Dhamma Bhanu (DB) has been my home Vipassana center for the last two years, since I moved to the Kansai region of Japan in summer 2019.
The following is a brief introduction.
Overview
The accommodation and meditation environment offered at DB is very comfortable. The facilities easily meet all needs of a modern meditator, so long as they are not expecting a resort-style catered retreat experience. Located in the hilly countryside, DB is tucked away from city chatters. This is a place where birds sing and air is pure.
Capacity
Although the website says 65 students, it usually hosts up to about 25 students of each gender before the Covid-19 outbreak. That is around 50 students in total, plus 8-10 servers, 1-2 teachers and 1-2 long-term caretakers.
During the Covid-19 pandemic (now 2021.08), a regular 10-day course would admit 8 students of each gender and 5-7 servers, plus teachers and management.
Cell Phone and Internet Reception
Cell phone reception is virtually non-existent around the property. Only at a few particular spots, some phones may get 1 bar of 3G or 4G reception. One of my two Android phones with NTT Docomo can pick up a bit signal in the office corner of the kitchen while the other can't.
Softbank has worse coverage than Docomo at DB.
If the application for a future course opens during a course, servers may ask to borrow the admin laptop to apply.
Meditation Hall
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| DB Meditation Hall - pretty standard for a Vipassana center |
There are air conditioning and multiple fans in the meditation hall. Teachers can control the lighting and audio volume. Students may ask for extra cushions, and chairs can be requested through the teachers.
Lodging - Shared and Private
Under Covid-19 protocols, everyone staying on premise is assigned their individual room / cottage. Everyone gets to sleep in a bed.
Normally, most students stay in shared rooms, except 2-3 old students of each gender, who are assigned a private cottage.
Usually, 2-3 old students share a smaller room while 5-8 new students share a larger one. New students sleep on low wooden beds or bunkbeds while old students have futons on the floor.
Futons, pillows, blankets are provided. You are expected to bring your own sheet, pillow cover and blanket cover.
All servers are each assigned a private cottage with a low wooden bed, toilet and shower room. Each cottage is equipped with a heater and fan. No air-conditioning is in the cottage.
Shared rooms are in the main building, where the meditation hall is located.
7 private cottages for female servers and old students are about a 1-minute walk from the main building.
Cottages for male servers, the caretake and teachers are scattered near the kitchen / dining building.
Shared Toilets / Shower Rooms
Those staying in private cottages get their own toilet and shower room. Those staying in shared rooms in the main building share public toilets and showers.
During Covid-19, students staying in the main building are each assigned a toilet and shower room.
Kitchen
I love the DB kitchen. I love the pots, pans, knifes of all different sizes. I love the powerful stove tops. I love how clearly all the drawers and shelves are labeled. There are 6 counter tops: 3 for female servers, 2 for male servers, 1 in the middle for both.
The server's library has a large collection of Dhamma books in several languages.
You can donate food as dana: dairy content is generally okay, but watch out for meat, fish, eggs, and alcohol. Alcohol is sometimes found in flour-based staples: fresh noodles, premade dumpling skins, etc.
Food
Most ingredients are carefully sourced: organic umeboshi, local rice and tofu, artisan bread, seasonal fruit and veggies... Kyōtamba is a well-known agricultural hub.
The daily recipe book has been recently updated, compiled into green binders by the current caretaker Yū-san. He worked as a chef for many years before arriving at DB. The instructions are so simple and clear that you can be a confident server even if you can't cook. For those who really don't feel comfortable cooking, there still are plenty of tasks: setting up dining rooms, measuring out ingredients, cutting fruit and vegetables, washing and drying dishes, rationing teachers' meals, refilling bottles. Cooking is just a part of serving at DB.
99% cooked dishes are vegan. Milk and butter are served on the side with tea or bread. Allergens such as wheat and dairy are usually marked by signs placed by the dish.
Teachers
Normally, teachers from all over the world visit and teach at DB. Before Covid-19, I met teachers from Nepal, Germany, and Canada.
During Covid-19, only teachers living in Japan teach at DB.
Access
Meditators arrive by car or public transportation.
From JR Sonobe station, ride JR bus for around 25 minutes, and you will be picked up by the center shuttle. Pick-up time is negotiated before arrival by phone or email.
Evening Discourse
Japanese discourse audio is played in the meditation hall.
English discourse video can be viewed in the female dining room. Other languages can be listened to on iPods provided by the center.
Have more questions?
Leave a comment or contact DB at 0771-86-0765
Email: info@bhanu.dhamma.org , registration@bhanu.dhamma.org
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