Dhamma Canda Pabha

Dhamma Canda Pabha (Dhamma Canda Pabhā, “The Glowing Moon of Dhamma”) is a Vipassana centre in Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province, in the east of Thailand. Dhamma.org calls it the ninth centre in Thailand in the tradition of S. N. Goenka and Sayagyi U Ba Khin, and says its first ten-day course was held in April 2013.

It stands about 220 metres above sea level, among small hills and mountains. Dhamma.org names Soi Dao mountain to the north-west and Kitcha-Kood mountain to the south-west, and says a medium to strong breeze passes through the centre all year. Chanthaburi province is known for its tropical fruit plantations.

The schedule lists ten-day courses, special ten-day courses and Satipatthana Sutta courses, the last two for old students. Some ten-day courses are marked Thai speakers only and others are not, so check the note on the course you want. Dhamma.org gives the default language of instruction as English and Thai unless a course says otherwise.

A ten-day course follows the format in the Code of Discipline. It spans twelve days counting arrival and departure. Students keep Noble Silence, meaning silence of body, speech and mind, until the morning of the last full day, with men and women kept apart. They take five precepts and see the teacher in set interview hours. Dhamma.org’s introduction describes the practice as starting with the natural breath and widening to the changing nature of body and mind. Recording devices and cameras are not allowed.

Courses run on donations only. Dhamma.org says gifts are accepted from people who have completed at least one ten-day course in this tradition, and a first-time student may give at the end. Applications go through dhamma.org, and Thai students apply through thai.dhamma.org.