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
One of over 120 international centers where the technique of Vipassana meditation is taught and practiced, Dhamma Mahavana is situated on 109 acres of forested property in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Groves of oak, pine, cedar, and manzanita reinforce the California Vipassana Center's name of Dhamma Mahavana, Great Forest of Dhamma.
- 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.
| California Vipassana Meditation Center P.O. Box 1167, North Fork, CA 93643, USA http://www.mahavana.dhamma.org | General Course Registration Voice Mail: [1] (559) 876-8760 ext.1 Fax: [1] (559) 876-8761 [email protected] | Children / Teenager's Course Registration Voice Mail: [1] (408) 471-7642 Fax: [1] (800) 734-1558 [email protected] Children's Course Registration | Dhamma Service Registration Voice Mail: [1] (559) 876-8760 [email protected] |
Students may apply to sit only one 10 Day course at a time, even if the other course is in another state or is a waitlisted enrollment.
CHECK SPAM/JUNK MAIL or you may miss important time-sensitive
CVC Covid-19 Protocols
Dhamma Mahavana is making every effort to offer safe Vipassana courses while Covid continues to circulate in the population.
The following points are required for attendance:
- Covid vaccination is no longer required. All participants must bring either a negative PCR test taken as close to the start date as possible or proof of Covid vaccination with one booster.
- In addition, take a rapid antigen test the same day of arrival, before traveling to the Center. Bring a picture of the negative test result.
- Bring three additional rapid antigen tests to take during the course.
- N95 or KN95 must be worn at all times indoors, including in the Meditation Hall, Pagoda hallways, and dining halls. Masks are not required inside your private room, inside a Pagoda cell, while eating or drinking, or outdoors. Please bring an adequate supply of masks.
- Provide contact information of someone based in California willing to be responsible for you in case of an emergency, like contracting Covid.
- If you carpool to the Center, we require that everyone in the car wears a mask.
Local meditators who wish to come to the center should contact the Office beforehand.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
All ten-day courses begin on the evening of the first day and end on the early morning of the last day.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
Registration opens for all courses around 7:05 a.m. Pacific Time
Students may apply to sit only one 10 Day course at a time, even if the other course is in another state or Canada, or is a waitlisted enrollment.
CHECK SPAM/JUNK MAIL to ensure you do not miss important time-sensitive email communications.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 01 - Mar 04 | 30-Day | In Progress | North Fork |
For old students Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Apply | Mar 04 - Mar 08 | Service Period | Servers - Open | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Mar 08 - Mar 19 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Mar 19 - Mar 22 | Service Period | Servers - Open | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Mar 22 - Mar 26 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Open | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Mar 26 - Apr 05 | Service Period | Servers - Open | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Apr 01 - Apr 02 | Annual Board of Trustees Retreat | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Apr 05 - May 06 | 30-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Apr 05 - May 21 | 45-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| May 21 - May 31 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Feb 21 | North Fork |
For old students This service period is held in conjunction with the annual Assistant Teacher workshop from May 24 - 29. Part time service is welcome. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| May 31 - Jun 11 |
10-Day
English / Vietnamese |
Applications accepted starting Mar 01 | North Fork |
Servers Needed The course is offered in both English & Vietnamese. Priority is given to Vietnamese-speaking students. All other students will be waitlisted. Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Jun 11 - Jun 14 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 11 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Jun 14 - Jun 25 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Mar 14 | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Jun 25 - Jun 30 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Mar 25 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Jun 30 - Jul 09 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Mar 30 | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Jul 09 - Jul 12 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 09 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Jul 12 - Jul 23 |
10-Day
English / Burmese |
Applications accepted starting Apr 12 | North Fork |
The course is offered in both English & Burmese. Priority is given to Burmese-speaking students. All other students will be waitlisted. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Jul 23 - Jul 26 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Apr 23 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Jul 26 - Aug 06 |
10-Day
English / Khmer |
Applications accepted starting Apr 26 | North Fork | The course is offered in both English & Khmer. Priority is given to Khmer-speaking students. All other students will be waitlisted. | |
| Aug 06 - Aug 09 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 06 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Aug 09 - Aug 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 09 | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Aug 20 - Aug 23 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 20 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Aug 23 - Sep 03 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 23 | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Sep 03 - Sep 20 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 03 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Sep 20 - Oct 01 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 17 | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Oct 01 - Oct 08 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 01 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Oct 08 - Oct 29 |
20-Day
English / Burmese |
Applications accepted starting Jul 05 | North Fork |
For old students The course is offered in both English & Burmese. Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Oct 15 - Oct 25 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 15 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Oct 25 - Oct 29 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 25 | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Oct 29 - Nov 01 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 29 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Nov 01 - Nov 12 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 01 | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Nov 12 - Nov 17 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 12 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Nov 17 - Nov 26 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Aug 17 | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Nov 26 - Nov 29 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 26 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Nov 29 - Dec 10 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 29 | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Dec 10 - Dec 13 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 10 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Dec 13 - Dec 24 | Special 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 13 | North Fork |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| Dec 24 - Dec 27 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 24 | North Fork |
For old students To help on variety of tasks, maintenance, landscaping, and deep cleaning. Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
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| December 27, 2023 - January 07, 2024 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 27 | North Fork |
Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
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://www.mahavana.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.
Special 10-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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
