in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Center Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English
The Northwest Vipassana Center, also known as Dhamma Kuñja, is situated on 50 acres in rural western Washington, conveniently located approximately two hours drive from both Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. It was established in August 1991 to offer training in Vipassana meditation.
- Access the application form by clicking Apply for the desired course. Old students will be given the option to serve.
- Please carefully read the Introduction to the Technique and Code of Discipline which you will be asked to follow during your course.
- Fully and completely fill out all the sections of application form and submit it. An application is required to register for all courses.
- Await notification. All correspondence will be through e-mail if you give an e-mail address in your application. Due to the large volume of applications, it may take up to two weeks before receiving notification.
- If your application is accepted then we require you to confirm you will be attending in order to secure your place in the course.
Northwest Vipassana Meditation Center | General Course Registration | Child/Teen Course Registration |
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
Coronavirus Safety Measures at Dhamma Kuñja
Dhamma Kuñja is making every effort to offer safe Vipassana courses while Covid continues to circulate in the population. Anyone with symptoms of illness, a positive Covid test, or exposure to Covid within the past 10 days will be asked to stay home.
Vaccine:
A Covid vaccination is no longer required.
Testing:
- Please take a rapid antigen test before arriving at the Center. Take a photograph of the results which you can display at the registration table when you get to the Center. If this is not possible, you will be asked to take the test upon arrival.
- On the third day of the course, you will be asked to take another test - please bring an additional test with you. Dhamma Kuñja is gladly accepting donations of rapid-antigen Covid tests.
Masking:
- We require that students and servers wear N95 or KN95 masks at all times indoors — including in the Meditation Hall, Pagoda hallways, and whenever NOT seated for meals in the dining halls — for the first three days of their stay at the Center. Please bring an adequate supply of masks. Masks are not required inside your private room, inside a meditation cell, while eating or drinking, or outdoors.
- If you carpool to the Center, we require that everyone in the car wears a mask.
- On the third day, after everyone has completed a second Covid test, wearing masks in public areas will be optional. Anyone with a positive test will be asked to return home.
Accommodations:
- Courses before August 16th will be operating at half-capacity and students will be accommodated in single rooms with a private bath
- Beginning August 16th, Dhamma Kuñja will return to full-capacity and students will be housed in double rooms with a shared bath.
Anyone with any of the following conditions should not apply at this time:
- Testing positive with Covid-19 virus or direct contact with someone who tested positive within 10 days prior to arrival at the Center
- Experiencing any of the Covid-19 symptoms
- Significant changes that involve higher risk of contracting Covid-19 viruses (traveling, moving residences or others moving into their home, changing jobs, etc.)
Although Dhamma Kuñja is taking all precautions, there still remains minimal risk of exposure to Covid-19 while at the Center. Please note certain conditions may increase the risk of serious illness from Coronavirus. If you have any of these conditions, you may want to consider applying to a later course.
For questions, please contact Registration
No First-time students. 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day courses are short courses for Old Students only.
For Old Students, Virtual Sittings are taking place and in-person group sittings are being held at the Hillsboro Site
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Sep 30 |
Special One-Day |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Onalaska |
New Course!!For old students
|
| Apply | Oct 01 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Corvallis, OR |
New Course!!For old students
|
| Apply | Oct 01 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Hillsboro |
New Course!!For old students
|
| Apply | Dec 13 - Dec 17 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Notice: Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 06 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Dec 01 | Onalaska |
For old students |
|
| Feb 07 - Feb 11 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 08 | Onalaska |
For old students Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Dec 11 - Dec 15 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 11 | Onalaska |
For old students Allergy Information Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
APPLICATION RESTRICTIONS
- First-time students may sit, but not serve; they are restricted to one active application at Dhamma Kuñja
- Waitlisted Old Students may apply to sit a second course; two course limit; once accepted for a course, all other applications will be cancelled
- Multiple serving applications are welcome
All ten day courses begin on the evening of the first day on the schedule,
and end on the early morning of the last day on the schedule.
Courses open for applications at 7am PDT on the date listed below
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Sep 24 - Oct 18 |
House & Garden Days |
In Progress | Onalaska |
For old students
Servers Needed - Oct 15-18 |
| Oct 06 - Oct 08 | Trust Retreat | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Onalaska |
For old students Bi-Annual retreat of the Dhamma Kunja Trust. Interested Old Students may serve - please apply for the Service Period beginning 9/24 and specify the days that you would like to attend. |
|
| Apply | Oct 10 - Oct 16 |
Acariya Meeting |
Women - Closed Men - Closed Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Onalaska |
For old students |
| Apply | Oct 18 - Oct 29 | 10-Day | Women - Long Wait List Men - Wait List Female Server - Open Male Server - Wait List | Onalaska |
|
| Apply | Oct 29 - Nov 01 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
| Apply | Nov 01 - Nov 12 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Closed Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Onalaska |
|
| Apply | Nov 12 - Nov 15 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
| Apply | Nov 15 - Nov 26 | 10-day Black Heritage | Open | Onalaska |
This course is offered specifically for the Black community. The course format will be the same as regular 10-day courses. Priority will be given to students and servers with Black heritage. Others will initially be placed on a waiting list and may be accepted on a space-available basis. Applicants should use the ‘Anything to Add’ section at the end of the application to identify their heritage, in order to ensure priority of enrollment. Notice: Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
| Apply | Nov 26 - Nov 29 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
| Apply | Nov 29 - Dec 10 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Onalaska |
|
| Apply | Dec 10 - Dec 13 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
| Apply | Dec 17 - Dec 21 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
| Apply | December 21, 2023 - January 01, 2024 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Onalaska |
|
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jan 01 - Jan 10 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
| Apply | Jan 10 - Jan 21 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Open Servers - Open | Onalaska |
|
| Apply | Jan 21 - Jan 24 | Between Course Service Period | Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
| Apply | Jan 24 - Feb 04 | 10-Day | Open | Onalaska |
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
| Feb 04 - Feb 07 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 08 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Feb 11 - Feb 21 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Oct 15 | Onalaska |
For old students House & Garden Days Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Feb 21 - Mar 03 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 22 | Onalaska |
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Mar 03 - Mar 06 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Nov 05 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Mar 06 - Mar 17 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Nov 05 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Mar 20 - Mar 31 | 10-day LGBTQ+ | Applications accepted starting Nov 19 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
This course is offered specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. The course format will be the same as regular 10-day courses. Priority will be given to members of this community. Others will initially be placed on a waiting list and may be accepted on a space-available basis. Applicants may use the 'anything to add' section at the end of the application to identify as LGBTQ+, in order to ensure priority of enrollment. Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Mar 31 - Apr 12 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Dec 03 | Onalaska |
For old students House & Garden Days Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Apr 05 - Apr 07 | Trust Retreat | Applications accepted starting Feb 04 | Onalaska |
For old students Bi-Annual retreat of the Dhamma Kunja Trust. Interested Old Students may serve - please apply for the Service Period beginning 3/31 and specify the days that you would like to attend. |
|
| Apr 12 - Apr 21 |
Bilingual Satipatthana Sutta Course
English / Thai |
Applications accepted starting Dec 17 | Onalaska |
For old students This course is offered with instructions and discourses in both Thai and English languages. The course format will be the same as regular Satipatthana Sutta courses. Thai speakers will be given priority in admission. Allergy Information |
|
| Apr 21 - May 01 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Dec 24 | Onalaska |
For old students House & Garden Days Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| May 01 - May 12 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 07 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| May 12 - May 15 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 14 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| May 15 - May 26 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 14 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| May 26 - May 29 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jan 28 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| May 29 - Jun 09 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jan 28 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Jun 09 - Jun 12 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 11 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Jun 12 - Jun 23 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Feb 11 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Jun 23 - Jul 03 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Feb 25 | Onalaska |
For old students House & Garden Days Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Jul 03 - Aug 03 | 30-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 05 | Onalaska |
For old students Allergy Information |
|
| Jul 03 - Aug 18 | 45-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 05 | Onalaska |
For old students |
|
| Aug 18 - Aug 21 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 21 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Aug 21 - Sep 01 |
10-Day Bilingual Course
English / Thai |
Applications accepted starting Apr 21 | Onalaska |
This course is offered with instructions and discourses in both Thai and English languages. The course format will be the same as regular 10-day courses. Thai speakers will be given priority in admission. Allergy Information |
|
| Sep 01 - Sep 04 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 05 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Sep 04 - Sep 15 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 05 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Sep 15 - Sep 18 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 19 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Sep 18 - Sep 29 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 19 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Sep 29 - Oct 09 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Jun 02 | Onalaska |
For old students House & Garden Days Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Oct 04 - Oct 06 | Trust Retreat | Applications accepted starting Aug 04 | Onalaska |
For old students Annual retreat of the Dhamma Kunja Trust. Interested Old Students may serve - please apply for the Service Period beginning 10/3 and specify the days that you would like to attend. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Oct 09 - Oct 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 09 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Oct 20 - Oct 23 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 22 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Oct 23 - Nov 03 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 23 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Nov 03 - Nov 06 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 07 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Nov 06 - Nov 17 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 07 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
|
| Nov 17 - Nov 23 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Jul 20 | Onalaska |
For old students House & Garden Days Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Nov 23 - Dec 08 | 14 Day Gratitude Course | Applications accepted starting Jul 28 | Onalaska |
For old students The 14-Day Gratitude Course was previously called the Teacher's Self-Course. One of the qualities we develop as we meditate is gratitude - gratitude towards one's teachers, Goenkaji and Mataji, and toward the long tradition of Vipassana teachers, right back to the Buddha. The course is open to old students who are active in giving service. Requirements include 3x 10-Day courses plus one Satipatthana course, being active in Dhamma service, trying to maintain two-hour daily practice since last 10-Day course, and trying to maintain the five precepts to the best of one's ability. Local teacher's recommendation is required. The course follows the usual form of 3x group sittings with instructions in the day, but students work more independently and the teaching materials are drawn from the 20-day course. This is a half-way step to help students mature for long courses, and serves to inspire students to work more deeply in Dhamma. |
|
| Dec 08 - Dec 11 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 10 | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period: A time to clean the center, mow the grass, replenish the food, and generally get ready for the next course. The daily program includes three group sittings. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| Dec 15 - Dec 21 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Aug 17 | Onalaska |
For old students House & Garden Days Service Period: A few times a year we set aside time to work on larger maintenance, construction, household, and gardening projects. The daily program includes three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. Full-time and Part-time are welcome. |
|
| December 21, 2024 - January 01, 2025 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 25 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Students will be housed in double-rooms with a shared bath |
Courses and Activities conducted at other locations.
Note: Idaho courses are sponsored by the Intermountain Vipassana Association, and Montana courses are sponsored by the Montana Vipassana Association| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Oct 01 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Corvallis, OR |
New Course!!For old students
|
| Apply | Oct 01 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Hillsboro |
New Course!!For old students
|
Courses for young people. Child courses are for ages 8-12; Teen courses are for ages 13-17.
See more information
The online application form encrypts your information before it is sent from your computer to our application server. However, it may not be totally secure even though encryption is used. If you are concerned about the possibility of security risks of your confidential information while it is on the Internet, do not use this form and instead download an application. Print and complete it. Then please send the form to the course organizers. By faxing or posting your application form it may delay the registration process by one to two weeks.
To access the Old Student Regional Site please click http://kunja.dhamma.org/os. A user name and password will be required to access these pages.
Questions may be addressed to Email: [email protected]
All courses are run solely on a donation basis. All expenses are met by donations from those who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the same opportunity. Neither the Teacher nor the assistant teachers receive remuneration; they and those who serve the courses volunteer their time. Thus Vipassana is offered free from commercialisation.
Old students are those who have completed a 10-day Vipassana Meditation course with S.N. Goenka or his Assistant Teachers. Old students have the opportunity to provide Dhamma Service at the courses listed.
Bilingual courses are courses which are taught in two languages. All students will hear daily meditation instructions in both languages. The evening discourses will be heard separately.
Meditation courses are held at both center and non-center locations. Meditation centers are dedicated facilities where courses are held regularly throughout the year. Before meditation centers were established in this tradition, all courses were held at temporary sites, such as campgrounds, religious retreat centers, churches and the like. Today, in regions where centers have not yet been established by local students of Vipassana who live in the area, 10 Day meditation courses are held at non-center course sites.
10-day Courses are an introductory course to Vipassana Meditation where the technique is taught step-by-step each day. The courses begin after a 2 - 4 pm registration period and orientation, followed by 10 full days of meditation, and end the morning of the 11th day by 7:30 am.
Old Student Short Courses (1-3 days) are for any student who has completed the 10-day course with S.N. Goenka and his assistant teachers. All old students are welcome to apply to attend these courses, including those where it has been some time since their last course.
Old Student Programs are similar to Service Periods where there is time to work on a variety of Centre maintenance, construction, household and gardening projects, but have a more full and structured program, an opportunity to meet with assistant teachers, and possibly committee and trust meetings. All Old Students are welcome to participate. The daily program will include three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods and in the evening there will be tapes played of special discourses and talks that S.N. Goenka has given to Old Students.
Satipatthana Sutta Courses have the same timetable and discipline as 10-day courses. The difference is that in the taped evening discourses the Satipatthana Sutta is carefully examined. This is the principal text in which the technique of Vipassana is systematically explained. These courses are open to serious old students who have sat (not including courses served) at least three 10-day courses, have not been practising any other meditation techniques since last 10-day course, have been practising this technique of Vipassana for at least one year, and who are trying to maintain their meditation practice and the five precepts in their daily lives, at the very minimum from the time of applying to the course.
Service Periods have been set aside to work on a variety of Centre maintenance, construction, household and gardening projects. All Old Students are welcome to participate. The daily program will include three group sittings with morning and afternoon work periods. On selected evenings, there will be tapes played of special discourses and talks that S.N. Goenka has given to Old Students.
The 14-Day Gratitude Course was previously called the Teacher's Self Course. One of the qualities we develop as we meditate is gratitude - gratitude towards one’s teachers, Goenkaji and Mataji, and towards the long tradition of Vipassana teachers, right back to the Buddha.
The course is open to old students who are active in giving service. Requirements include 3 x 10day courses plus one Satipaṭṭhāna course, being active in Dhamma service, trying to maintain two-hour daily practice since last 10-Day course, and trying to maintain the five precepts to the best of one's ability. Local teacher’s recommendation is required. The course follows the usual format of 3x group sittings with instructions in the day, but students work more independently and the teaching materials are drawn from the 20-day course. This is a half-way step to help students mature for long courses, and serves to inspire students to work more deeply in Dhamma.
30-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of six 10-day courses (one since their first 20-day course), one 20-day course, one Satipatthana Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two years.
45-day Courses are open only to persons involved in Dhamma Service and Assistant Teachers who have completed a minimum of seven 10-day courses (one since their first 30-day course), two 30-day courses, one Satipatthana Sutta course, and have been practicing regularly for at least three years.
Applications must be submitted well in advance as processing may take some time. Students who speak neither English nor one of the other announced course languages may apply for the course, however acceptance into the course will depend on the availability of required course materials, suitable translators and permission of the teacher conducting the course.
