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
Infectious Disease Safety Measures at Dhamma Kuñja
Dhamma Kuñja is making every effort to offer safe Vipassana courses while various infectious diseases continue to circulate in the population. Anyone with symptoms of communicable illness, or recent exposure within the past 10 days, including respiratory or gastro-intestinal are asked to stay home.
Testing:
- Please take a rapid antigen COVID test before arriving at the Center. Take a photograph of the results which you can display at the registration table when you get to the Center. If this is not possible, you will be asked to take the test upon arrival.
- On the third day of the course, you will be asked to take another test - please bring two additional tests with you. Anyone with a positive test will be asked to return home.
- Dhamma Kuñja is gladly accepting donations of rapid-antigen Covid tests.
Masking:
Masking is now optional at the Center.
Vaccine:
A Covid vaccination is not required.
Accommodations:
Dhamma Kuñja is operating at full-capacity and students are housed in double rooms with a shared bath.
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 10 days prior to arrival at the Center
- 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 a 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.
For questions, please contact Registration
Courses for young people. Child courses are for ages 8-12; Teen courses are for ages 13-17.
See more information| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Mar 28 | Children | Girls - Open Boys - Open Servers - Women - Wait List Servers - Men - Open | Sammamish, WA |
New Course!! |
| Apply | Apr 25 | Teen | Open | Redmond High School, Redmond, WA |
New Course!! |
| Apply | May 29 - May 31 | Teen | Open | Onalaska |
New Course!! |
| Apply | Aug 28 - Aug 30 | Children | Open | Onalaska |
New Course!! |
No First-time students. 1-Day, 2-Day, and 3-Day courses are short courses for Old Students only.
For Old Students, Virtual Sittings are taking place and in-person group sittings are being held at the Hillsboro Site
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Mar 25 - Mar 29 | 3-Day | Women - Closed Men - Closed Servers - Open | Onalaska |
For old students |
| Apply | Mar 29 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Hillsboro |
For old students |
| Apply | May 02 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Redmond, WA |
New Course!!For old students |
| Apply | May 03 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Eugene, OR |
For old students |
| Aug 09 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 10 | Eugene, OR |
For old students |
|
| Aug 19 - Aug 23 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting May 24 | Onalaska |
For old students |
|
| Dec 16 - Dec 20 | 3-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 20 | Onalaska |
For old students |
APPLICATION RESTRICTIONS
- Waitlisted students may apply for a 2nd course trying to get enrolled. We will keep the best one. They may be waitlisted at another center, for a total of two. Once accepted for a course, all other applications will be cancelled. One-day courses do not count against the total.
- Multiple serving applications are welcome
- Servers need to have sat a 10-day course within 2 years
- First-time students are not yet eligible to serve
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 8am PT on the date listed below
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Mar 22 - Mar 25 |
Between Course Service Period |
In Progress | Onalaska |
For old students Between Course Service Period |
| Apply | Mar 29 - Apr 08 |
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. |
| Apr 03 - Apr 05 |
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. |
|
| Apply | Apr 08 - Apr 19 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Women - Open Servers - Men - Wait List | Onalaska |
All 10-day courses are open to new students. |
| Apply | Apr 19 - Apr 24 |
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. |
| Apply | Apr 24 - May 03 |
English/Thai Satipatthana Sutta Course English / Thai |
New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Open | Onalaska |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements This course will have support for Thai speakers, with a Thai speaking AT |
| Apply | May 03 - May 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. |
| Apply | May 06 - May 17 |
10-Day
English / Vietnamese |
Women - Wait List Men - Wait List Servers - Women - Wait List Servers - Men - Open | Onalaska |
The course will have support for Vietnamese speakers, including a Vietnamese speaking assistant teacher |
| Apply | May 17 - Jun 03 |
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. |
| Apply | Jun 03 - Jun 14 | 10-Day | Women - Wait List Men - Open Servers - Open | Onalaska | |
| Apply | Jun 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. |
| Apply | Jun 17 - Jun 28 | 10-Day | Open | Onalaska | |
| Jun 28 - Jul 01 |
Between Course Service Period |
Applications accepted starting Apr 02 | 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. |
|
| Jul 01 - Aug 01 | 30-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 05 | Onalaska |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
|
| Jul 01 - Aug 16 | 45-Day | Applications accepted starting Apr 05 | Onalaska |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
|
| Sep 02 - Sep 13 |
10-day Bilingual Engish/Thai Course English / Thai |
Applications accepted starting Jun 07 | Onalaska |
This course will include support for Thai speakers. |
|
| Sep 16 - Sep 27 |
10-Day
Hindi / English |
Applications accepted starting Jun 21 | Onalaska | ||
| Oct 07 - Oct 18 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 12 | Onalaska | ||
| Oct 21 - Nov 01 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Jul 26 | Onalaska | ||
| Nov 04 - Nov 15 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 09 | Onalaska | ||
| Nov 22 - Dec 13 | 20-Day | Applications accepted starting Aug 27 | Onalaska |
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements |
|
| December 23, 2026 - January 03, 2027 | 10-Day | Applications accepted starting Sep 27 | Onalaska |
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 Association| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Mar 28 | Children | Girls - Open Boys - Open Servers - Women - Wait List Servers - Men - Open | Sammamish, WA |
New Course!! |
| Apply | Mar 29 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Hillsboro |
For old students |
| Apply | Apr 25 | Teen | Open | Redmond High School, Redmond, WA |
New Course!! |
| Apply | May 02 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Redmond, WA |
New Course!!For old students |
| Apply | May 03 | 1-Day | New Women - Closed Old Women - Open New Men - Closed Old Men - Open Servers - Closed | Eugene, OR |
For old students |
| Aug 09 | 1-Day | Applications accepted starting Jun 10 | Eugene, OR |
For old students |
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: info@kunja.dhamma.org
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 generally open for all children aged 8-12 years old who wish to learn to meditate. However there are local variations in age range, so please check the schedule.
Teenagers' Anapana Courses are generally open for all teenagers aged 13-18 years old who wish to learn to meditate. However, there are local variations in age range. In India and a few other countries there are also 7-day Vipassana courses for older teenagers. Please check the schedule for details.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
