
in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Course Schedule

Center Location Website | Map
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 completely fill out all sections of the application form and submit it. An application form is required for each course you wish like to attend.
- 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 we will send you a message requesting that you confirm you will be attending. Confirmation will be required to secure your place in the course.
Address: California Vipassana Center -- Dhamma Mahavana
P.O. Box 1167
North Fork, CA 93643
Email: info@mahavana.dhamma.org
Phone: (559) 877-4386
Fax: (559) 877-4387
Website: www.mahavana.dhamma.org
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply* | Feb 18 - Feb 19 | Teen |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | |
| Aug 11 - Aug 12 | Teen |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana |
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
| Attend / Serve | Dates | Course Type | Status | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apply | Feb 01 - Feb 12 | 10 Day | In Progress | Dhamma Mahāvana | Servers needed. |
| Feb 13 - Feb 21 | Service Period |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students To attend, please send an email to registration@mahavana.dhamma.org. Include your full name and the dates you will be attending. | |
| Apply | Feb 22 - Mar 04 | 10 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Servers needed |
| Mar 05 - Mar 14 | Service Period |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students To attend, please send an email to registration@mahavana.dhamma.org. Include your full name and the dates you will be attending. | |
| Apply | Mar 15 - Apr 15 | 30 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. |
| Apr 15 - Apr 16 | Trust Planning Retreat |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students To attend, please send an email to registration@mahavana.dhamma.org. Include your full name and the dates you will be attending. | |
| Apr 16 - Apr 24 | Service Period |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students To attend, please send an email to registration@mahavana.dhamma.org. Include your full name and the dates you will be attending. | |
| Apply | Apr 25 - May 06 |
10 Day
English / Khmer |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Priority is given to students whose native language is Khmer. Servers needed. |
| Apply | May 09 - May 20 | 10 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Servers needed. |
| May 21 - Jun 05 | Service Period |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students To attend, please send an email to registration@mahavana.dhamma.org. Include your full name and the dates you will be attending. | |
| Apply | Jun 06 - Jun 10 | 3 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. |
| Apply | Jun 15 - Jun 24 | Satipatthana Sutta |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. |
| Apply | Jun 27 - Jul 08 |
10 Day
English / Vietnamese |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Priority is given to students whose native language is Vietnamese. Servers needed. |
| Apply | Jul 11 - Jul 22 | Special 10 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students who meet these requirements. Servers needed. |
| Apply | Jul 25 - Aug 05 |
10 Day
Burmese / English |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Priority is given to students whose native language is Burmese. Servers needed. |
| Aug 06 - Aug 14 | Service Period |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students To attend, please send an email to registration@mahavana.dhamma.org. Include your full name and the dates you will be attending. | |
| Aug 15 - Aug 19 | 3 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. | |
| Aug 22 - Sep 02 |
10 Day
English / Thai |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Priority is given to students whose native language is Thai. Servers needed. | |
| Sep 05 - Sep 16 | 10 Day English / Mandarin |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Priority is given to students whose native language is Mandarin. Servers needed. | |
| Sep 19 - Sep 30 | 10 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Servers needed. | |
| Oct 03 - Oct 07 | 3 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. | |
| Oct 08 - Oct 13 | Service Period |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students To attend, please send an email to registration@mahavana.dhamma.org. Include your full name and the dates you will be attending. | |
| Oct 14 - Nov 04 | 20 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. | |
| Nov 07 - Nov 18 | 10 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Servers needed. | |
| Nov 21 - Dec 02 | 10 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Servers needed. | |
| Dec 05 - Dec 09 | 3 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. | |
| Dec 14 - Dec 23 | Satipatthana Sutta |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | For old students Servers needed. | |
| December 26, 2012 - January 06, 2013 | 10 Day |
|
Dhamma Mahāvana | Servers needed. |
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: info@mahavana.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 above.
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 7:30am.
Satipatthana Sutta courses have the same timetable and discipline as 10-day course. 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.
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. Student who speak neither English or 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 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.
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.
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. Student who speak neither English
or 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.
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.
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. Student who speak neither English or 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.
