Dhamma Siri – Southwest Vipassana Meditation Centre

Dhamma Sirī, also known as the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center, means the prosperity of dhamma in Pali. It is one of numerous centers worldwide dedicated to the teaching of Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin.

Vipassana Meditation

Vipassana is an ancient technique of India, as old as 2500 years and it means to see things as they really are.

It aims at the total eradication of mental impurities, resulting into the highest happiness of full liberation. Its main purpose is healing, not merely the curing of diseases, but the essential healing of human suffering.

Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. Its focus is on the deep interconnection between mind and body, that can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body. They also continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. The mental impurity can thus be dissolved through this observation based, self-explanatory journey to the common root of mind and body, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion.

The scientific laws that operate one’s thoughts, feelings, judgements and sensations become clear. The nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood through direct experience. Increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace characterize life.

The Course

The technique is taught at ten-day residential courses during which participants follow a prescribed Code of Discipline as mentioned above, learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.

The entire practice is actually a mental training. Vipassana can be used to develop a healthy mind.

Because it has been found genuinely helpful, great emphasis is put on preserving the technique in its original, authentic form. It is not taught commercially, but instead is offered freely. There are no charges for the courses – not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to benefit from it also.

Ten days is certainly a very short time to penetrate in the deepest levels of the unconscious mind and learn how to eradicate the complexes lying there. Continuity of the practice in seclusion is the secret of this technique’s success. Rules and regulations have been developed keeping this practical aspect in mind. These rules are based on the practical experience of thousands of meditators over the years and are both scientific and rational. Abiding by the rules creates a very conducive atmosphere for meditation; breaking them pollutes it.

A student once entered will have to stay for the entire period of the course. The other rules should also be carefully read and considered. Only those who feel that they can honestly and scrupulously follow the discipline should apply for admission. A prospective student should also understand that it would be both disadvantageous and inadvisable to leave without finishing the course upon finding the discipline too difficult. Likewise, it would be most unfortunate if, in spite of repeated reminders, a student does not follow the rules and has to be asked to leave.

THE COURSE TIMETABLE

The following timetable for the course has been designed to maintain the continuity of practice. For best results students are advised to follow it as closely as possible.

About Dhamma Siri

Overview

Dhamma SirÄ«, which means “Prosperity of Dhamma”, is situated on thirty four acres of agricultural land near the end of a quiet rural road, 45 minutes from downtown Dallas, Texas. The centre is also about four hours from other Austin and Houston, two other large Texas cities.

An average of 20 courses are held annually. Presently the centre serves over a 1000 students a year.

Course are conducted primarily in English, with bi-lingual courses in Spanish / English, Hindi / English, and Vietnamese / English offered each year. Course instructions and discourses are also available in over 40 languages.

Meditation Hall

Completed in 2012, the new Meditation Hall is a grand building with a seating capacity of 150 students. The main hall is surrounded by interview rooms where students can meet with the teacher in private, as well additional multi-use rooms. Students, volunteers and teachers all enter the hall through separate entrances, allowing for minimal disturbance to students during the course.

Pagoda

At the rear of the property is the Dhamma Sirī Pagoda. This building is similar in design to the Pagoda at Dhamma Giri, the main international center in Igatpuri, India. The Dhamma Sirī Pagoda is a round 2-story building , with 94 individual private meditation rooms where students go to practice the mediation techniques learned in solitude. The rooms are arranged in a series of concentric rings, with 3 rings containing 63 individual rooms on the ground floor and 2 rings with 31 individual rooms on the upper floor. Additional rings of cells will be added according to future needs.

Men’s Residence

There are comfortable individual rooms for 75 men, with 50 of these rooms having a private, attached bath. The remaining rooms share a large bath-block with 6 private showers, 6 private commodes, and 3 counters of shared sinks.

Women’s Residence

The women’s residence has individual rooms for 50 women, each with an attached private bath. The master plan calls for an additional 25 rooms with private bath to be constructed as part of the women’s residence.

Dining

Men and Women dine separately at the centre. The men’s dining is located in a stand-alone building that was once the mediation hall. Women’s dining is located in the adjacent building, which also houses the kitchen and administrative offices for the centre.

Directions

Dhamma Siri is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Dallas, Texas and a few miles south of the city of Kaufman, Texas. The address of the Center is: 10850 County Road 155-A, Kaufman, Texas 75142.

From Austin

• I 35 North
• I-35 North splits into East and West. Take I 35 E — North.
• Right on HWY 34 going East (exit 386 on I-35E) to FM 1388 (near the town of Kaufman) and turn RIGHT.
• Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
• Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
• Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.

From Dallas

• South on Interstate 45
• East on U.S. 175 East toward Kaufman (at the southeast edge of downtown Dallas)
• Drive toward Kaufman on U.S. 175 for approximately 34 miles. When you near Kaufman, stay on U.S. 175 toward Athens (go past the exit for TX243 into the city of Kaufman).
• Take the Oak Grove exit and turn RIGHT at the stop sign onto FM 1388.
• Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
• Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
• Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.

From Houston

• I-45 North to Exit 251B (Highway 34 — Kaufman/Italy)
• Take right onto TX-34. Go about 25 miles to Kaufman.
• Take a sharp right onto FM 1388.
• Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
• Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
• Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.

From Oklahoma City

• I 35 South
• I-35 South splits into East and West. Take I 35 E — South.
• 635 East for approx 30-40 miles
• Highway 175 East toward Kaufman. When you near Kaufman, stay on U.S. 175 toward Athens (go past the exit for TX243 into the city of Kaufman).
• Take the Oak Grove exit and turn RIGHT at the stop sign onto FM 1388.
• Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
• Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
• Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.