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 Santosa, also known as the Bay Area Vipassana Center, means 'Happiness of Dhamma' in Pali. The Bay Area Vipassana Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, organizes ten-day Vipassana meditation courses and meditation sittings as taught by S. N. Goenka throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Currently, the trust has purchased a 50 acre land near Gilroy, CA which is 40 minutes from San Jose. Currently, the center organizes a 10-day course on a rented facility near Occidental, CA.
The 2023 meditation course held in Occidental, CA will take place between December 18-29, 2023.
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. Old students (those who have sat a course previously) may sign up to more than one course provided they are at least 30 days apart.
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Occidental Course Covid-19 Protocol
The current plan for the course starting December 18th is to have masking optional. We recommend those immuno-compromised and seniors to wear a mask, as Covid is still circulating among the population.
Vaccinations will not be required.
Out of consideration for everyone, please do not come if you are feeling sick. Depending on the prevailing conditions before the course, Rapid Antigen testing may be required on the day the course starts.
Please note that the course site is at a rented facility with rugged, uneven and steep terrain. The paths are gravel or dirt. The facilities are spread out requiring walking some distances. There are no private accommodations--all rooms are dormitory settings with bunk beds for 12 people, and shared bath and toilet facilities are accessed outside in a separate building.
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://santosa.dhamma.org/os/welcome/. A user name and password will be required to access these pages.
Questions may be addressed to Email: info@santosa.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.
