Course Checklist
“If we can develop the ability to be aware of the present moment, we can use the past as a guide for ordering our actions in the future, so that we may attain our goal.” ~ S.N. Goenka
Information for those who have been accepted to a meditation course at the Illinois Vipassana Meditation Center:
1) Important Registration Notice
As accommodation is limited, we often have waiting lists for our courses. It is your responsibility to confirm your registration 3 weeks before the course begins. If you are unable to attend, please inform us as soon as possible so that another on the waiting list can attend.
IF YOU HAVE NOT RECONFIRMED BY THE 21ST DAY (THREE WEEKS) BEFORE YOUR COURSE STARTS, YOUR SPACE WILL BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE ON THE WAITING LIST.
Thank you for your cooperation.
2) Arrival & Departure Information
All students are asked to arrive between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on the day the course begins. After registration is completed, a light meal and orientation will precede the start of the course. The course will end at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the last day, day 11 of the course. All new students, as well as old (returning) students taking a full course, are required to remain until the very end of the course. Part-time old students will not be permitted to leave on Metta day, the tenth full day, except in case of emergency or by prior arrangement with the assistant teacher(s).
3) Donations
According to the tradition of pure Vipassana, courses are run solely on a donation basis. Donations are accepted only from those who have completed at least one 10-day course with S.N. Goenka or one of his assisting teachers. Having experienced the benefits of Vipassana, students taking the course for the first time may give a donation on the last day of the course.
4) Items To Bring To Your Course
PLEASE NOTE: Students are asked not to bring to the course any personal food, cell phones, pagers, laptop computers or tablets, musical instruments, reading materials, or journals to write in.
BEDDING
The center has just a few extra bed or bath linens, so it is necessary for all students to bring their own.
Following is a list of items that you should consider including:
- Your own warm blankets or sleeping bag
- Pillow (not the same as your meditation cushion)
- A pillow case
- 2 sheets (one bottom sheet to keep mattress clean)
MEDITATION CUSHIONS
Please try to bring your own cushions if possible, to supplement the ones at the center, as meditation cushions are in limited supply. Any cushion will do: it need not be one designed expressly for meditation.
Meditation floor mats will be supplied for each student.
Students may also wish to bring a shawl or blanket to use in the meditation hall that is separate from their sleeping blankets. (Highly recommended in winter!)
CLOTHING
Clothes washing facilities are limited to hand washing in the small bathroom sinks of each dormitory room (and dried on the plastic hangers within each room during winter; or clothes lines during the summer). Taking this into consideration, please bring enough comfortable, loose fitting clothing for the duration of your stay.
Summer temperatures, June through September, range from 50°F (4°C) at night to 90°F (32°C), or sometimes hotter, in the afternoon. Winter temperatures range from -4°F (-20°C) to 41°F (5°C) with snow. 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.
Following is a list of items that you should consider including:
- Jacket
- Warm hat
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- Raincoat, boots, and umbrella (all essential – the walking paths can get muddy and snowy)
- House slippers and/or quiet slip-on shoes for inside the dormitory. (Not essential)
TOILETRIES
For the comfort of the other students, please do not bring any perfumes or scented creams, powders, shaving lotions, etc.
- Towel
- Bath Soap
- Shampoo
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
- Unscented Deodorant
- Shaving/Sanitary Supplies
OTHER ARTICLES
- Flashlight is essential
- Small, quiet travel alarm clock (optional – please avoid any clocks that tick, as these will be distracting to you and others; please do not bring cell phones or PDA’s to use as alarm clocks)
- Unscented mosquito repellent (summer only)
- Liquid laundry soap
- Water bottle (optional: we will distribute small water bottles at the start of the course)
5) Directions On How To Get To The Center & Ride Sharing Information
For a map of how to get to the center and to review road conditions please visit the Directions page.
If you are interested in sharing a ride to the center please email [email protected] or check out the ride share board .