Online Vipassana Meditation Course — retreat discipline, home practice
A five-part Vipassana meditation course in the Theravāda tradition. Guided sittings twice a day, from the first mindful breath to the four foundations of mindfulness. Donation-based.
5 Parts · 101 Days · 2 Sittings a Day · 3 Languages
Vipassana.life is a donation-based, self-paced online course in Vipassana meditation in the Theravāda tradition. Five progressive Parts take you from mindful breathing (Ānāpānasati) to the four foundations of mindfulness (Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna), with two guided sittings a day, ethical precepts and a practice journal. Created by Ocean DYNN, founder of toUnknown.
Begin Part 1 · How it works
Five Parts, one continuous training
The course follows the traditional order of training: ethical conduct (sīla), concentration (samādhi), then insight (paññā). Each Part opens when the one before it is completed. Part 1 is available now; Parts 2 to 5 are in production.
5 days · mindfulness of breathing for beginners — Available
The five precepts, a practice journal, and two daily sittings on the natural breath.
25 days · building concentration — In production
Longer sittings on the breath that steady the mind before insight practice begins.
35 days · body-scanning insight meditation — In production
From the breath to sensations throughout the body, observed with equanimity.
15 days · impermanence, non-self, loving-kindness — In production
Anicca, anattā and dukkha in direct experience, with mettā and the Four Protections.
21 days · the four foundations of mindfulness — In production
Body, feelings, mind and dhammas, carried into daily life.
Who this is for
- You cannot attend a residential retreat right now.
- You are preparing for your first 10-day course.
- You have sat a retreat and want structure to keep practising.
What this is
Vipassana.life is an independent course, adapted so that it can be followed at home. It is based on practice in the traditions of S. N. Goenka and Pa-Auk Sayadaw: good preparation for a residential retreat with a teacher, and a way to keep up the practice afterwards.
Each step opens as you sit it.
Vipassana.life opens one step at a time. Confirm the five precepts, choose your two daily sitting times, press Start. When a sitting is complete, the next one opens. Read how it works. How it works
Before you begin
A recording cannot see you. Read the safety page before your first sitting, especially if you are being treated for a mental-health condition. Before you begin
What you build · What this practice helps you release · Meditation facts: what the research shows · Practice notes by Ocean DYNN
Common questions
- Is the course really free?
- It is donation-based. You can complete it without paying; nothing is withheld from people who give nothing. Donations come afterwards, from those who found it useful.
- Do I need meditation experience?
- No. Part 1 opens at Day 0, which assumes you have never meditated and explains posture, timing and what to expect.
- How long is each sitting?
- Guided sittings in Part 1 are about fifteen minutes, twice a day. They lengthen in later Parts as concentration develops.
- Do I need an account?
- Not to start. An account exists only to sync your progress across devices. You can sit anonymously.
- Is this the same as a 10-day Vipassana retreat?
- It is a home practice course and a good companion to a ten-day retreat: it helps you prepare for one and keep practising afterwards. The course is independent and based on practice in the S. N. Goenka and Pa-Auk traditions.
- What happens if I miss a day?
- Progress does not reset and there is no streak to break. You resume where you stopped.
- Which languages is it available in?
- English, Spanish and Russian. The audio is fully narrated in each.
- Who teaches it?
- Ocean DYNN, founder of toUnknown. Practising since 2012; more than 20 residential retreats, including 10-day courses in the tradition of S. N. Goenka and practice in the Pa-Auk tradition.
- Is Vipassana.life connected to dhamma.org?
- No. It is an independent course. dhamma.org runs the residential ten-day courses in the Goenka tradition; this course is for practising at home and recommends them to anyone who can go.
FAQ
Languages
The course is fully narrated in three languages:
Contact
Created by Ocean DYNN, founder of toUnknown. Questions are welcome at smile@vipassana.life or through the community on Telegram. Ocean DYNN
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