Dhamma Vesāli

Dhamma Vesāli is in Vaishali, Bihar, the ancient city of Vesālī, where Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī and her companions founded the first order of bhikkhunis (nuns). The centre is at the Vietnam Mahaprajapati Nunnery on Vishwa Shanti Stupa Road, about 500 m from the Vaishali-Kharauna gate: dhamma.org describes it as next to the nunnery, while the centre's VRI website says it is inside it, in premises donated by Vietnamese nuns and fully renovated. The same site notes that the Licchavis' share of the Buddha's relics is enshrined about 500 m away. dhamma.org gives 2015 as the year of its first course. The centre takes about 20 men and 20 women. Its Dhamma hall is air-conditioned and soundproofed. It holds 10-day courses through the year, with Satipatthana Sutta and special 10-day courses for experienced old students; instructions are in Hindi and English, and the centre says courses are offered in the major foreign languages. Patna airport is about 70 km away and Patna railway station 63 to 65 km; Hajipur and Muzaffarpur stations are 35 to 40 km away. From Patna's bus stand (ISBT Bairiya), buses towards Areraj pass through Vaishali; get off at the Vaishali-Kharauna gate.

How to apply

Apply online through the centre's page on dhamma.org (in Nepal, start from np.dhamma.org). New students must first complete a 10-day course, and there is no charge.

What is taught here

Donation-funded 10-day courses taught with S. N. Goenka's recorded instructions, in the line of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, at centres in Nepal and worldwide. Read about Goenka (U Ba Khin).