raw food diet.

‍Can pregnant women attend courses? Are there any special arrangements or instructions for them?Back to top

Pregnant women may certainly attend, and many women come specifically during pregnancy to take advantage of the opportunity to work deeply and in silence during this special time. We ask pregnant women to ensure they are confident that their pregnancy is stable before applying. We provide the extra food they need and ask them to work in a relaxed way.

‍Why is a course conducted in silence?Back to top

All students attending the course observe “noble silence” – that is, silence of body, speech and mind. They agree to refrain from communicating with their co-meditators. However, students are free to contact the management about their material needs, and to speak with the instructor. Silence is observed for the first nine full days. On the tenth day, speech is resumed as a way of re-establishing the normal pattern of daily life. Continuity of practice is the secret of success in this course; silence is an essential component in maintaining this continuity.

‍How can I be sure I am capable of doing the meditation?Back to top

For a person in reasonable physical and mental health who is genuinely interested and willing to make a sincere effort, meditation (including “noble silence”) is not difficult. If you are able to follow the instructions patiently and diligently, you can be sure of tangible results. Though it may appear daunting, the day’s schedule is neither too severe nor too relaxed. Moreover, the presence of other students practising conscientiously in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere lends tremendous support to one’s efforts.

‍Is there anyone who should not participate in a course?Back to top

Obviously someone who is physically too weak to follow the schedule will not be able to benefit from a course. The same is true of someone suffering from psychiatric problems, or someone undergoing emotional upheaval. Through a process of questions and answers, we will be able to help you decide clearly beforehand whether you are in a position to benefit fully from a course. In some cases applicants are asked to get approval from their doctor before they can be accepted.

‍Can Vipassana cure physical or mental diseases?Back to top

Many diseases are caused by our inner agitation. If the agitation is removed, the disease may be alleviated or disappear. But learning Vipassana with the aim of curing a disease is a mistake that never works. People who try to do this waste their time because they are focusing on the wrong goal. They may even harm themselves. They will neither understand the meditation properly nor succeed in getting rid of the disease.

‍How about depression? Does Vipassana cure that?Back to top

Again, the purpose of Vipassana is not to cure diseases. Someone who really practises Vipassana learns to be happy and balanced in all circumstances. But a person with a history of severe depression may not be able to apply the technique properly and may not get the desired results. The best thing for such a person is to work with a health professional. Vipassana teachers are meditation experts, not psychotherapists.

‍Can Vipassana make people mentally unbalanced?Back to top

No. Vipassana teaches you to be aware and equanimous, that is, balanced, despite all the ups and downs of life. But if someone comes to a course concealing serious emotional problems, that person may be unable to understand the technique or to apply it properly to achieve the desired results. This is why it is important to let us know your past history so that we can judge whether you will benefit from a course.

‍Do I have to be a Buddhist to practise Vipassana?Back to top

People from many religions and no religion have found the meditation course helpful and beneficial. Vipassana is an art of living, a way of life. While it is the essence of what the Buddha taught, it is not a religion; rather, it is the cultivation of human values leading to a life which is good for oneself and good for others.

‍Why do I have to stay for the entire ten days?Back to top

Vipassana is taught step by step, with a new step added each day to the end of the course. If you leave early, you do not learn the full teaching and do not give the technique a chance to work for you. Also, by meditating intensively, a course participant initiates a process that reaches fulfilment with the completion of the course. Interrupting the process before completion is not advisable.

‍Is it dangerous to leave a course early?Back to top

The point is that leaving early is shortchanging yourself. You don’t give yourself a chance to learn the full technique and so you won’t be able to apply it successfully in daily life. You also interrupt the process in the middle rather than letting it come to the proper conclusion. To get home a day or two early, you waste all the time you have invested.

‍How about the tenth day, when talking is allowed and serious meditation stops? Can I leave then?Back to top

The tenth day is a very important transition back to ordinary life. No one is permitted to leave on that day.

‍Do you have an equality policy?Back to top

The Trust’s equality policy is available here.

‍Are there provisions made for LGBT+ and non-binary applicants?Back to top

People of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome to our courses. You can read more on our equality policy page here.
Course applicants have the opportunity to give us any relevant information in the section of the application that asks, “Anything you wish to add to the above information?” It is helpful for us to have the information in advance so that appropriate accommodation arrangements can be made. If you wish to phone the centre to discuss your particular requirements, you are welcome to do so. Call 01989 730 234 and select Ext.23

‍Is the course suitable for those with visual, hearing, mobility or other impairment?Back to top

We are able to accept most people provided they are fit and well enough to follow the course schedule. We need to know what they will require in advance of their arrival so that we know we can accommodate them. They are asked to complete a questionnaire to gather further information. We will then contact them to discuss how we might be able to support them. You can read more on our equality policy page here.
If you wish to phone the centre to enquire further, you are welcome to do so. Call 01989 730 234 and select Ext.23.