Vipassana Meditation center in Dubai is being developed and trained since 1999. Over the 20 years, thousands of students from more than 80 countries have acquired the technique of meditation at the Vipassana meditation center in Dubai and taken advantage of it. Vipassana Meditation Center in Dubai is situated at the Ain Khatt Touristic Resort, nearby Khatt Hot Water Springs in Khatt region of Ras Al Khaimah, an Emirate of UAE. Sprawling resort stretch across more than 71,000 square feet, with luxuriant garden and elegant landscape, the center has the capacity to provide sufficient space for between 36 to 50 students for the meditation courses.
The residential buildings, units and meditation halls of males and females are not the same. With separate dining halls for male and females, the center is capable of making easy separation of genders during the course of meditation. The accommodation rooms/chalets are presently divided between 2 to 3 meditators of the same gender to provide the best participation.
Embracing the teacher and the technique
Students must show themselves inclined to conform completely and for the duration of the course to the teacher’s guidance and teachings; that is, to obey the discipline and to meditate precisely as the teacher wants, without overlooking any part of the instructions, or adding anything to them. This acceptance should be one of recognition and understanding, not blind capitulation. Only with a sense of trust can a student work assiduously and wholeheartedly. Such trust in the teacher and the technique is necessary for success in meditation.
Other techniques, rites and forms of worship
During the course, it is completely necessary that all kinds of prayer, worship or religious ceremony – fasting, burning incense, counting beads, chanting mantras, singing and dancing, etc. – be stopped. All other meditation techniques and healing or spiritual activities should also be stopped. This is not to denounce any other technique or practice, but to devote yourself to the technique of Vipassana in its purity.
Students are firmly suggested that intentionally combining other techniques of meditation with Vipassana will prevent and even cease their progress. In spite of fragrant warnings by the teacher, there have been cases in the past where students have deliberately merged this technique with a ritual or another practice and have done themselves tremendous disfavor. Any doubts or uncertainty which may emerge should always be explained by meeting with the teacher.
Interviews with the teacher
The teacher is accessible to meet students individually between 12 noon and 1 pm. Questions may also be posed in public between 9 and 9:30 pm in the meditation hall. The interview and question times are for explaining the technique and for questions originating from the evening discourses.
Noble silence
All students must keep decent silence from the beginning of the course until the morning of the last day. Noble silence can be defined as the silence of body, speech and mind. Any kind of communication with other students, whether by body language, gestures, written notes, etc., is forbidden. Students may, however, communicate with the teacher whenever required and they may get in contact with the management regarding any issues pertinent to food, accommodation, health, etc. But even these contacts should be kept to the least. Students should develop the feeling that they are working in loneliness.
Segregation of men and women
Complete separation of men and women is to be retained. Couples, married or otherwise, should not communicate with each other in any way during the course. The same is applicable to friends, members of the same family, etc.
Physical contact
It is necessary that all over the course there be no physical touch whatsoever between persons of the same or opposite sex.
Yoga and physical exercise
Although physical yoga and other exercises are congruous with Vipassana, they should be stopped during the course because the correct private facilities are not accessible at the course site. Jogging is also not allowed. Students may exercise during rest times by walking in the determined areas.
Religious objects, rosaries, crystals, talismans, etc.
No such items should be taken to the course site. If brought unintentionally they should be delivered to the management for the duration of the course.
Intoxicants and drugs
No drugs, alcohol or other intoxicants are allowed on the site; this also applies to a
nalgesics, sleeping pills and all other sedatives. The students taking medicines or drugs on a doctor’s prescription should inform the teacher.
Tobacco
For the health and convenience of all students, smoking, chewing tobacco and taking snuff are forbidden at the course.
Food
It is impossible to gratify the special food preferences and interests of all the meditators. Students are therefore amicably asked to make manage with simple vegetarian meals provided. The course management tries to make ready a balanced, healthy menu appropriate for meditation. If any students have been advised a special diet because of poor physical or mental condition, they should notify the management at the time of application. Fasting is not allowed.
Clothing
Dress should be uncomplicated, modest and suitable. Tight, transparent, revealing or otherwise conspicuous clothing (like shorts, short skirts, tights and leggings, sleeveless or skimpy tops) should not be put on. Sunbathing and partial nakedness is not allowed. This is essential in order to decrease distraction to others.
Laundry and bathing
No washing machines or dryers are out there, so students should bring enough clothing. Small items can be washed by hand. Bathing and laundry may be carried out only during break times and not during meditation hours.
Outside contacts
Students must stay within the course borders throughout the course. They may leave only with the special permission of the teacher. No outside contacts are permitted before the course ends. This involves letters, phone calls and visitors. Mobile phones, pagers and other electronic devices must be delivered to the management until the course terminates. In case of an emergency, a friend or relative may get in touch with the management.
Music, reading and writing
The playing of musical instruments, radios, etc. is forbidden. No reading or writing tools should be taken to the course. Students should not divert their attention by reading or writing. The limitation on reading and writing is to accentuate the strongly practical nature of this meditation.
Recording devices and cameras
These may not be utilized except with the express consent of the teacher.
Course finances
Based on the tradition of pure Vipassana, courses are run just on a donation basis. Donations are received only from those who have finished at least one ten-day course with S.N. Goenka or one of his assisting teachers.
