It took me 8 years to participate in a Vipassana retreat and found it deeply meaningful and insightful. The whole program is run on donations but are not accepted unless you complete at least one 10 day retreat. The schedule is pretty strict and spelled out to ensure there's no distractions in learning the meditation technique. The food here is nutritious, tasty and well prepared. This is a great opportunity to find self discovery and mindfulness. read more

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Completed 10 day retreat. Amazing experience! Challenging but what I learned I'll practice daily. Hope to do a ten day once a year. read more

Northwest Vipassana Center - Dhamma Kunja - Meditation center and Pagoda - Meditation Centers Near Me - Onalaska, Washington

The Northwest Vipassana Center--Dhamma Kunja--is situated in a peaceful rural area in Western Washington, and offers 10-day courses in Vipassana meditation for new and returning students. If you study the information that is on the center's website (kunja.dhamma.org) you'll be prepared for a serious undertaking when you apply. Or, you may decide for one reason or another that this isn't for you or the time isn't right. I am so grateful for the practice, for all who come to meditate or who come to give service, and for this place. Priceless. read more

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Great place to focus on yourself and on bringing the awareness of your mind together with your body. Dhamma kunja offers a 10 day course for beginners for free...vegetarian food/accommodation included (then if you completed the couses, you can decide whether you'd like to donate...if you don't finish the course, they wouldn't even take your donation!). The course format/schedule is pretty structured (certain asks for participants to abide by), and as such may offend some people. However, if you go into the course with an open mind, I highly believe that you'd benefit from practicing there for 10 days. I went there and carpooled with 2 other ladies from my area and we all didn't know what to expect at the start of the course. At the end of 10 days, we shared what we experienced and it seemed we all thought highly of it. I definitely learned something valuable that I didn't previously know about mind and body connectedness and how it impacted how we behave as people in everyday lives from this course for sure. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who's willing to be open minded and can see themselves practicing or trying something new in a structured way without feeling offended. The people who run and organize the course are very well intentioned, are the people who benefited from this practice and simply want you to experience the same. Personally, I heard of this course/practice from my family 15 years ago..but never bothered to attend one...now. 15 years later..I got a chance to,..I sort of wished I had tried/done it a little earlier, too. Just be prepared mentally and go in with an open mind, and you will be fine/benefit from it! read more

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A very peaceful environment.Also a great way to learn a meditation practice that you can apply daily in your life.

Deep. Life changing. Nothing compares to this practice and teachings. This practice is non sectarian . You don't need to believe anything . Just find out by your own experience . Plus great vegetarian food and nice accommodations this is voluntary donation only at the end of the course . read more

I wanted an escape. I looked for yoga retreats and spas. Somehow I stumbled upon their site. Upon further researching and reading on it, I became very apprehensive. But I signed up anyway, i was number 23 on the waitlist. The retreat was supposed on Tuesday, i received an email from on on Sunday, stating i had made it. I was excited and nervous at the same time. But I decided to go try it. When i got there, the energy was very peaceful. I gingerly registered and found my way to my room. The retreat started at 7pm the evening before, this is when the noble silence commences. Next day (day 1) the gong was rung at 4am, we had to be either in the meditation hall at 430am or start meditating in our rooms until 6am. Breakfast was served at 6am. It usually consisted of oatmeal, cereal, toast, various nut butters, yogurt, tea and fruits. Breakfast break is from 6am - 8am. At 9am would be a group sit - this means everyone had to be present in the meditation hall, with the teacher. From 9am - 11am was meditation either in our rooms or the hall. Lunch was served at 11am. Lunch consisted of wholesome vegetarian meal and would always be served with a green salad. 1pm - 2pm would be another sit in the hall with the teacher. 2pm - 5pm was meditation in the hall or our rooms again. 5pm was tea time. Newer students could also have a fruit of two. 6pm was another sit in the hall. 7pm - 8pm discourse 8pm-9pm last meditation session. Lights out at 930pm. This was our schedule for 8 or 9 days. I am very grateful that i had the opportunity to part-take in this retreat, I am looking to doing this as a yearly activity. One is not coerced into signing up for anything, you can donate AFTER you have successfully finished the course. Being with myself for 10-11 days, without the distraction of a computer, a tablet, a phone, TV, people who otherwise would have talked me etc etc was an experience i would not trade for anything. Some of us associate meditation with religion, i feel like this is science. We get to slow down and learn to live with ourselves, in our mind. It gives us an opportunity to really "hear" ourselves and our minds. There may or may not be a life changing moment, but it will definitely make you slow down and learn to observe your breath. I can't wait to go back. read more

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I recently attended a 10 day course here...on day 6 I'd had enough, and left. It is clear that for some, the rigid structure of the course is helpful and rewarding, but for me it was mostly stifling. In general, I consider myself an outside-the-box, creative and energetic person...so it may simply not have be a good match for me. What I liked was the physical setting of the center - in a very beautiful and serene spot. Also, the overall guiding philosophy of the organization, along with the staff and helpers, are pure and sincere. They do not charge for the course - they simply request donations based on the value you believe you received. What I didn't like was the 10-hour a day meditation...on mats inside a sterile room, waking up at 4; no dinner each night (going to bed hungry sucks if you ask me, no matter how 'spiritual' it may seem on paper); bland (though healthy) food in general; thin walls in the dorm area such that I could hear the obnoxious snoring of my neighbor; the emotional isolation of not being allowed to talk to anyone about the troubles I was having with any of it (the course requires no talking to others in the course, or in the outside world). I went into it with an open mind and a good attitude...yet after 4 or 5 days of such a rigidly controlled environment I started seriously considering leaving. Clarity came for me when I snuck away for a bit into the forest nearby. Laying on the mossy forest floor, looking up at the clear blue sky through the branches of the cedar, hearing the orchestra of birds chirping and feeling the brush of the wind on my skin had me realize that for me, my salvation lies in the richness of nature. That's where I feel connected and whole. Not on a mat inside a sterile room. I made my decision to leave the next morning, while eating another bland breakfast. I have no doubts that for many, this approach to personal and spiritual growth works. For me it did not. If you are looking for a more rich and vibrant experience of liberation from past limitations, I'd recommend The Mankind Project (for men), and Women Within (for women) - two organizations that produce amazing results for people, though through a very different approach. read more

I did my first 10 day meditation retreat at Dhamma Kunja in June 2011. I did three more retreats and served on another course at other centers, but I returned to Dhamma Kunja in May 2014 and again in October to attend retreats. I really like the center, the amazing food they offer, that the program is donation-based, I like the dhamma, as well as the continuity of instruction (because it's audio guided). Don't get me wrong, the program is intense and difficult. But if you work hard, you will reap what you sow; it will change your life. This program, though, is not for people who don't have a yearning to be there, plain and simple. But it's normal to be nervous about spending 10 days silently meditating, haha. I left my first retreat early, actually, and I rather regret having done so. The Assistant Teacher was kind about it , though, and warned me it would be pretty shocking to leave after the sixth day and return to the hustle and bustle of the outside world without first having a buffer day to socialize with other meditators on the last day of the course. Boy was he right. I didn't leave because I didn't like the program, though. I was ready to sign up for my next retreat right afterwards. I left because I had made an important decision during the retreat that I felt I needed to deal with quickly. Since then, I've learned following through on decisions I make during the retreats can wait until after the course is over, lol. The dorms for new and old students alike are exceptional--I've been to three other centers (BC, France, and Barcelona) and attended a retreat at a temporary camp (Benin, W. Africa) and none of those centers has as good of sleeping arrangements as Dhamma Kunja, overall. And the food--oh my gosh, the food! It's soooo good. Ya, you don't get to eat dinner, but your body doesn't really need those calories when you aren't too physically (or mentally over-) active. I could go on an on... but in a nutshell, 5 stars for Dhamma Kunja. Everyone who wants to should make the time in their life to try it. The difference between the you you want to be and the you you are now is your actions.... read more

This place changed my life, and I go back yearly. To be honest I almost left the first time because I was having such a hard time. So I totally relate to people who leave. Luckily the manager who helps you during your sit told me to give it one more day, and on the next day (day 7) I had a breakthrough and it changed my life forever. It helped me see something so deep, I finally understood many of the eastern philosophy books I had been reading. I can't recommend this technique enough. It's not easy, but if you stick with it, the "lights eventually turn on". read more

Excellent venue for a silent retreat. If you know what you are signing up for, you will be delighted by the simplicity and beauty of this place. As an old student I am especially appreciative of the accommodations. I wish I could spend months at a time here read more

I have been a Vipassana meditator in this tradition since 1989, and have attended retreats at a number of other Vipassana centers in the US and Canada. Most of us have preconceptions about meditation. If you are new to meditation it is doubtful that a 10-day Vipassana course will align with your expectations. For example, very few of us have a frame of reference for what it's like to meditate for 10 hours in a day...so, go in to your first 10-day course with an open mind and a willingness to give it a fair trial. If you are thinking about doing your first 10-day course, I would advise that you do plenty of research so you understand what is involved. A 10-day meditation retreat is a serious and demanding undertaking. Although some of the literature hints that "anyone" can do one of these courses, I don't think it's for everyone. It's your journey and don't feel pressure to do a course just because your friend did it--you need to decide for yourself if it's for you. There is a lot of useful information posted on Dhamma Kunja's web site as well as on dhamma.org. If you do decide to do a course, do your best to stick it out to the end. Know that it's particularly difficult on days 3 or 4 and 6 or 7. At the end of the course you have ~2 days to integrate your experience a bit, and there is time to learn about how to keep up the practice when you go back to your daily life. For example, the Seattle Vipassana Hall hosts daily group sittings. As for the Dhamma Kunja facility, there is a large meditation hall that seats over 80. The sleeping quarters are in gender-segregated dorms that were recently constructed. The dining halls and kitchen are in the original farmhouse that was on the property when Dhamma Kunja opened in the early 1990s. There are serene walking areas around the property. Dhamma Kunja is not a resort or hotel, it's a Buddhist monastery for lay people. The food is healthy and tasty. You can eat as much as you need at breakfast and lunch, though only lemon water and fruit after noon. Believe it or not it's easier to meditate on a less-than-full belly! The courses are staffed entirely by volunteers. Some of those volunteers spend months or years working at Dhamma Kunja and if you just attend one course they might appear to have some kind of special status but this is not the case. Everyone is in the same boat--working hard to develop their capacities for morality, concentration, and wisdom. read more

I've been attending retreats at Dhamma Kunja for over six years. These have been beneficial to my social, emotional and spiritual well-being. The site is well maintained with dedicated (and smiley) volunteers. The managers constantly make improvements while quickly and considerately responding to student requests. The food at the center is vegetarian, healthy and prepared with care and skill. The physical surroundings are sublime - groves of old stand pines with moss, wandering deer, interesting insects and flowers and fruit trees. There are proximal views of Mount Rainer, surreal mornings with fog and dew and starry night skys. This is one of my favorite places on the planet to recharge, restore and get perspective. read more

My first 10-day Vipassana course at the Northwest Vipassana Center was really hard - and the most beneficial thing I had ever done in my life. I was fascinated by this simple meditation technique. Watching what happened while I tried to hold my attention to the breath passing through my nostrils, made me see how crazy my mind is - jumping from one thing to another. And, how this technique was training to strengthen both my concentration and understanding. On the fourth day, we learned a new meditation technique - Vipassana - which was even more fascinating. Continuing to practice, with each day building on the previous one, I could see how it was changing my destructive habit patterns. Leaving the course on the last day, a stressful thought about going back to my regular life came into my mind, and instead of reacting to it, I did the meditation technique for a moment, and felt the stress disappear. It felt like I understood the word "peace" for the first time in my life. Going back to the city, I continued to meditate, but it was hard to keep it going, so I decided to come back and volunteer and "serve" on a course. I was put in the kitchen with a few other people, and we had a great time cooking for the meditators. It was great to be able to talk with other people and learn more about the meditation and the center, and it was helpful to have more time with the teachers and to be able to ask more questions. Not only was serving a great way to help others learn this meditation, but it helped my own meditation also. Going back and forth between working hard in the kitchen and meditating with the students in the hall, is really good practice for applying the meditation in everyday life. We would go from working hard in close quarters, cooking and cleaning up, to sitting on the cushion, where any stress was very apparent. And then, back to the kitchen for another round. The change in me from the meditation was significant. I was more grounded, had way more energy, and felt brighter and cleaner. As I've continued to meditate, I've experienced that my negative reactive emotions have diminished, and so many positive qualities have developed. I definitely recommend Vipassana to anyone who is interested. read more

A great place to get serious about meditation. Your manifest needs - room and board - are well taken care of, and one is free to focus the mind. Guidance is given, advice is available, and silence is paramount. The environs are also conducive to meditation, with well-kept walking trails and clean and quiet sleeping areas. I can heartily recommend that you go and see. read more

Well organized course. The dorm is clean and cozy. The food is so tasty. I also saw a deer family. ^^

It is written a lot about Vipassana in the Internet. Talking about this Center, I've found it amazing how good nature is there. These trails help a lot. The deers are very cute and amazing. And there is a huge ant hill, it is so amazing to watch them during your 10-day course. Vipassana Hall is awesome. The time spent in NWVC is the best time of my life. It was a time of peace and happiness. People there (hi, Dag!) are very kind too. During a year of periodical service there I never noticed anything about recognition. If person is experienced in cooking, s/he goes to cooking (even s/he is first time in the center). If s/he feel confident in management, then s/he goes to fe/male manager. I've never heard something like "he donated a lot of money, he will be washing dishes". In addition, it doesn't matter what person does, whether s/he washes the dishes or do the "clean" job. Good Vipassana server should understand that best thing is service, no matter what you do. Max read more

My life as busy professional and parent of teenagers can get hectic, so I find 10 days of practicing the sometimes very challenging but wonderful meditation technique, eating healthy meals, surrounded by natural beauty, and served by caring staff very restorative. I go back year after year. read more

I had been wanting to do Vipassana for several years and finally managed to get time to do it last year during Christmas holidays. It was a good feeling. The center is well maintained and the rooms and bathrooms are clean. They provide you with a mattress and pillow with a closet for your clothes. The usual day for a 10 day beginners course starts with meditation in the morning, followed by breakfast and break. Then there are 2 more sessions during the day, each one one hour long which is followed by breaks. A schedule is provided in the beginning of the course, which is then followed. They have a huge bell that they beat with a stick, reminds me of old times. The place itself is on a farmland and is beautiful. You can see mountains nearby. There is a place for walking and then there is another area with benches where you can sit. We had deer come over frequently outside our residences and they weren't even scared of us. It was really nice to see them out the window. In the vipassana hall itself there was an outside pitcher with clean water and several cushions for use during meditation. Food: I was surprised with the good food there. They used to do a different cuisine each day. Breakfast would be the same usually with one special dish. For lunch they served american, moroccan, mexican, indian and a few other cuisines. They did make amazing fresh corn bread and sweets for us too which was nice. They had a special area of gluten free food for people who are allergic to gluten which was nice. read more

Vipassana meditation is extraordinary. If you are looking at attending a course in Onalaska, this review is about the location. The center is lovely and well maintained. The rooms are double occupancy with either curtains or doors between bedrooms. The Dhamma hall is concrete floor, and there are plenty of cushioned mats and additional pads for all students. The center is near a farm, so you'll smell cow poop in the morning and there are a lot of flies. They do have some bug traps to help clear them from your room. There are lots of umbrellas provided. I recommend bringing a heating pad (in case you have back pain, although there were some hot water bottles in the supply room.) Bring your own water bottle and thermos, alarm clock, bedding, towels. The women's and men's walking path is in a field behind the center. The men's path has a portion through the forest. Deer, rabbits, small snakes and lots of spiders were seen. read more