To host a Group-sitting in your area please read the guide below and fill in an application form.
Guidelines for Group-sittings:
It is an important Dhamma service to act as a contact person and/or group sitting host for students of S.N.Goenka and his assistant teachers. In the eyes of others, whoever undertakes this responsibility becomes (to some extent) a representative of the Teaching and may sometimes be approached not only for information but also for advice.
In order to ensure that the teaching of Goenkaji is properly represented and that group sittings will be beneficial to participants, the following guidelines have been established. A contact person must be a serious old student dedicated to the technique of Vipassana as taught by S.N.Goenka, maintaining daily meditation practice and keeping the Five Precepts as much as possible, without being involved in any conflicting activities. ( It is important the precepts of abstaining from all intoxicants, sexual misconduct and killing are maintained, and that the other two are maintained to the best of one’s ability. ) A group sitting host must fulfil the requirements for a contact person and must see that the following conditions are met. On the premises where a group sitting is held:
- There should be no drugs or intoxicants (including alcohol or tobacco),
- No practise of other meditation techniques and no religious objects or images of other traditions.
- In the room where a group sitting is held there should never be sexual activity.
The purpose of group-sittings is to allow meditators to give each other support in their practice of Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka. They will receive that support only if they are in fact all practising the same technique. For this reason, participation at group sittings is limited to those who have successfully completed a course with Goenkaji or his assistant teachers. Students of three-day Anapana courses or of Children’s courses should not sit with those who are practising Vipassana at an official group sitting.
Although some who have completed a course as taught by S. N. Goenka may be practising another type of meditation outside of the group sittings, they are welcome to attend the group sittings, provided they practice at the group sittings only what S. N. Goenka has taught and create no disturbance. Those attending group sittings should be discouraged from discussing other meditation techniques on the premises where the sitting is held, and from wearing religious objects. Old students who practice energetic healing on others should not continue to attend group sittings. Group sitting hosts who would like further clarification on these points should contact an assistant teacher.
Participants at group sittings should seat themselves as at Vipassana courses: men and women separately, all facing one side of the room. They should practice only the meditation technique taught by Goenkaji. If assistant teachers are present, they should be invited to lead the sitting and should be seated higher than the students and facing them.
A recording can be played of Goenkaji’s chanting and meditation instructions; otherwise, students should sit silently. Sittings generally last an hour and conclude with a few minutes of metta-bhavana. If you wish to serve as a contact person or host of an official group sitting, please apply for the position by
supplying the necessary background details on the form attached, and sending it to an assistant teacher.
To apply to host a Group-sitting please fill out the form below: