Dhamma Pala - Bhopal Vipassana Centre

Dhamma Pala (literally, one who protects Dhamma) was established at Bhopal in May 2009, set up on 5 acres of land. It presently has a Dhamma Hall, a mini Dhamma Hall, single room residential accommodation with attached bathroom for 40 male and 30 female meditators, Teacher residences, Dinning Hall and staff residential quarters. A Pagoda complex with 116 individual cells is available for the students to meditate individually. Apart from an annual schedule of 19 to 20 Ten day courses, two Satipatthana courses, Boys and Girls Teenager courses, one day, two day, three day courses and Children courses, there are other activities like Parichay Sammelan (Introduction to Vipassana programmes) for non meditators and Dhamma server workshop for old meditators. As an added attraction, students can plan a visit to Sanchi, famous for it’s Great Stupa located 46 km North-East of Bhopal. Meditation courses are held at both center and non-center locations. Meditation centers are dedicated facilities where courses are held regularly throughout the year. Before meditation centers were established in this tradition, all courses were held at temporary sites, such as campgrounds, religious retreat centers, churches and the like. Today, in regions where centers have not yet been established by local students of Vipassana who live in the area, 10 Day meditation courses are held at non-center course sites. Satipatthana Sutta Courses have the same timetable and discipline as 10-day courses. The difference is that in the taped evening discourses the Satipatthana Sutta is carefully examined. This is the principal text in which the technique of Vipassana is systematically explained. These courses are open to serious old students who have sat (not including courses served) at least three 10-day courses, have not been practising any other meditation techniques since last 10-day course, have been practising this technique of Vipassana for at least one year, and who are trying to maintain their meditation practice and the five precepts in their daily lives, at the very minimum from the time of applying to the course.