Supporting the Growth of Dhamma in Colorado

These are long-awaited days for Dhamma Sela with development currently underway on a phased construction plan for a long-term, full-scale center. The 156 acres, purchased by the Rocky Mountain Vipassana Association (RMVA) in 2017 will be able to host 80-student courses year-round, expanding the number of students served by more than ten-fold and meaningfully reducing waitlists across the region. Demand for Vipassana courses in Colorado consistently exceeds available capacity, with long waitlists each year, demonstrating sustained demand to expand residential facilities at Dhamma Sela.

Phase 1 of the construction plan involves building a Multi-Purpose Building (MPB) and two residences housing 20 students each. Initially, the MPB will function as a combined Dhamma Hall, kitchen, and dining area. In a later phase, once a dedicated Dhamma Hall is constructed, the MPB will serve solely as the kitchen and dining facility.

Residences

The construction of the Multi-Purpose Building has been made possible by a generous old student donation. However, due to rising construction costs, these funds will only cover the civil work and construction. An estimated $2 million remains needed for the construction of the two residences.

With the completion of the Multi-Purpose Building, the next step toward offering 80-student courses year-round is the construction of two residential buildings. Once the current house is repurposed, it will accommodate up to 22 students and servers combined. To reach the intended capacity of offering 80-student courses year-round, and to meet the clear and ongoing demand reflected in long waitlists, RMVA is seeking additional Dana to complete the residential buildings and bring Phase 1 to completion by the intended timeline of 2028.

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The Rock of Dhamma in Colorado

The roots of Vipassana in Colorado go back decades, with the first courses held in 1983.

In 2002, Goenka visited Colorado and recommended that RMVA build a meditation center near Denver. The quiet and secluded property on the high plains of the Colorado Front Range was named Dhamma Sela, meaning Rock of Dhamma.

In May 2021, Dhamma Sela hosted its inaugural 10-day course within the main house on the property. This house currently serves as the residence for students and servers, as well as the kitchen, dining area, and Dhamma Hall. Since then, many hands have come together to expand the center’s capacity. At present, the center hosts five 10-day courses, two children’s and teens courses, and nine one-day courses each year, in addition to six formal service periods. Due to infrastructure limitations, however, courses remain single-gender and capped at 15 students per course.

The center is supported by a long-standing Trust, multiple dedicated committees, and a center manager, all serving with the shared intention of making Dhamma accessible to more students.

With its proximity to the Denver International Airport, Dhamma Sela serves students from the local Rocky Mountain region as well as the larger central and western areas of the U.S., and beyond.

Progress to Date

Construction has faced many hurdles, including navigating complex building codes in Colorado. Despite these challenges, meaningful progress has been made toward building the new center from the ground up.

In 2023, Dhamma Sela broke ground as the first trenches were dug for water piping, and a new water treatment system was installed. In 2024, the center installed a solar well, placed a 10,000-gallon potable water cistern and two 20,000-gallon fire water cisterns, and laid more than 1,400 feet of underground piping to bring water to the future campus site. During this time, schematics for the Phase 1 buildings were also completed.

In 2025, with the Development Committee forming professional collaborations with an architectural design team and a construction management team, significant momentum continued. Land was cleared for the parking lot and Phase 1 buildings. Trees were removed and stumps buried, fire hydrants installed, and roads regraded. Concurrently, underground civil work was completed, including connecting all three water cisterns to the water treatment system and installing drainage and septic systems.

How Old Students May Support This Project

To help fund this initiative, old students who wish to support this initiative may offer one-time or ongoing dana.

The completion of the two residential buildings represents the remaining major step in bringing Phase 1 to its intended capacity. Once constructed, these residences will allow Dhamma Sela to host 80-student courses year-round.

The table below outlines selected material and fixture costs associated with the residences and the Multi-Purpose Building.

These practical elements (doors, windows, interior finishes, and essential equipment) form the physical conditions required to host courses sustainably for many years to come.

Any support, whether through Dana or by helping spread awareness, will contribute directly to expanding access to Dhamma for future students throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

As with all Vipassana centers, support is entirely voluntary and arises from individual understanding and gratitude.

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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.