In 2021, Asociación Vipassana Costa Rica (VCR) purchased a piece of land of approximately 34 acres in the Orosi Valley, adjacent to a large national park that connects to several other national parks — which together create the largest protected reserve in Central America. While very pristine, the location is just a 1-hour drive from San Jose, Costa Rica's capital.
In May 2023, VCR began constructing the Dhamma Ariya center. To help with construction (and based on old student volition), VCF awarded Dhamma Ariya a grant to support the completion of the kitchen/dining area structures, completing the toilet/shower/storage blocks, camping areas, and improvements to the meditation hall.
In December of 2023, VCR held its first inaugural multi-day course on the property! 11 women had the honor to participate in the pilot course (including one member from VCF) — testing out the new dorm facilities, bathroom blocks, and flow/processes for the center.
This was a historic moment that included a tremendous amount of volunteer time and support. Literally, construction was still occurring the morning of the inaugural course, putting up windows and completing the bathroom blocks before the old students arrived.
What was also wonderful to see is how mindful VCR has been in the construction of the facilities and property — using environmentally conscious materials wherever possible (such as mud for the walls and actual wood from the property as beams and dry toilets).
The first course in Costa Rica took place in 2009. In 2017, Asociación Vipassana Costa Rica (AVCR) was established as a formal trust. It received nonprofit status in 2019. The idea is to continue building out the property to begin 10-day courses in the Spring of 2024 — with the longer-term goal of housing up to 60 old students as well as building a new meditation hall and individual cells tucked amongst the jungle trees. If you would like to learn more about the plans for VCR and/or how you can support the long-term vision for the center, feel free to reach out to us at info@vcf.dhamma.org.
PHOTO: The eleven female students who participated in the inaugural multi-day course on the new VCR property along with their assistant teacher.