in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule
Centre Location: Website | Map
** Unless noted otherwise, course instructions are given in the following language(s): English
Dhamma Modana, the "Joy of Dhamma" or "Land of Joy", is the name given by S.N. Goenka for the Vancouver Island Vipassana Association. In 2018, Dhamma Modana moved to a lovely 12,000 sq ft building nestled on 13.5 acres near the city of Duncan, a 45 min drive North of Victoria BC or 45 minute drive South of Nanaimo, BC.
- 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.
Vancouver Island Vipassana Center -- Dhamma Modana
2359 Calais Rd, Duncan, BC V9L 5V5
Registration Voicemail: 778-974-8482
Registration Fax: 778-974-8483
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://modana.dhamma.org
REGISTRATION GUIDELINES
The "Apply" button for registration appears shortly after 8am Pacific Time (you may need to refresh your browser). Registration might only be open for 30 minutes. But once you've started your application you'll be allowed to finish it, so please answer all the questions completely. For fairness, the application queue is randomized.
We receive far more applications than we have spots for. The course and the waitlist are both filled from the schedule page.
If you are waitlisted you may try applying for a different course, but only one application will be kept.
Priority is given to applications from BC or the Yukon. Old students who have sat within the last year will have lower priority.
If we need to ask you for more information about your application it will not affect your place in the queue.
Don't forget to check your Spam/Junk Mail folder for emails from us.
Please consider applying later if you have conditions that put you at greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19
If you need to make any changes to your application please email Registration. Don't put in additional applications.
Courses for young people.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
In North America Teen courses are for those 17 years and younger.
Please see the schedule page for Dhamma Surabhi, near Merritt, for additional courses in the region.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul - 27 Jul | 10-Day | In Progress | Duncan | ||
| Apply | 27 Jul - 31 Jul |
Between Course Service Period |
Servers - Open | Duncan |
For old students Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question. |
| Apply | 31 Jul - 04 Aug | 3-Day | Women - Closed New Men - Closed Old Men - Short Wait List Female Server - Wait List Male Server - Open | Duncan |
For old students |
| Apply | 04 Aug - 09 Aug |
Between Course Service Period |
Servers - Open | Duncan |
For old students Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question. |
| Apply | 09 Aug - 24 Aug | 14-Day Gratitude Course | New Women - Closed Old Women - Wait List New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Duncan |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
| Apply | 24 Aug - 27 Aug |
Between Course Service Period |
Servers - Open | Duncan |
For old students Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question. |
| Apply | 27 Aug - 07 Sep | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Female Server - Open Male Server - Wait List | Duncan |
10-day courses are open to new and returning students |
| Apply | 07 Sep - 10 Sep |
Between Course Service Period |
Servers - Open | Duncan |
For old students Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question. |
| Apply | 10 Sep - 21 Sep | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Duncan | |
| Apply | 21 Sep - 08 Oct |
Fall Work Period |
Servers - Open | Duncan |
For old students Part time service is welcome. First time servers are welcome, and can get experience to qualify for between course service. |
| Apply | 08 Oct - 19 Oct | 10-Day | Women - Closed Men - Wait List Servers - Open | Duncan | |
| 19 Oct - 22 Oct |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting 24 Jul | Duncan |
For old students Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question. |
|
| 22 Oct - 02 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 27 Jul | Duncan |
10-day courses are open to new and returning students |
|
| 07 Nov - 16 Nov | Satipatthana Sutta | Applications accepted starting 12 Aug | Duncan |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
|
| 19 Nov - 30 Nov | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 24 Aug | Duncan | ||
| 03 Dec - 14 Dec | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 07 Sep | Duncan | ||
| 17 Dec - 21 Dec | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting 21 Sep | Duncan |
For old students |
|
| 24 December, 2025 - 04 January, 2026 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting 28 Sep | Duncan |
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://modana.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 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
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.
Work 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.
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements
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.
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.
