Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does a vipassana retreat in India cost?
The traditional ten-day Goenka vipassana course is free of charge and funded entirely by donations from former students, booked directly through dhamma.org rather than through any retreat marketplace. Independent vipassana-informed retreats do charge, typically 2,500 to 8,000 rupees a night.
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What does a vipassana retreat day look like?
A vipassana day begins at 4am and ends at 9pm, with around ten hours of seated practice in blocks, two vegetarian meals, an afternoon rest period and a recorded evening discourse. Noble silence holds from day one to day ten. Leaving early is discouraged.
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Can beginners do a ten-day vipassana course?
Complete beginners are accepted on ten-day vipassana courses and most students arrive with none, though the schedule is demanding and centres ask applicants to declare mental health history and current medication. Anapana is taught for three days first. Shorter formats suit the unsure.