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 Center is located just North of Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms, CA. It is a 2-1/2 hr. drive from the Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas. It is possible to reach the Center using public transportation with careful planning in advance, but requires multiple buses that run on a limited schedule and a full day of travel. The ride share board is the recommended option.
- 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.
| Southern California Vipassana Center P.O. Box 486 Joshua Tree, CA 92252 USA Email: [email protected] Phone: [1](760) 362-4615 | Children / Teenager's Course Registration Phone: [1](760) 362-4615 Email: [email protected] http://www.vaddhana.dhamma.org/children-teens/children-main.html |
Registration opens for all courses at 7:00am Pacific Time.
Covid-19 Protocol
- SCVC requires everyone to be fully vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19. Vaccination cards with relevant boosters must be submitted digitally to registration in order to be accepted to the course.
- Testing protocols
- A rapid antigen test 48 hours before arriving at the center
- A second rapid antigen test to be taken on the day of the course at home or at the center upon arrival.
- Masks are now optional until further notice.
- We ask that students and servers not use public transportation (trains, buses, and planes) before the course or to travel to SCVC.
- Out of state domestic travelers who would have to take a commercial flight must arrive in California 5 days before coming to the center to attend the course.
- All international travelers must quarantine 10 days before coming to the center to attend the course.
- An emergency contact person must be within driving distance of SCVC.
We recognize that getting vaccinated is a personal choice and we respect every individual’s right to make their own choice. We are not here to force individuals to get vaccinated, or even encourage them to get vaccinated. In order to allow a maximum number of students to attend and benefit from each course, SCVC has taken the decision, starting with the June 30th course, to only allow students/servers that have been fully vaccinated to attend courses. Without this policy we would have to halve the number of attendees. This is a temporary measure, and we hope that in the near future, as Covid gets more under control, that we are able to offer courses to all students regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jun 12 | Children and Teen | Open | Orange County VH |
New Course!! Boys only (11-17 yrs.) |
| Jul 10 | Children and Teen | Applications accepted starting Jun 01 | Orange County VH |
New Course!! Girls only (11-17 yrs.) |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16 - May 18 | Service Period | In Progress | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Apply | May 18 - May 22 | 3-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Twentynine Palms |
For old students Servers Needed Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| May 22 | Board Of Trustees Meeting | Open | Twentynine Palms |
For old students In-Person & Virtual For more information contact [email protected] Please see top of the page for Covid-19 protocols |
|
| Apply | May 26 - May 29 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms |
For old students Servers Needed, Service period to maintain the center. Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | May 30 - Jun 01 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
| Apply | Jun 01 - Jun 12 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms |
Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| Apply | Jun 13 - Jun 15 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| Apply | Jun 15 - Jun 26 | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Open Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Twentynine Palms |
Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| Apply | Jun 27 - Jun 29 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the center for the next course. Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| Apply | Jun 29 - Jul 10 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| Apply | Jul 11 - Jul 13 | Service Period | Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| Apply | Jul 13 - Jul 24 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Open Servers - Open | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
| Jul 25 - Jul 27 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting May 25 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
|
| Jul 27 - Aug 07 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting May 27 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. | |
| Aug 08 - Aug 10 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 08 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. |
|
| Aug 10 - Aug 21 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 10 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. All applicants are initially waitlisted pending confirmation of vaccination status. | |
| Aug 21 | Board of Trustees Meeting | Closed | Twentynine Palms |
For old students In-person & Virtual For more information contact [email protected] Please see top of the page for Covid-19 protocols |
|
| Aug 22 - Aug 24 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jun 22 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Aug 24 - Sep 04 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 24 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. | |
| Sep 05 - Sep 07 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 05 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Sep 07 - Sep 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 07 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. | |
| Sep 19 - Sep 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Jul 19 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Sep 21 - Oct 02 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 21 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. | |
| Oct 03 - Oct 05 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 03 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Oct 05 - Oct 16 |
10-Day
English / Khmer |
Applications accepted starting Aug 05 | Twentynine Palms |
This course is offered in English and Khmer. Priority is given to Cambodian students. All other students will be waitlisted. Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Oct 17 - Oct 21 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 17 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students Gardens and Grounds Week. Projects include enhancing the overall beauty of the center; extensive weeding, shrubbery pruning and new plantings; and irrigation maintenance and repair. Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Oct 21 - Oct 30 | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting Aug 21 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Oct 30 | Board of Trustees Meeting | Applications accepted starting Aug 01 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students In-person & Virtual For more information contact [email protected] |
|
| Oct 31 - Nov 02 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Aug 31 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Nov 02 - Nov 13 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 02 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. | |
| Nov 14 - Nov 16 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 14 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Nov 16 - Nov 27 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 16 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. | |
| Nov 28 - Nov 30 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Sep 28 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Nov 30 - Dec 11 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 30 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. | |
| Dec 12 - Dec 14 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 12 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Dec 14 - Dec 18 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 14 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Dec 19 - Dec 25 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 19 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students Deep Cleaning Week. Project includes thorough cleaning of accommodations, Dhamma hall, and dining hall/kitchen areas and laundering cushion covers and linens. Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| Dec 26 - Dec 28 | Service Period | Applications accepted starting Oct 26 | Twentynine Palms |
For old students To help prepare the Center for the next course Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
|
| December 28, 2022 - January 08, 2023 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Oct 28 | Twentynine Palms | Please see top of the page for COVID-19 protocols. |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Jun 12 | Children and Teen | Open | Orange County VH |
New Course!! Boys only (11-17 yrs.) |
| Jul 10 | Children and Teen | Applications accepted starting Jun 01 | Orange County VH |
New Course!! Girls only (11-17 yrs.) |
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://vaddhana.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 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.
