Dhamma Pakasa

09/16/2026

Volunteers Needed for the Work Period Oct 4 through 20

Old Student volunteers are needed at Dhamma Pakasa for the October 4 through 20 work period. This is a change from the original work period scheduled in September, so we want to be sure to let the Old Student community know about it.

Construction has started on adding a server dining area to the dining hall. While this construction work will be done by outside contractors, there are a number of smaller projects that need to be completed before winter sets in including maintenance, grounds work and deep cleaning. The following is a partial list of these projects:

Install new path lighting from the women’s entrance to the dorm to the Dhamma Hall.
Install gravel pathways to cabins.
Paint and clean up at white house.
Clear brush and downed branches/limbs in and around stream from ponds to Fish Hatchery Road.
Create a path from Fish Hatchery Rd through brush along eastern property line to the male server entrance to kitchen.
General weeding of areas
Trim bushes and trees
Clean office floor & windows
Deep clean kitchen & dining halls
Deep clean of dorm

If you have the volition and any skills that could help with these projects, your help will be greatly appreciated for any period of time, whether for the entire work period, a week, a couple of days, or even just a day. If you can find the time to provide service, please register for this period through our website. There will also be a one-day course on October 17th so some work period volunteers may wish to come for both events.

Old Students can fill out online applications for the work period and/or the one-day course by going to the Dhamma Pakasa website https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa
f you have any questions, the best way to contact us is to send an email to [email protected]. You can also leave a message at our general phone number 815-489-0420.

09/16/2026

One-Day Course October 17th

There will be a one-day course for Old Students at Dhamma Pakasa on October 17. This is a change from the original one-day course scheduled in September, so we want to be sure to let the Old Student community know about it.

The course will be taking place near the end of the October 4 - 20 work period (also changed from the original work period scheduled in September).

Students are asked to arrive for the course between 8:15 - 8:45 am. The course will start at 9:00. Lunch will be served (please do not bring any food to the Center).

Old Students can fill out online applications for the one-day course and/or the work period by going to the Dhamma Pakasa website https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa

If you have any questions, the best way to contact us is to send an email to [email protected]. You can also leave a message at our general phone number 815-489-0420.

08/22/2026

Course Servers Needed Now At Dhamma Pakasa!

There is an immediate need for Old Students to come serve at upcoming Dhamma Pakasa courses. Come join the server team for all or part of a course.

Aug 26 - Sep 06
Sep 9 - Sep 20
Sep 23 - Oct 4

If you have the volition to serve one or more of these Dhamma course, please fill out an application here: https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa.

If would like more information before filling out an application, please email us at [email protected].

Hope to see you soon at the Center!

03/17/2026

There are many events for Old Students upcoming this April. Old Students are invited to register for one or more of these activities:

April 12: House and Garden Work Period
April 24-25: Service Period for Open House-Friends and Family Day.
April 25: Open House-Friends and Family Day (open to the public - all are welcome)
April 26: 1-Day course
April 27-29: Between Courses Service Period.

For Work Period applications, Open House registration and additional information, go to the Course Schedule Page at https://pakasa.dhamma.org/

Students who are registered for the April 24-25 Service Period will automatically be registered for the April 25th Open House.

If you have questions, please send an email to [email protected].

About Vipassana The technique of Vipassana meditation is a practical way to achieve peace of mind and live a happy, productive life. This technique is non-sectarian and is suitable to all people regardless of religion, gender, race or nationality. Read more about Vipassana About Courses To learn Vip...

03/06/2026

Register here:

Come join us for a day filled with Dhamma teachings, fun activities, great food and quality time with friends and family at Dhamma Pakasa.

12/08/2025

Friends, We are very happy to announce that a One Day Course has been scheduled at Dhamma Pakasa held on January 1st, 2026. Join us in bringing in the new year with meditation, service, and Dhamma friends. Register here: https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa

Onsite registration is at 9:15a.
Course will start promptly at 10:00a.
Ends at 5:30p.
Lunch will be provided.

11/11/2025

Full-time Center manager positions are now open at the Illinois Vipassana Center (Dhamma Pakasa).

The general role of a center manager is to organize the maintenance of the center and support servers throughout their activities at the center. This can take the form of administrative support or hands-on instruction. In this varied and constantly changing role, it is always the goal of managers to apply the principles of our Vipassana practice and be a role model for newer servers in approaching problems with ingenuity and energy and above all, equanimity. It is important that candidates for center manager be well established in their practice and have experience in serving courses.

The Trust would like potential center managers to make a commitment of six months to a year. In some cases, center managers may be allowed to extend their service for up to one more additional year. Duties will involve close coordination with the Trust Committees about the day-to-day operation of the center and needed improvements. It will be helpful if prospective center managers have their own transportation for off-duty periods. Serious meditators have found that service given in the center manager role quickly deepens their practice, preparing them for longer courses, and provides a thorough understanding of how centers and trusts operate.

Long-term servers are also needed for in-course and between-course service. Long-term servers can stay and serve at the Center continuously for a few weeks to a few months, or they may come for shorter periods on a recurring basis. This can be ideal for students who live closer to the Center and can commute.

If you are interested in applying or learning more, please send an email to [email protected]. Please also spread the word to other old students you know who may be interested in this opportunity.

We welcome inquiries from anyone who has completed at least one 10-Day course in the tradition as taught by S. N. Goenka. If you are interested in applying or learning more, please send an email to [email protected].

10/06/2025

ANNUAL TRUST RETREAT & OLD STUDENT WEEKEND NOVEMBER 7 - 9, 2025

Dear Old Student,

You are warmly invited to come to the Old Student Weekend at the Illinois Vipassana Center (Dhamma Pakasa) beginning on Friday morning November 7th, and continuing through the weekend until Sunday afternoon November 9th.

There will be volunteers on site to welcome and guide Old Students when they arrive. The weekend features three Group Sittings every day, Trustee workshops, Old Student work projects, interviews with ATs, a Q & A session with the Center Teacher, great vegetarian food, social time, and sessions to learn more about serving in a Dhamma kitchen and managing Center operations.

The Center Teacher, ATs, and Trustees will all be attending and hope you can join us. Old Students are welcome for all or part of the weekend.

Registration to attend this event is required by completing an application at https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa. Bed space is limited so if you plan to spend the night please register early.

If you have any questions, please send an email to us at [email protected]. (be sure to include your full name).

09/26/2025

You are warmly invited to join the upcoming Landscaping and Grounds service activities and committee meeting at Dhamma Pakasa. You are welcome to come for all or some of the following events:

Thursday, September 25th - Landscaping and Grounds Service: Tree planting and weeding: 9 am - 1 pm.

Wednesday October 1st - Landscaping and Grounds Committee Meeting, 7:30 - 8:30 pm.

Sunday, October 19th - Landscaping and Grounds Service: Tree planting, weeding, & TBD. Group Sitting 8 am followed by Service Period 9 am - 2 pm.

November Work Period Landscaping and Grounds Service TBD.

To Register for the above Service Periods go to the Dhamma Pakasa Schedule Page at https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa

Questions? Contact us by sending an email to [email protected]

Season Update: We are happy to report this season's developments in Landscaping and Grounds:
Completion of the landscaping around the Dhamma Hall: Magnolia, Japanese Maple, Cherry Trees, Redbuds, Blue Phlox, Coneflowers, Lavender, Blue Stem and Prairie Dropseed;
Prescribed burning of four acres of prairie followed by broadcasting new native seeds;
Establishment of a nursery on our property with 40 donated trees and shrubs for upcoming planting projects;
Four new benches near the Dhamma Hall for Old Students to rest during breaks;
Hundreds of grounds maintenance hours: mowing, weeding, and watering.

Proposed updates include:
Pond restoration;
Converting some conventional lawn to low maintenance "bee lawns";
Stump grinding;
Mapping out areas for planting new trees and shrubs.

Thank you all for your interest. Thank you to all those who have contributed to developing and maintaining our lovely Dhamma land at Dhamma Pakasa. We hope to sit and serve with you soon.

Dhamma Pakasa Landscaping and Grounds Committee

09/17/2025

14-Day Gratitude Course January 21 - February 5, 2026

Dhamma Pakasa is offering its first 14-day Gratitude Course for Old Students. The 14-Day Gratitude Course was previously called the Teacher's Self Course. One of the qualities we develop as we meditate is gratitude - gratitude towards our principal teacher, Goenkaji, and towards the long tradition of Vipassana teachers, going back to the Buddha.

Applications to sit or serve the course open starting October, 21, 2025. The 14-day Gratitude Course uses the long-course application and student requirements include a recommendation from the local Teacher. Old Students are encouraged to apply well in advance since the applications are processed on a first-come-first-served basis.

The requirements to sit the course and the application are available on the Schedule page of Dhamma Pakasa website at https://www.dhamma.org/en-US/schedules/schpakasa.