Information for those who have been accepted at a meditation course at the Vipassana Meditation Centre of BC:

1) IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTICE
2) ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE INFORMATION
3) DONATIONS
4) ITEMS TO BRING TO YOUR COURSE
5) DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO GET TO THE CENTRE & RIDE SHARING INFORMATION

1) IMPORTANT REGISTRATION NOTICE
[Top]
As accommodation is limited, we often have waiting lists for our courses. It is your responsibility to confirm your registration 3-4 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 14TH DAY (TWO 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
[Top]

All students are asked to arrive between 2:00 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
[Top]

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
[Top]

PLEASE NOTE: Students are asked not to bring to the course any personal food, cell phones, pagers, laptop computers, palm pilots, reading materials, or journals to write in.

BEDDING

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, as meditation cushions at the centre are limited.
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.

CLOTHING
Only minimal hand-washing facilities are available, so please bring enough comfortable, loose fitting clothing for the duration of your stay. Summer temperatures, June through September, range from 4C (39F) at night to 32C (90F), or sometimes hotter, in the afternoon. Winter temperatures range from -20C (-4F) to 5C (41F) 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.

Jacket
Warm hat
Warm socks
Raincoat
Umbrella
Boots
House slippers and/or quiet slip-on shoes for inside the meditation centre.

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
Toothpaste
Unscented Deoderant
Shaving/Sanitary Supplies

OTHER ARTICLES

Unscented mosquito repellent
Liquid laundry soap
Small travel alarm clock

5) DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO GET TO THE CENTRE & RIDE SHARING INFORMATION
[Top]

For a map of how to get to the Centre and to review road conditions please visit:
Directions to VMC-BC. If you are interested in sharing a ride to the Centre please use our online rideshare board.

If you have any further questions regarding the course, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Tel. [1] 778-785-4080 (Vancouver), [1] 250-412-5372 (Victoria), [1] 250-469-7180 (Kelowna)
Email

We look forward to hearing from you 3 weeks or so before your course begins.