Guidelines to host a 1-day course

Some information and suggestions for conducting one-day courses 

It is suggested that you read through this information with participants:

The course coordinator/manager must be a former student who regularly maintains continuity of daily practice;

In the premises designated for meditation:

The precepts of sila must be adhered to, with particular reference to the precepts on sexual conduct and intoxicants; therefore, no drugs or alcoholic beverages should be kept there, nor should sexual activities be conducted there;

In addition, these rooms should ideally be used exclusively for Vipassana meditation; in any case, they should be clean, sufficiently heated and ventilated, should allow for reasonable separation of the sexes, and should not have paintings, religious objects, or other elements that might distract meditators;

An audiocassette player must be available;

the location may be a meditator's home, or may be rented for this purpose;

Inform the group session leader of the dates chosen for the days;

It is possible to invite an Assistant who, if available, will conduct the meditation: he/she will answer any questions and use the appropriate instructions; if not, an audiotape of instructions available from the secretary of the association may be used.

Some information and suggestions for the conduct of the day:

Establish a start and end time (display, for example, the attached schedule);

Read this information with participants;

Fill out the course participation forms (attached);

Maintain noble silence, including during the meal;

Maintain separation of the sexes and avoid physical contact;

In general, behave as you would during a ten-day course;

Meditate facing all in the same direction (as in the meditation hall) keeping, if possible the men on one side and the women on the other; whoever needs it can use a stool, a chair, etc.;

Explain why it is important, in places with outdoor access, that we do not go outside: in fact, if we meet someone who speaks to us, and we remain silent, we present ourselves as "strange" people;

Remember to disconnect the phone, turn off cell phones;

Agree together on how the lunch break will be conducted (for example, whether to share the food that everyone should have brought, or whether everyone eats their own food; whether everyone washes their own dishes, etc.);

Show where the restrooms are located;

Leave glasses and drinks available.

Meditation Instructions:

One will practice Anapana in the first part of the day (about one-third of the total time available) and Vipassana in the remaining time: e.g., if the day includes six hours of meditation, two for Anapana and four for Vipassana; at the end, a few minutes of Metta;

If possible, an audiotape of S.N. Goenka leading the group meditation, with final Metta, will be used at least for the last hour;

Everyone is free to get up/rest as he/she wishes, except for the hours of group meditation (define: usually, the first hour of Vipassana and the last hour of the day), during which we all try to remain in meditation. However, during the day, one does not practice adhitthana, that is, the strong determination not to move (i.e., that even during group hours one can move, if one feels the need);

If available, a short talk by S.N. Goenka may be heard during or after the last hour of meditation, before Metta;

If in doubt, the organizer may, in the days leading up to the day, contact the leader and/or an S.N. Goenka teaching assistant.

How to inform students who may be interested in participating:

Since it is not possible, for reasons of confidentiality, to distribute data and addresses of meditators without their consent, it will be the person organizing who will offer to be contacted.

The person responsible for the one-day courses of the association Vipassana Italy will help the organizer to contact other students, using the Vipassana Newsletter and other internal information channels.