Retreat Programme >> Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for Vipassana Meditation Course

Students undertaking a meditation course should come prepared to abide by the course guidelines. To achieve a state of perfect mental balance, it is essential to start with a stable and sound base of conduct. For the duration of the training, each student is asked to observe the following five precepts:

  1. To refrain from killing

  2. To refrain from stealing

  3. To refrain from sexual misconduct (here, total celibacy)

  4. To refrain from lying and the other forms of wrong speech

  5. To refrain from the use of intoxicants and drugs

In order to experience the benefits of the technique, students are expected to follow the instructions given by the teacher precisely. During the period of training students will have to give up their previous practices and all spiritual activities. Students should not wear or bring with them spiritual objects (e.g., chanting beads, amulets, talismans, etc) or reading material of any kind.

There are daily interviews with the teacher where each student is given personal guidance. Students should provide a true and accurate account of their experiences. Discourses given in the morning and evening by a teacher help to clarify the practice.