DHAMMA SETU
Vipassana Meditation Centre

Centre offering courses in Vipassana Meditation as taught by
S.N.Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin

About Dhamma Setu

Information for Participants

Chennai Weather

For most of the year, Chennai is hot and humid. The hottest part of the year is late May and early June with maximum temperatures around 38�42 �C (100�107 �F). The coolest part of the year is January, with minimum temperatures around 19�20 �C (66�68 �F). The city gets most of its seasonal rainfall from the north-east monsoon winds, from mid-September to mid-December. Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal sometimes hit the city.

The following table gives the weather averages for Chennai.

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What is Provided

The following items are provided by the Centre to all meditators

• Meditation cushions
• Bedsheets
• Pillow covers
• Mosquito nets

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What Meditators Must Bring

• Enough comfortable, modest, loose clothing for the duration of your stay
• Towels and all needed toiletries, non-scented personal hygiene articles and feminine sanitary protection
• Umbrella/raincoat during monsoon periods
• Torch with extra batteries, candles

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What Meditators Must Not Bring

• Tight, transparent, revealing or otherwise striking clothing (such as low risers, shorts, short skirts, tights, leggings, sleeveless, tank or skimpy tops) should not be worn at the centre. Modest dress is required for both men and women
• Books, diaries, journals and other reading/writing materials
• Cell phones or palm tops. These may not be used as alarm clocks during the course
• Electronic equipments
• Musical instruments
• Personal food items (see 'Health and Food' section below for more information)
• Tobacco in any form
• Non-prescribed drugs
• Perfumes or strongly scented toiletries
• Religious or spiritual objects
• Jewellery or other unnecessary valuables

If you arrive with any of these items you will be asked to leave them with the management until the end of the course.

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Arrival and Departure

Please arrive between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm on the day the course begins. This allows time for you to check in, get your accommodation and unpack. Late arrivals make it difficult for the staff to serve everyone efficiently and to start the course on time. If you have an emergency and are unable to arrive at the requested time, please notify us as soon as possible.

A light meal will be served at 6:00 pm followed by a pre-course orientation talk.

You are expected to stay until the course is completed at approximately 7:00 am on the last day of the course. Although the course ends at 7:00 am, please allow enough time to clean your room before you leave. We rely on students to prepare the centre for the next course.

When making travel arrangements, please allow sufficient time for travel to and from the centre.

After being accepted into a course, if your plans change in any way, please notify us immediately.

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Health and Food

A Vipassana meditation course is very demanding both physically and mentally. It is important that you are prepared for the rigorous nature of the course. After you have completed the application process if anything related to your physical or mental health changes, please contact the centre prior to the course.

For the health and safety of all the students, it is important that you are in good health when you arrive at the centre. If you are sick, or should become ill close to the start of your course, please reschedule for a course at a future date.

A simple vegetarian menu, developed to satisfy the needs of most students, is offered at all courses. Please note, no outside food is allowed at the centre and we are unable to accommodate special food requests. However, if you have food requirements because of a medically diagnosed condition such as diabetes or pregnancy, please contact the centre immediately to see if we can meet your needs.

Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

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