Vancouver Island Vipassana Centre

Dhamma Modana

Vancouver Island Vipassana Centre, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
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.
Additional information

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 8 am BC 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.

 

 

 

Filters

43 courses
Popular courses
Other courses
New students can only apply to 10 day courses

Teenagers' and Children's Courses

0 courses

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.

Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
No courses are currently scheduled.

Course types

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.

Ten Day & Other Adult Courses

43 courses
 
All ten day courses begin on Wednesday evening of the first day (known as Day 0) and end early morning of the last day (Day 11).  Most students stay for breakfast and cleanup.
See Comments for any special instructions for events in this section.
 
Dates
Course Type
Location
Comments
Status
4 Nov - 15 Nov
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
In Progress
15 Nov - 18 Nov

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Servers- Open
18 Nov - 22 Nov

3-Day


Duncan
For old students
3-Day
New Women- Closed
Old Women- Wait List
New Men- Closed
Old Men- Wait List
Servers - Women- Wait List
Servers - Men- Open
22 Nov - 25 Nov

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Servers- Open
25 Nov - 6 Dec
10-Day
Duncan

10-day courses are open to new as well as returning students.

10-Day
Women- Wait List
Men- Closed
Servers- Open
6 Dec - 9 Dec

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Servers- Open
9 Dec - 20 Dec
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Women- Wait List
Men- Wait List
Servers - Women- Wait List
Servers - Men- Open
20 Dec - 23 Dec

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Servers- Open
23 Dec 2026 - 3 Jan 2027
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers- Wait List
2027
3 Jan - 6 Jan

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Servers- Open
6 Jan - 17 Jan
10-Day
Duncan

10-day courses are open to new as well as returning students.

10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers - Women- Open
Servers - Men- Wait List
17 Jan - 20 Jan

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Servers- Open
20 Jan - 31 Jan
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Women- Closed
Men- Wait List
Servers- Open
31 Jan - 3 Feb

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Servers- Open
3 Feb - 14 Feb
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Women- Wait List
New Men- Wait List
Old Men- Open
Servers- Open
14 Feb - 17 Feb

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Applications accepted starting 19 Nov
17 Feb - 21 Feb

3-Day


Duncan
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 22 Nov
21 Feb - 24 Feb

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Applications accepted starting 26 Nov
24 Feb - 7 Mar
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 29 Nov
7 Mar - 10 Mar

Between Course Service Period


Duncan
For old students

Applications welcome for Part Time Service. Please show arrival and departure dates in your application. See the "arriving late" question.
Between course volunteering is for experienced servers only.

Work Period
Applications accepted starting 10 Dec
10 Mar - 21 Mar
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 13 Dec
21 Mar - 2 Apr

Spring Work Period


Duncan
For old students

Part time service is welcome. First time servers are welcome, and can get experience to qualify for between course service.

Old Student Program
Applications accepted starting 24 Dec
2 Apr - 11 Apr
Satipatthana Sutta
Duncan
Old Student Course Qualification Requirements

Please click on link above for requirements

Satipatthana Sutta
Applications accepted starting 05 Jan
14 Apr - 25 Apr
10-Day
Duncan

10-day courses are open to new as well as returning students.

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 17 Jan
28 Apr - 9 May
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 31 Jan
12 May - 23 May

Women's 10-day course


Duncan

Course for women only

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 14 Feb
26 May - 6 Jun

10-day men's course


Duncan

Course for men only. This will allow men with mobility issues to use the wheelchair ramp and to avoid stairs.

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 28 Feb
9 Jun - 20 Jun
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 14 Mar
23 Jun - 4 Jul
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 28 Mar
10 Jul - 25 Jul
14-Day Gratitude Course
Duncan
14-Day Gratitude Course
Applications accepted starting 14 Apr
28 Jul - 8 Aug
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 02 May
11 Aug - 22 Aug
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 16 May
25 Aug - 29 Aug

3-Day


Duncan
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 30 May
1 Sept - 12 Sept

Women's 10-day course


Duncan

Course for women only

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 06 Jun
15 Sept - 26 Sept
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 20 Jun
26 Sept - 6 Oct

Fall Work Period


Duncan
For old students

Part time service is welcome. First time servers are welcome, and can get experience to qualify for between course service.

Old Student Program
Applications accepted starting 01 Jul
6 Oct - 17 Oct
Special 10-Day
Duncan
Special 10-Day
Applications accepted starting 11 Jul
20 Oct - 31 Oct
10-Day
Duncan

10-day courses are open to new as well as returning students.

10-Day
Applications accepted starting 25 Jul
3 Nov - 14 Nov
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 08 Aug
17 Nov - 28 Nov
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 22 Aug
1 Dec - 5 Dec

3-Day


Duncan
For old students
3-Day
Applications accepted starting 05 Sep
8 Dec - 19 Dec
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 12 Sep
22 Dec 2027 - 2 Jan 2028
10-Day
Duncan
10-Day
Applications accepted starting 26 Sep

Course types

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.

3-Day
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.
10-Day

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.

14-Day Gratitude Course

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.

Between Course Service Period

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.

Satipatthana Sutta

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.

Special 10-Day

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.

Spring Work Period

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.

Select language