Support Establishing Vipassana in the Dominican Republic

Vipassana meditation is taking root in the Dominican Republic through a growing network of committed old students who are practicing together regularly and laying the foundations for future courses and outreach.

Old students across the Dominican Republic are currently meeting for group sittings multiple times per week, in various locations. These sittings are listed publicly through the dhamma.org app (“Group Sittings Near Me”), making the practice accessible both to established practitioners and to those newly returning to the technique. While the community is geographically dispersed, there is a shared sense of momentum and commitment to sustaining regular practice.

In the summer of 2026, an important milestone was achieved. After nearly 20 years, the first 10-day Vipassana course in the Dominican Republic was successfully held at Las Canas Beach Retreat. What is unfolding now represents the first careful steps toward establishing Vipassana on the island, grounded in regular group sittings, service, and coordination among old students.

Alongside regular sittings, the community of old students has:

• Established ongoing group sittings, accessible through dhamma.org

• Begun coordinating across regions despite geographic dispersion

Recent Momentum

In recent years, Dominican students have continued to travel abroad to sit 10-day courses and deepen their practice. Many of these old students are now actively supporting regular group sittings within the Dominican Republic, helping create continuity and connection across regions.

The strength of current activity lies not in a single location, but in the consistency of practice and the willingness of old students to serve and support one another. This steady groundwork is what now makes it possible to begin planning short courses and outreach events on the island.

Weekly Group Sitting – Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Regular group sittings for old students are held in Cabarete and online:

Mondays and Thursdays: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM

Sundays: 4:30 PM–5:30 PM

Those interested are encouraged to confirm the timing in advance, as there may be slight variations.

For further information or to connect:

WhatsApp: +1 829-425-1811 or +1 849-506-6224

Email: vipassanarepdom@gmail.com

Looking Ahead

This first course was only the beginning. A seed has been planted.

With the support of old students and donors, we hope Vipassana can continue to take root in the Dominican Republic — course by course, student by student, seed by seed.

May this be another step in the gradual and steady spread of Dhamma in the Dominican Republic. 

Over time, the longer-term aspiration is to offer two or three 10-day courses the Dominican Republic per year, establishing a stable and sustainable Vipassana presence on the island.

How Dana Will Be Used

Dana offered to support Vipassana in the Dominican Republic will be used for:

• Facility preparation and modest upkeep for group sittings and short courses

• Transportation support for students and servers

• Course-related costs for 3-day courses, 10-day courses, outreach events, and future offerings

• Coordination and administrative support to help establish a long-term, stable presence

• On long-term there is the intention of buying or building a permanent center in the country

Your generosity supports the careful and deliberate introduction of Vipassana in the Dominican Republic — ensuring that growth is grounded in practice, service, and continuity.

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If you have any problems or questions with your donation you can reach us at donations@vcf.dhamma.org

*Note that VCF can also receive dana in the forms of: cash, check, wire transfer, crypto currency, securities, or other complex donations. Feel free to reach out to us if you would prefer to donate via one of these alternative methods. Also, VCF allocates 2% of any international donations to the admin fund to help cover any operational & legal costs related to international giving.

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