In short: find a centre and date at dhamma.org, fill in the online application honestly, and wait for an email confirming your place or your spot on the waitlist. Confirm when asked, arrive on day 0 in the afternoon, and plan to stay all ten days. The course is free; you may donate at the end.
Step by step
- Choose a centre and date on dhamma.org. Each centre lists its courses; most are 10-day courses for new students. Our vipassana centres list shows centres by region.
- Apply online. The form asks about you, your meditation experience, and your physical and mental health. Answer honestly.
- Wait for the reply. You get an email saying you are accepted or on the waitlist. It can take a few days.
- Reconfirm. Many centres ask you to confirm again a few weeks before the course. If you do not, your place may go to someone else.
- Arrive on day 0. Registration is usually in the afternoon, followed by an introduction and the start of noble silence that evening.
Read the full guide
Why do courses fill so fast?
The courses are free and run by volunteers, centres have a limited number of beds, and men and women are housed separately. New students often wait. Tips: apply the day registration opens, choose weekday-start or winter courses, or look at a centre a little further away.
The waitlist
A waitlist place is worth having. Cancellations are common, especially in the last two weeks. Keep your dates free, watch your email, and reply quickly when a place is offered.
Before you go
- Read the Code of Discipline: noble silence, no devices, reading or writing, and you stay all ten days.
- Build a short daily sitting habit. Try a 1-minute breathing practice.
- Pack simply: what to bring to a meditation retreat.
- Know what the days are like: what to expect on a 10-day silent retreat.
Other options: free retreats · how to choose your first retreat
Questions people ask
How far ahead should I apply for a vipassana course?
Applications usually open a few months before each course, and popular centres fill within days. Apply as soon as registration opens, and consider a less popular date or a centre further away.
What if the course is full?
Join the waitlist. People cancel often, especially in the last two weeks, so many waitlisted students get a place. Keep checking your email and reply quickly when offered a place.
Can I be refused a place?
Sometimes, for example if a health condition makes a silent 10-day course unsafe right now. Answer the health questions honestly; the centre may ask follow-up questions or suggest waiting.