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
Admission Requirements
- All students and servers must submit proof of vaccination with at least 2 shots against COVID19. If the second vaccination of the series was administered more than 6 months prior to day 0 of the course or service period for which the student is applying, a booster shot is required before your attendance can be confirmed.
- Students are tested on site on Day 0 at the time of check-in, and servers are also tested on the first day that they arrive for their service period. We require all students and servers to bring an FDA-approved rapid antigen test for their own Day 0 test.
- Accepting only those who can travel by private vehicle from within WA and OR
- Everyone coming to the Center is advised to follow the current CDC guidelines for fully vaccinated people for 14 days prior to arrival at the Center
- Masks are required indoors, except in your room, and outdoors when near others. The Center now requires that all students use high quality masks. As per CDC recommendations, we now require use of an n95, KN95, or KF94 mask. Please bring at least 4 masks of this type whether you are sitting or serving a course.
Details will be provided upon application.
We continue to follow public health guidance about Covid-19 and will open enrollment to both vaccinated and unvaccinated applicants when it is safe to do so.
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 14 days prior to arrival at the Center
- Not consistently wearing a mask and maintaining 6’ physical distance from others while away from home.
- Close contact with anyone not routinely wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing while outside of their home.
- 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 when Covid-19 is no longer a public health concern.
Private Accommodations at Dhamma Kuñja:
Students will be accommodated in single rooms with private bath.
For questions, please contact Registration
No First Time students. 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day courses are short courses for Old Students only.
ALL GROUP SITTINGS AND 1DAY COURSES ARE SUSPENDED AS OF MARCH 13, 2020.
For Old Students, Virtual Sittings are taking place. Please visit: Virtual Sitting web page
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Hillsboro Site when safe will re-open More details here
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jul 06 - Jul 10 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Allergy Information Covid-19 vaccination required. |
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 | May 11 - May 22 | 10-Day | In Progress | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | May 22 - May 25 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | May 25 - Jun 05 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Long Wait List Servers - Open | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
* Shortage of Servers * Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Jun 05 - Jun 08 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Jun 08 - Jun 19 | 10-Day | Women - Long Wait List Men - Long Wait List Servers - Open | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
* Shortage of Servers * Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Jun 19 - Jun 22 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Jun 22 - Jul 03 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Long Wait List Servers - Open | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Jul 03 - Jul 06 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Jul 10 - Jul 17 | House & Garden Days | Servers - Open | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Jul 17 - Aug 07 | 20-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Allergy Information Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Aug 07 - Aug 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Aug 10 - Aug 21 |
10-Day Bilingual Course
English / Thai |
Women - Long Wait List Men - Long Wait List Female Server - Short Wait List Male Server - Open | 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 Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Aug 21 - Aug 31 | House & Garden Days | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Aug 31 - Sep 11 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Sep 11 - Sep 14 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Apply | Sep 14 - Sep 25 | 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 may use the ‘anything to add’ section at the end of the application to identify their heritage, in order to ensure priority of enrollment. Allergy Information Covid-19 vaccination required. |
| Sep 25 - Oct 05 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 29 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Sep 30 - Oct 02 | Trust Retreat | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students Annual retreat of the Dhamma Kunja Trust. Interested Old Students may serve - please apply for the Service Period beginning 9/25 and specify the days that you would like to attend. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Oct 05 - Oct 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 12 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Oct 16 - Oct 26 | House & Garden Days | Applications accepted starting Jun 18 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Oct 26 - Nov 06 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 26 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Nov 06 - Nov 09 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Nov 09 - Nov 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 10 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Nov 20 - Nov 23 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 24 | 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Nov 23 - Dec 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 24 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Dec 04 - Dec 07 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Dec 07 - Dec 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 14 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| Dec 18 - Dec 22 | Between Course Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 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. Covid-19 vaccination required. |
|
| December 22, 2022 - January 02, 2023 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 28 | Onalaska |
Allergy Information
Covid-19 vaccination required. |
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 AssociationCourses 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.
20-day Courses are open only to serious Old Students committed to this technique who have completed a minimum of five 10-day courses , one Satipatthana Sutta course, given Dhamma Service at least one 10-day course, and have been practicing regularly for at least two 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.
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.
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.
