Northern California Vipassana Center, Dhamma Manda

If there was a regulatory board for retreats this place would be shut down. This place will take your phone and not allow you to leave, it is a cult like retreat that is similar to Scientology in the aspect of they grille you about childhood traumas, as well as a multitude of other cult like behaviors such as explaining why their version of Buddhism is the only true version and other clearly manipulative tactics. Don’t waste your money there are plenty of better less invasive and cult like retreats. Also they don’t feed you dinner just breakfast and lunch.

This is a cult. Please do your research about cults beforehand. I thankfully escaped. They almost didn't give me my phone back. I feel grateful to still have my mind!!!

It is a horrible place. They advised you to keep your windows open during the night so you don’t use the AC and when you got sick but you are definitely do because it is very cold at night they just kick you out immediately without any help of transportation.There is nothing about spiritual at all. Very evil people.

In Sep. 2018 Annual Work/Service period I was there in Dhamma Manda (Northern California Vipassana Center). The stay was very comfortable, and it is a very neat, clean and extremely peaceful place to learn Vipassana Meditation and practice. Vipassana helps anyone to look through oneself and make a definite improvement in one's own life. Dhamma Manda is maintained very well. It is very serene and scenic too. Give yourself a gift of 10-days and go to one of the 10-day courses and away from all life's chaos and confusion and experience inner peace. Courses are scheduled and published well in advance. Best Wishes.

Very awful place I would not recommend it anybody. Very rude stuff with no help if something emergency can happened to you like disease. You will be on your own think twice or better dont come here.

Excellent Vipassana, amazing teachers, wonderful ambiance, classmate students willing to work hard. Men and women segregated during meditation, dining area and sleeping cabins. 10-day noble silence, not even non-verbal communication. And it is free, paid by previous students. This is a great gift.

Dhamma Manda is a great Vipaasana center. Just finished serving there for 10 days. It is about 100 miles north of SF city, about 2.5 hours of driving. Beautiful serene location, comfortable lodging, great food, and wonderful Dhamma lessons and meditation sessions. The center has ample cushions, so no need to bring your own. You also are allowed to use chair to sit on if you cannot sit on the ground. Some folks lean against the wall if that is essential for you to focus on meditation. The place holds about 60/70 meditators. Typically the serving (volunteering) team is about 8-10 strong. The servers cook food according to the clearly written recipes, serve them, and clean the pots, pans, cups and plates. The accommodation is comfortable and temp controlled. The teachers for our course were Bill and Anne Crecelius- they were excellent. Recommend you to go and try out a Vipaasana course in this center.

Magical place where I started my journey. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!