The Meditation Course: a 12 week on-line Buddhist meditation course

An established online course in Buddhist Meditation from the serenity and insight traditions.

Vipassana Fellowship's online meditation courses have been offered since 1997 and have proven helpful to meditators in many countries around the world. The main text is based on a tried and tested format and serves as a practical introduction to samatha (tranquility) and vipassana (insight) techniques from the Theravada tradition of Buddhism. Intended primarily for beginners, the 12 week course is also suitable for experienced meditators who wish to explore different aspects of the tradition. The emphasis is on building a sustainable and balanced meditation practice that is compatible with lay life. The course is led by Andrew Quernmore, a meditation teacher for nearly 20 years and with a personal meditation practice of more than 30 years. Andrew trained with teachers in Sri Lanka and in England and has taught meditation in London colleges and at retreats in the UK, Europe and Asia. The course is delivered online in our Course Campus.

Comments from recent participants

"Thank you very much for the Vipassana course! ... I kept up, learned, and benefitted in what feels like a major way." - M, USA

"Impermanence! I do not like endings. Thank you so much for offering this meditation course to the world. I was so happy to find it." - S, Canada

"Hi, I have just completed the course. It was fantastic, life altering. Feel very sad that it is finished. I have now established a daily meditation practice and will try to find a group in Sydney to further my dhamma practice. Thank you, it really has been a remarkable experience. I will join the Parisa and stay in touch with this organization. I have NO complaints only gratitude. Thank you." - K, Australia

"As we near the end of the course I just want to say 'thank you' for your work on it and share some of my thinking and experience at thsi point. Ive found the different aproaches to meditation interesting and useful and have appreciated your focus on practicalities. The frequently asked questions have helped to avoid my inundating you with questions, as many people have clearly walked the path before asking them! ... I am happy that it is a practical philosophy for living an ethical life, I like the emphasis on acting skillfully, feel that individual responsibility for ones actions (rather than relying on redemption) makes sense ... Thank you for a very accessible path! - J, UK

"A year ago, I read a book on vipassana meditation which inspired me to take January 2009 course. I am Christian and come from Pakistan. I am a teacher in a high school and couldn't afford to do this course but I was accepted in the course under free Buddhist Homelands Scheme. I would like to state that the impact of the course has been phenomenal. It has changed my entire life. I AM really blessed. Brother Andrew, thank your very much indeed." - N, Pakistan.

"I live in the western part of Texas, 3-4 hours from any Sangha, and deeply appreciated your course, with the different types of meditation, and the depth of information on the elements of Buddhism. I will definitely remain connected to your program, and hopefully will have the joy of meeting you some day. Your kindness and clarity opened many doors and windows in a shuttered life, and gave further impetus to pursue the path revealed by the Enlightened One. I will commit one day at a time, one breath at a time, and with the help of your light reach some degree of insight. At times I feel suspended between the demons of lust and greed, but meditation does bring hope that these arrows may someday turn to flowers. Thanks again for a wonderful and enlightening course." -J, USA

"I just want to thank you very much for the course and everything you are doing for that and for us. So, thank you very much :-). I’m very happy and glad that I could participated the course! I have participated the course already twice before, but it is for the first time I finished it. I feel that it is vital for me to continue with meditation etc. First two attempts were not probably serious enough. Now I feel that there is no other way. I was forced to participate the course for the third time because, even if I have everything (great family, friends, good job and enough money) I don’t feel happy (it is much more better now :-)). So, that is my short story. I like vipassana meditation and especially metta, mudita etc. meditations. I am very happy that these meditations are part of our training also. Thank you very much again Andrew and I wish you all the best!" - J, Czech Republic

"Many thanks for your work with the Vipassana Fellowship. I've enjoyed and greatly benefited from the course. It can be difficult to know where or how to begin this kind of practice and the availability of such a vipassana course online was just what I needed. Thanks again." - A, USA

"Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this course. Before, I was trying to develop insight without a proper base and this course gave me a necessary patience to develop concentration using the samatha techniques." - J, UK

"I was a member of your September 2008 course. Sorry for the late feedback. I should say, I am in the process of gaining wisdom and knowledge from the course. Surprisingly, during the course, I had found it hard to realise the treasure that was hidden inside the course. As the days keep progressing, and as I keep contemplating about the dhamma teachings, subtle changes in my personality keep happening. One thing for sure, this is something that is going to stay with me for my whole life. Please keep up the wonderful work that you have been doing by conducting such courses." - R, India

"Thank you very much for the course - I got a lot out of it and found it really did effect my perception of life and deepen a spiritual connection and a desire to progress further." - R, UK

"Just wanted to say thank you very much for your support during this wonderful Vipassana course. I think your vision to take a 2500 year old spiritual tradition and then teach it an authentic yet high tech. way, true to the tradition, is an outstanding achievement. I would (and do) recommend people, who are genuinely interested in establishing themselves in a Buddhist practice, to look at this Vipassana Fellowship Course. I have personally found the course to greatly assist me in the integration of the Dhamma into my life. It gives me a daily focus that shows up as equanimity, joy and purpose. " - W, Australia

"I just wanted to say you for putting on the Vipassana Fellowship course. I was excited to find an on line option that would let me explore meditation and this course certainly exceeded my expectations. ... I very much liked the daily readings ... I've always wanted to develop my ability to be more compassionate but as your basic geeky engineer it's not in my nature, although, I know I do better than a lot of people. So I thank you for helping me to focus on compassion and loving kindness as it fits with my aspirations. ... Thank you very much for the guidance you provided to myself & the others through this course. You have much to be proud of. If you ever set up a retreat in Canada or the Northern US I'd appreciate knowing as I think I might be able to muster enough courage to attend." - L, Canada

"I have been on a journey for the last three and a half years. Some steps has been the logical effects of prior events, others like this class have been pure leaps of faith. I want to again thank you for making this leap more meaningful then I could have every hoped!" - P, USA

Vipassana Fellowship Meditation Course

Comments from recent participants