Ontario Vipassana Centre - Egbert, Ontario

Mark P.

This retreat centre holds a very special place in my heart. After experiencing incredibly profound realizations about the nature of the human experience, I have reframed my perspective and not seek to continue to live a life with a strong foundation and will.

I look forward to volunteer and giving back as so many wonderful people served during my time there.

Joshua ..

This is a very safe and quiet centre where you can learn the specific technique of meditation taught in the course. After completing a 10-day course I already feel lighter. Retreats like this are valuable whether you are starting your practice or looking to go deeper, and it's also nice to have a break from my phone.
Everything is very well organized and the amazing part is that everything is provided without a cost, the daily meals, the housing, the services are all given by volunteers and donations.
Thank you for this valuable experience.

Louis M.

Warning, warning, warning, be extremely cautious when taking this course at this particular site. My son took this course for self enlightenment and to get a clear picture of meditation. He was told that there will be guidance from the instructors and that the site will be pleasant and friendly, to his surprise he was the opposite after the third day of the course my son started to experience anxiety. He went into a deep meditative state and found it difficult to come out of this mental state. He asked for help from the instructors and he was refused the helphe stayed there until the 10th day at the 10th day he was asked if he wanted to leave because he wasn’t acting right this was to the irresponsibility of the staff on site. They completely neglected my son’s mental health condition in regards to his deep hypnotic state he refused to help. He was extremely dehydrated. he stayed there until the 10th day at the 10th day he was asked if he wanted to leave because he wasn’t acting right this was to the irresponsibility of the staff on site. They completely neglected my sons mental health condition in regards to his deep hypnotic state they refused to help. He was extremely dehydrated And extremely malnutrition due to the inadequate, nutritional food on hand. His common law, spouse, or myself were not notified about his health until the last minute the management team admitted to me that they noticed that he wasn’t well the fourth day in the course once again please be extremely cautious about taking this course. Be extremely villager When entering the grounds if you decide to take your course ensure that all bottled water is sealed if given to you inspect for any tampering. If you’re still planning on taking this course, take it at your own risk be very, very careful. My son now is in a mental health facility to be analyzed for the improper methods that this camp be sold on him.
Wishing you the very best of health
My statements are set without prejudice.

Nick S.

Attending the 10-day retreat as a new student was undoubtedly the most important thing I’ve done for myself—and by extension the people around me—in my adult life. The fact that there is no cost to attend, because previous students volunteered their time and/or money for you to be there, hit me in a profound way around day 7. This place exists and continues to exist because people genuinely believe in the power of this incredibly simple yet challenging meditation technique. Thank you to the volunteers that cleared the way for me to focus on one thing: get established in Vipassana so I can enjoy a peace I’ve never experienced before and thought impossible before coming here. 🙏

To the new students reading this, some helpful advice an old student gave me before we started noble silence:

(1) be coachable. the technique will seem at times almost stupidly simple and you’ll get bored, have your doubts, and/or want to mix in your own practices. Don’t. Dedicate these 10 days to learning the technique and putting it into practice. When in doubt, look around you—taste the food you’re eating, feel the seat you’re in, feel the bed you’re laying in—and remember that all this is literally a gift from past students. They practiced the technique, saw the benefits, and donated for you to be there. There is no wealthy foundation, government, or corporate sponsor with maligned intentions paying your way, only the donations large and small or money or time from past students from all ages, religious and ethnic backgrounds who want you to see the benefits they expericed practicing this simple technique in its unaltered form.

(2) When offered the option, don’t meditate in your room. More than 2/3 of the time students are given the option to meditate in their rooms instead of in the meditation hall. Resist the temptation! The bed is just too tempting. Sometimes you’ll need to go back. For example I found myself at times drawn to my room by a subconscious need for privacy because I needed to let out a big cathartic cry/sob/laugh. I let it out then returned to the hall.

Judy H.

the 10-day course experience is beyond my expectation.
- The technique could be one the biggest gift to me in this lifetime
- The center is well-organized, clean, neat, they make sure the new students can get the best experience.
Thank you so much for everything

Preeti P.

Incredibly beautiful place and experience.

The kind volunteers who run this place with earnestness, the thoughtful managers who go over and beyond in caring for everyone’s needs, the clean cabins and residences, the simple but wholesome and delicious food, the palpable positive energy of the place, the serene forest trails, the perfect meditation hall with numerous back support cushions/seaters for anyone in need and last but not the least - the inspiring assistant teachers of Goenka ji who guide you as they would a child that’s just learning to walk - heartfelt gratitude to Dhamma Torana for my initiation into the wonderful path of dhamma through my first 10-day Vipassana. It was nothing short of being life-changing. Hoping to return soon 🙏

Bhavatu sabba-maṅgalaṃ

Chameera P.

What a life changing experience. An amazing establishment !

Awesome organization and well structured 10-day course. Our Teacher Htin was amazing and such a compassionate human being. You really will experience the benefits both during the course and after. The key is the steadfast determination to work seriously, for your own happiness. And, the entire establishment is run by volunteers with golden hearts. Vipassana is such a pragmatic technique, and a great gift to humanity.

Best 10 day Journey of my life. And definitely will not be the last.

Many merits for all the Teachers, and all the volunteers.

With Metta.

Ron M.

Caution, caution, caution, as I stated before be extremely vigilant when taking this course to add to the misery that my son endured during taking the course after medical distress, the management team left them outside to fend for himself for pick up once again please be extremely cautious of taking this course and the surroundings If you are in any distress leave immediately it is for your own well-being and mental health said without prejudice.