Dhamma Dpa

Vipassana means "to see things as they are", and it is one of India's oldest meditation techniques. It was rediscovered approximately 2,500 years ago by Gotama Buddha, who taught it as a universal treatment for universal illnesses. This non-sectarian technique aims for the complete removal of mental impurities, as well as the highest enjoyment that comes with full liberation. Vipassana is a method of self-improvement based on self-observation. It emphasizes the profound interconnection between mind and body, which may be immediately experienced by paying attention to the physical sensations that constitute the body's life and constantly interconnect and condition the mind's life. Mental impurity is dissolved through this observation-based, self-exploratory trip to the common root of mind and body, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.

Dhamma Dpa, which translates to "Island of Dhamma", is a Vipassana meditation center in Herefordshire. The site, which was purchased in 1991 as a riding school, has since transformed into a fully functional meditation center because of decades of hard labor by servers and local artisans. Herefordshire, which borders South Wales, is a lovely area with undulating hills, rivers, valleys, and apple orchards. The center is situated between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye in the green Wye Valley. The tranquility of the rural setting is suitable for deep meditation.

The center has a capacity of 130 students, and classes are held throughout the year. Every year, over 2,500 people from all walks of life come to learn this technique and meditate.

Students should arrive between 2 and 5 p.m. on the first day of class. Following registration, a small meal and orientation will be served prior to the start of the session. On the last day of the course, the course will end at about 7:30 a.m. All new students, as well as former (returning) students, who are enrolled in a full course, must stay until the finish. Part-time old students will not be allowed to leave on metta day, the tenth full day unless an emergency arises or a previous arrangement has been made with the assistant instructors.

There are various options for getting to the centers. All paths will eventually get you to one of the three closest towns/cities: Ross-on-Wye (7 miles), Hereford (10 miles), or Gloucester (25 miles).

Students can sit and meditate together in a specially created meditation space at the center. The maximum number of pupils allowed is 128. Students who have been practicing for a while may be given a cell to sit in to develop their meditation. The cells eliminate the potential of becoming distracted. Students and servants sleep in male and female dormitory blocks that are plain but cozy. Disabled access is available in some rooms.

Volunteers create delicious and nutritious vegetarian cuisine in a spacious, modern kitchen. Herbs are cultivated on the premises and produce is acquired locally. The center's upkeep is overseen by servers operating from a central workshop and tool store. To minimize disruption, maintenance work is scheduled.

Vipassana Trust, a charity and a business limited by guarantee formed in England and Wales, is responsible for the continuous operation of Dhamma Dpa. The trustees are elected annually from old pupils and meet seven times a year at Dhamma Dpa. A number of committees supervise the actual activities at the center and report to the Trust. Site maintenance, cooking, building, communication, finance, registration and course organization, gardening, and household are all covered by each committee.

The charity's objects are to advance education by promoting the late Sayagyi U Ba Khin's principles, the study and practice of meditation and meditation techniques, and the development of concentration, insight, and higher moral standards as originally taught by the Buddha through public dissemination of the said teachings and in other ways as the Board members see fit, provided that any services are free.

Phone: 01989 730234

Fax: 01989 730450

Website: www.dipa.dhamma.org

Email: webmaster@dipa.dhamma.org

Address: St Owens Cross, Pencoyd, Hereford HR2 8NG, UK Get Directions