Children's Course August 12th

Dhamma Pakasa will host it's second annual course for children on August 12^th, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. During this course, children (ages 7 - 12) learn how to practice Anapana meditation along with the five precepts. Students have the chance to practice Anapana meditation with guided instructions in the meditation hall for periods of up to 30 minutes. These sessions are mixed with story and discussion sessions, break periods and games and art activities throughout the day.

Summertime at Dhamma Pakasa

The 2006 course was very successful, serving 15 children. A quote from one young meditator: “Dad, meditation is both hard work and fun at the same time... (it) can change your life!”

 The course is open to children of both meditators and non-meditators. Parents who are old students may stay at the center to provide service throughout the day. If you need information on local hotels as accommodations before or after the course, and/or a list of local parks/attractions if you will not be staying at the center during the course, please e-mail the Children's Course Committee. If you wish to organize a rideshare, please visit our rideshare site. All old students are invited to provide service in food preparation and outreach or, if you have experience with children, may apply to serve as activity organizers or counselors.  For additional information, applications, and a downloadable poster, visit the Dhamma Pakasa Children's Course website here.
 

 Teenager's Courses

 Dhamma Pakasa will offer its first course for teenagers (ages 13 – 16) in late July 2008. 
 

Non-Center Childrens’/Teenagers’ Courses

 Children's and Teenager's courses are held at all the North American Vipassana Centers. Children's courses are also hosted in venues outside the centers such as private schools, churches/temples or at the homes of meditators. If you are interested in helping to organize a non-center children's course in your community, please contact the Children's Course Committee .

Cultivating Vipassana Locally

 An active local group sitting may be the strongest support for the spread of dhamma and the deepening of practice in any local community.  There are currently nine official group sittings in the Midwest.  If there is not currently a sitting in your area, here are several steps to bring together Vipassana meditators to sit in your neighborhood:

 1.  Apply to host a group sitting, or encourage another old student to do so.  The criteria for hosting a group sitting are as follows:  A group sitting host must be a serious old student,maintaining daily meditation practice and keeping the Five Precepts, without being involved in any conflicting activities.  On the premises where a group sitting is held, there should be no drugs or intoxicants (including alcohol), no practice of other meditation techniques and no religious objects or images of other traditions. In the room where a group sitting is held there should never be sexual activity.

 2.  Apply to be an area contact person.  If you meet the criteria to be a group sitting host, but your home does not meet the criteria, you can be the point person to help organize a group sitting.

 3.  Contact the Dhamma Pakasa Outreach Committee.  The outreach committee can send a bulk e-mail to meditators in your area to announce a group sitting or a search for an appropriate group sitting venue.  Even if there is not a contact person in your area, the outreach committee can send out an initial inquiry to your area to network interested meditators.  Once a group sitting time and place has been confirmed, the outreach committee can submit this information to the Dhamma Pakasa website, newsletters and metta day table.

Special Service Needed!

Volunteer Accountant/bookkeeper to work with Finance Committee- someone comfortable using spreadsheets, and Quickbooks, will train.  8 to 12 hours a month.

 [email protected] or 815-489-0420

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 ten-day course with S.N. Goenka or one of his assistant teachers. You may fulfill your dana parami by donating online to your center/trust of interest.

If you wish to be removed from this mailing list please reply to the 'reply-to' email address with the words 'REMOVE NEWSLETTER' in the subject line.  If you wish to be removed from all Vipassana e-mails, please reply with ‘REMOVE ALL’ in the subject line.