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
Dhamma Maṇḍa, also known as the Northern California Vipassana Center, means "the essence of Dhamma" in Pali. It is one of numerous centers worldwide dedicated to the teaching of Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Dhamma Maṇḍa is located in the Cobb mountain area of Lake County, California, nestled among seventeen acres of mature pine, fir, and oak trees and is approximately a two and a half hour drive from San Francisco.
- 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.
Northern California Vipassana Association - Dhamma Manda Tel: [1] (707) 928-9981 Email: [email protected] | Children's / Teenagers' Course Registration Voice Mail: [1] (408) 471-7642 Fax: [1] (800) 734-1558 Email: [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 email communications.
Applications submitted via cell phone may not go through. A follow-up call or email is recommended.
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
Coronavirus Safety Measures at Dhamma Manda
Covid-19 Protocol
Dhamma Manda is making every effort to offer safe Vipassana courses while Covid continues to circulate in the population.
Starting May 3rd, 2023:
Covid Vaccination is no longer required. All participants are required to take a rapid antigen test for Covid on arrival at the Center and will need to test again on the 4th day. Anyone with symptoms of illness, a positive Covid test, or exposure to Covid within the past 10 days will be asked to stay home.
For all courses, the following points are required for attendance:
- Take a rapid antigen test on arrival at the Center. Everyone will be asked to take another rapid antigen test 4 days after arrival. Bring 2 rapid antigen tests to take during the course.
- Masks are now optional
- We will be returning to shared rooms (full capacity) starting October 2023
- As of October 2023 we are asking all students coming from out of state to wear a mask when using public tranportation and to have an emergency contact in Northern California that would be availabe to pick them up should they become ill while at the center
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | May 10 |
Teen Course |
Open | Sacramento |
For Boys and Girls ages 13-17 |
| Apply | May 31 |
Childrens Course |
Open | EBVH - Berkeley |
New Course!! Boys and Girls 8 - 12 yrs. old |
All courses open for applications at 7:00am 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 is a waitlisted enrollment.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Apr 27 - Apr 30 |
Between Course Service Period |
In Progress | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
| Apply | Apr 30 - May 11 | 10-Day | In Progress | Kelseyville |
Male Servers are needed. |
| Apply | May 11 - May 14 |
Between Course Service Period |
Servers - Wait List | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
| Apply | May 14 - May 18 | 3-Day | Women - Closed New Men - Closed Old Men - Wait List Servers - Wait List | Kelseyville |
For old students Servers are needed. |
| May 18 |
Quarterly Trust Meeting |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students If you are interested in attending remotely or in-person, please send an email to [email protected] |
|
| Apply | May 18 - May 28 |
Wildfire Prevention & Deep Cleaning Work Period |
Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students Servers are invited to attend full- or part-time for this Annual Work Period. See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
| Apply | May 28 - Jun 08 |
10-Day
English / Mandarin |
Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Kelseyville |
Male servers are needed. Priority enrollment for Mandarin-speaking students has concluded. All students are welcome to submit their applications. |
| Apply | Jun 08 - Jun 11 |
Between Course Service Period |
Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
| Apply | Jun 11 - Jun 22 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Short Wait List Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
Servers are needed. |
| Apply | Jun 22 - Jun 25 |
Between Course Service Period |
Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
| Apply | Jun 25 - Jul 06 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Kelseyville | |
| Apply | Jul 06 - Jul 09 |
Between Course Service Period |
Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
| Jul 09 - Jul 20 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 09 | Kelseyville | ||
| Jul 20 |
Quarterly Trust Meeting |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students If you are interested in attending remotely or in-person, please send an email to [email protected] |
|
| Jul 20 - Jul 23 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting May 09 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Jul 27 - Jul 30 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting May 09 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Jul 30 - Aug 10 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 30 | Kelseyville | ||
| Aug 10 - Aug 13 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting May 30 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Aug 13 - Aug 24 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 13 | Kelseyville | ||
| Aug 24 - Aug 28 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Jun 13 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Aug 28 - Sep 01 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 28 | Kelseyville |
For old students |
|
| Sep 01 - Sep 03 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Jun 28 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Sep 03 - Sep 14 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 03 | Kelseyville | ||
| Sep 14 |
Quarterly Trust Meeting |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students If you are interested in attending remotely or in-person, please send an email to [email protected] |
|
| Apply | Sep 14 - Sep 21 |
Wildfire Prevention & Deep Cleaning Work Period |
Servers - Open | Kelseyville |
For old students Servers are invited to attend full- or part-time for this Annual Work Period. See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
| Sep 21 - Sep 24 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Jul 03 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Sep 24 - Oct 05 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 24 | Kelseyville | ||
| Oct 05 - Oct 08 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Jul 24 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Oct 08 - Oct 19 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 08 | Kelseyville | ||
| Oct 19 - Oct 22 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Aug 08 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Oct 22 - Nov 02 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 22 | Kelseyville | ||
| Nov 02 - Nov 05 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Aug 22 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Nov 05 - Nov 16 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 05 | Kelseyville | ||
| Nov 16 |
Quarterly Trust Meeting |
Applications accepted starting May 20 | Kelseyville |
For old students If you are interested in attending remotely or in-person, please send an email to [email protected] |
|
| Nov 16 - Nov 19 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Sep 05 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Nov 19 - Nov 30 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 19 | Kelseyville | ||
| Nov 30 - Dec 03 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Sep 19 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Dec 03 - Dec 07 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 03 | Kelseyville |
For old students |
|
| Dec 07 - Dec 10 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Oct 03 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| Dec 10 - Dec 21 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 10 | Kelseyville | ||
| Dec 21 - Dec 24 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Oct 10 | Kelseyville |
For old students See updated COVID protocols at the top of this page. |
|
| December 22, 2025 - January 02, 2026 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 18 | Near Occidental, CA | ||
| December 24, 2025 - January 04, 2026 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 24 | Kelseyville |
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://manda.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.
Children's Courses are open for all children aged 8-12 years old who wish to learn to meditate. Their parents/guardians do not have to be meditators.
Teenagers' Anapana Courses are available for teens in different age ranges from 13-18 years old. Their parents/guardians do not have to be Vipassana meditators.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
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 Course Qualification Requirements
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 apply. 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.
