Overview
Dhamma Sirī, which means “Prosperity of Dhamma”, is situated on thirty four acres of agricultural land near the end of a quiet rural road, 45 minutes from downtown Dallas, Texas. The centre is also about four hours from other Austin and Houston, two other large Texas cities.
The first tract of twenty acres was purchased in July 1990. An additional fourteen acres to the North of the original tract was purchased in 2014. Dhamma Sirī holds an average of 20 courses annually, and presently serves over a 1000 students a year.
Course are conducted primarily in English, with bi-lingual courses in Spanish / English, Hindi / English, and Vietnamese / English offered each year. Course instructions and discourses are also available in over 40 languages.
Meditation Hall
The new Meditation Hall, completed in 2012, is a grand building seating approximately 150 students in the main hall. The main hall is surrounded by interview rooms where students can meet with the teacher in private, as well additional multi-use rooms. Students, volunteers and teachers all enter the hall through separate entrances, allowing for minimal disturbance to students during the course.
Pagoda
At the rear of the property is the Dhamma Sirī Pagoda. This building is similar in design to the Pagoda at Dhamma Giri, the main international center in Igatpuri, India. The Dhamma Sirī Pagoda is a round 2-story building , with 94 individual private meditation rooms where students go to practice the mediation techniques learned in solitude. The rooms are arranged in a series of concentric rings, with 3 rings containing 63 individual rooms on the ground floor and 2 rings with 31 individual rooms on the upper floor. Additional rings of cells will be added according to future needs.
Men’s Residence
The men’s residence was completed in two phases; the first phase of 33 rooms was completed in 2000, and the final phase of 42 room was completed in 2010. The combined phases provide comfortable individual rooms for 75 men, with 50 of these rooms having a private, attached bath. The remaining rooms share a large bath-block with 6 private showers, 6 private commodes, and 3 counters of shared sinks.
Women’s Residence
The women’s residence, completed in 2005, has individual rooms for 50 women, each with an attached private bath. The master plan calls for an additional 25 rooms with private bath to be constructed as part of the women’s residence.
Dining
As with the residences, men and women dine separately at the centre. The men’s dining is located in a stand-alone building that was once the mediation hall. Women’s dining is located in the adjacent building, which also houses the kitchen and administrative offices for the centre.
Photo Gallery
For a more extensive collection of photos, please click here to view the Facebook Photo Gallery of the center..
Directions
Dhamma Siri is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Dallas, Texas and a few miles south of the city of Kaufman, Texas. The address of the Center is: 10850 County Road 155-A, Kaufman, Texas 75142.
This page contains directions from various points in the area:
From Austin
- I 35 North
- I-35 North splits into East and West. Take I 35 E – North.
- Right on HWY 34 going East (exit 386 on I-35E) to FM 1388 (near the town of Kaufman) and turn RIGHT.
- Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
- Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
- Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.
From Dallas
- South on Interstate 45
- East on U.S. 175 East toward Kaufman (at the southeast edge of downtown Dallas)
- Drive toward Kaufman on U.S. 175 for approximately 34 miles. When you near Kaufman, stay on U.S. 175 toward Athens (go past the exit for TX243 into the city of Kaufman).
- Take the Oak Grove exit and turn RIGHT at the stop sign onto FM 1388.
- Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
- Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
- Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.
From Houston
- I-45 North to Exit 251B (Highway 34 – Kaufman/Italy)
- Take right onto TX-34. Go about 25 miles to Kaufman.
- Take a sharp right onto FM 1388.
- Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
- Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
- Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.
From Oklahoma City
- I 35 South
- I-35 South splits into East and West. Take I 35 E – South.
- 635 East for approx 30-40 miles
- Highway 175 East toward Kaufman. When you near Kaufman, stay on U.S. 175 toward Athens (go past the exit for TX243 into the city of Kaufman).
- Take the Oak Grove exit and turn RIGHT at the stop sign onto FM 1388.
- Continue on FM 1388 approximately 2.9 miles to FM 2860 East and turn LEFT. This is a small intersection, look carefully for the signs for FM 2860.
- Continue on FM 2860 approximately 2.5 miles to Kaufman County Road 155-A and turn RIGHT. This is a small intersection, look for a green “Vipassana” sign and a small Kaufman County Road 155A sign.
- Continue approximately 1.2 miles on County Road 155-A. This road alternates paved and gravel and you will go past a Dead End sign for a turn off road to the RIGHT. There is a white wooden sign for the Southwest Vipassana Meditation Center that marks the driveway to the Center. Turn right at the sign into the driveway. Park in the parking area to the right of the driveway.
Links to Maps
- Overview Map: From Dallas, Texas*
- Overview Map: Vicinity of Kaufman, Texas*
- Detailed Map: From Kaufman, Texas*
- Detailed Map: Vicinity of Dhamma Siri*
Other Transportation Options
For other transportation options (e.g. Airplane and Bus) to the Center please refer to the Course Information – Transportation.