Your Support Letter: Key to a New Vipassana Meditation Center in Santa Clara County.

The sole purpose of the proposed Bay Area Vipassana Center (BAVC) retreat center is for the teaching and practice of Vipassana meditation, an ancient technique taught by the Buddha 2600 years ago. Vipassana practice fosters the development of moral behavior, concentration and wisdom/insight through self-observation. Anyone who develops these qualities will naturally live a happier and more peaceful life, as well as positively influence their work life, personal life and society in general. The technique of Vipassana meditation is taught at 10-day residential silent retreats in a step-by-step, scientific, non-sectarian presentation.

Vipassana appeals to people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, beliefs and traditions.

People born in the U.S. meditate side-by-side with people from all corners of the world who have come to settle in the area. Vipassana retreats reflect a wonderful melting pot of diversity: People from every religious background, tradition or no tradition; any gender or no gender identification; and from any cultural, racial and ethnic background attend retreats in this tradition.

Under the rules applicable to all meditation centers in this tradition, no other activity may take place on center land other than the teaching and practice of Vipassana meditation and the maintenance and operation of the center for this purpose. There are never any large festivals or celebrations held at a Vipassana retreat center in this tradition. The retreat center is never rented out to any other organization, nor used for any other purpose. BAVC does not sell goods or services of any kind and therefore nothing will be sold at the retreat center.