itation : ▁An ▁In - Dep th ▁Cor respond ence ▁Cour se , ▁with ▁ 2 4 ▁audio ▁CD s ▁and ▁an ▁ 8 8 - page ▁work book . ▁ ▁V assa ▁is ▁a ▁basic ▁practice ▁for ▁Buddh ist ▁mon ast ics . ▁During ▁this ▁three - month ▁retre at , ▁mon ks ▁se clude ▁themselves ▁and ▁follow ▁a ▁tight ▁reg imen ▁of ▁med itation ▁and ▁d har ma ▁study . ▁Every ▁year , ▁the ▁Ins ight ▁Med itation ▁Society ▁runs ▁a ▁three - month ▁course ▁that ▁has ▁been ▁called ▁the ▁" mar athon ▁of ▁med itation ". ▁Save ▁for ▁tri week ly ▁inter views ▁with ▁instruct ors ▁and ▁night ly ▁less ons , ▁the ▁retre at ants ▁observe ▁full ▁silence . ▁In ▁Ther av ada ▁tradition , ▁after ▁l unch , ▁they ▁do ▁not ▁eat ▁another ▁me al , ▁but ▁are ▁allowed ▁sn acks ▁and ▁drink ▁tea , ▁which ▁is ▁not ▁accepted ▁by ▁many ▁Buddh ists ▁as ▁proper ▁practice . ▁The ▁center ' s ▁courses ▁provide ▁instruction ▁and ▁practice ▁in ▁v ip ass an ā ▁or ▁met t ā ▁med itations . ▁ ▁Te ach ings ▁" When ▁a ▁Ret re at ▁Center ▁course ▁is ▁in ▁progress , ▁anyone ▁who ▁is ▁not ▁already ▁particip ating ▁in ▁the ▁retre at ▁is ▁welcome ▁to ▁attend ▁the ▁evening ▁tal ks ▁about ▁the ▁teach ings , ▁known ▁as ▁d har ma ▁tal ks . ▁Those ▁with ▁insight ▁med itation ▁experience ▁are ▁also ▁welcome ▁to ▁attend ▁group ▁sitt ings ." ▁ ▁D har ma ▁tal ks