Vipassana Centers

The area of the center is 5 acres. It consists of 14 buildings. The dhamma hall has the capacity of 150 students. It also provides the mini dhamma hall for shan and chinese nationals. Three units of 12 students each double rooms and three domitories of 30 students each, the dinning room attached with the kitchen for 150 students and a reservoir of 30,000 gallons water were also provided.

Dhamma Manohara, meaning Beautiful and Captivating in Dhamma (pleasing to the mind and inducing mental tranquility), is situated in Thanbyu-zayet, a town by the bank of Sanlween River, Mon State. It is 40 miles from Moulmein town and 15 miles from Kyaikhami Pagoda. Established in the year 2000, the Centre conducts yearly 10-day Vipassana courses and Anapana courses for children.

Dhamma Joti (Light of Dhamma) was opened in October 1993. The centre is built on a 12 acres of land and has a pond around it. The Dhamma hall seats 200 students. The centre has 19 double rooms with attached bath for males and 20 single, 10 double rooms with attached bath for females. A new kitchen and two new dining rooms can cater over 400 students. The Centre now has a Pagoda with 48 cells underneath.

Dhamma Mahimār, meaning ‘the Excellence of Dhamma’, was established in January 2002, in Pyin Oo Lwin formerly known as Maymyo. The Centre is being constructed, and facilities presently available include a Dhamma Hall for 100 students, and a kitchen. A male, female dormitory is now being built. About five courses are held each year.

Dhamma Makuṭa (Crown of Dhamma) is located on 22 acres of hill, 20-minutes walk from the main road of Mogok. The centre has accommodations for 60 males, 70 females, and 30 bathroom-attached single rooms. Dhamma Makuṭa has a pagoda with 117 cells and two Dhamma halls. The Centre expects to add another 30 single rooms and extend the dining hall.

Dhamma Mandala is located in outskirts of Mandalay, close to Yetakhon Hill, 10 miles away from Mandalay. In April 2004 the opening ceremony was attended by monks from Mandalay. The centre consists of 8 acres of land; the Dhamma Hall can accommodate up to 160 students; the pagoda has 80 individual cells. Accommodations consist of 15 individual bungalows for both male and female, each with 4 rooms. Separate dormitories consisting of 8 partitions with attached bathrooms are also available.

Dhamma Maṇḍapa, meaning ‘Pavilion of Dhamma’, is located near Mandalay University, in the compound of a monastery. As it is in the city, the Centre serves as a convenient venue for group sittings on Sundays and on public holidays. A total of 62 ten-day courses have been held as of April 2005 since the Centre was established in April 1999. Satipaµµh±na and children’s courses are also held.

Dhamma Manorama, meaning ‘Pleasant Delightful Environment of Dhamma’, is on the west bank of Toe river, the tributary of River Ayeyarwaddy in MaUBin Township, 46 miles north-west of Yangon and situated on the corner of 3rd Street and Yangon-MaUBin highway road. It is also 3/8 miles away from MaUBin jetty. Two storied building (42'x80') consists of Dhamma Hall on the upper floor and dormitory for male and female student in the ground floor. The dinning room (30'x50') and kitchen (20'x20') are also provided beside the main building.

Dhamma Nanadhaja, meaning ‘Flying Flag of Wisdom in Dhamma’ (named after Ledi Sayadaw), will be situated on The Shwe Taung Oo Hill, on the west bank of Chindwin River, seven miles away from Monywa, Yinmabin Township, Monywa District, Sagaing Division, near the Chindwin Bridge. There is a cave on that hill where Ledi Sayadaw, practiced Vipasasna and wrote the Manuals of Dhamma. At present Ledi Sayadaw's statue is located there and seems to be benevolently looking down where the Centre is to be constructed. In 2004, the local government had granted six acres to establish this Vipassana centre. Since 1996, off-centre courses had been held in Dhamma Yeik hall, Su Taung Pyae Pogada, in Monywa. Provisional accomodation for 50-male and 100-female students is set. Guruji SNGoenka first visit the center in Jan 2000 and second in Jan 2003.

Dhamma Nidhi, meaning ‘Treasure of Dhamma’, is located in Inn-Ta-Kaw Town, Inn-dine District, Bago Division, near Dhamma Theik Pagoda. To be built on 18 acres of land, the master plan is presently being drafted. The facilities to be made available will be for short and long courses, with mostly single room accommodations, a Dhamma Hall and pagoda besides other regular facilities.