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.

Importantly, Vipassana courses have not yet been offered in the Dominican Republic. 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

Contact: Yasper Astacio

Phone: +1829-425-1811

Email: yasperastacio@gmail.com

Looking Ahead

The Dominican Republic community is preparing to take its next significant step forward in March, with plans to offer:

• A 3-day course for old students March 16 - 19, 2026

• A new-student outreach event to introduce Vipassana more broadly Mid - March, 2026

These events will require careful preparation, appropriate facilities, and sufficient servers.

Potential sites for sittings and courses have been identified, though modest preparation and logistical support will be required. As always, progress will be guided by conditions, capacity, and the availability of dana for the courses and committed servers.

Over time, the longer-term aspiration is to offer 10-day courses for new students in the Dominican Republic for the first time, 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 course, outreach events, and future offerings

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

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

MAKE A DONATION

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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.