In July 2014 a former Special Needs School known as the Youngstown Home was purchased as the new location for the Alberta Vipassana Meditation Centre (AVMC) – Dhamma Karuṇā – meaning the compassion of dhamma.
Dhamma Karunā is located on 8.5 acres on the outskirts of Youngstown, Alberta – a small farming village in the Canadian Badlands. This area is noted for its wildlife including waterfowl, deer, antelope and moose. It is also famous for some of the most important fossil deposits in the world, including the Bearpaw Shale. Youngstown is three to five hours by car from four major cities: Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, and Regina and Saskatoon in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan. The compassionate (Karuṇā) Dhamma is available to all in this tranquil spot in the vast prairies. Additional information is available about Dhamma Karuṇā, including a detailed description of the facility and directions.
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art of Living.
The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results. There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit.