Dhamma has spread very rapidly, not only in India but world wide. After the first centre was established in India in Igatpuri, Maharashtra in 1976, over 200 centres have been established all over the world and the numbers continue to rise as Vipassana meditation continues to spread.
In these courses, empty, intellectual wordplay is not entertained where a spiritual master comes, gives a speech and exhorts the listeners to go home and practise what he has spoken. At Vipassana centres, the students along with the teacher live for ten days in serious discipline and silence without any contact with the outside world. In some of these centres, besides 10- days courses, 20, 30, 45 and 60-day courses are also held with, if possible, stricter discipline and more serious work. The teacher and the volunteers stay along with the students for the duration. The discipline is strict, yet the number of applicants continues to rise as centres are nearly always overbooked and aspirants are wait-listed. It is the greatness of Dhamma, indeed, that draws people to it like a magnet!