The Vipassana Meditation Centre at Hyderabad, known as Dhamma Khetta, or "Dhamma Field", was inaugurated in 1976 by Sri S. N. Goenkaji, planting a Bodhi sapling from Bodhgaya. It is situated on 7.75 acres of land in Sahabnagar, about 12 km from the city of Hyderabad. The city has many transport connections by air, rail and road. It is a place where people of many languages, religions & creeds live happily together. The climate is moderate in all seasons except summer. The late Shri Ratilal Mehta, a local businessman, had spent years on a quest for peace & harmony. He was inspired by a conversation between a Jain monk and a Professor of Jainology in which Vipassana was discussed. Soon after his first course he attended six more courses in succession and fulfilled his search with the constant practice of Vipassana. The Dhamma quality of ehi passiko(come& see) overwhelmed him and he enthusiastically invited Goenkaji to come to Hyderabad to conduct a course. In July 1973 a course was conducted at the residence of Shri Mehta, a site which adjoins the present centre. The inspired Mehta family donated this land and a centre with basic faciliities was ready by 1976 for Goenkaji's first course at a centre here. With increasing demand, expansion became inevitable. A large Dhamma Hall, which can accomodate Two Hundred Students at a time, has been constructed. The high shell roof helps create an environment conducive to meditation. The hall was scientifically designed with intricate details of muted light, maximum ventilation and insulation techniques in mind. Adjacent to the hall is a pagoda building with seventy two cells in two concentric rings. There is provision to increase the number of cells to two hundred & fifty in the future. There is residential accommodation for Hundred Men & Seventy Five Women. Dhamma Khetta has full facilities for self courses and every Sunday transport is arranged for local mediators to come to group sittings and for a one day course. May this centre grow more & more, spreading the Dhamma. |
