Teacher Profiles

Venerable Virañani

Ayya Vīrañāṇi began to practice meditation in 1979, as a scientist and conservation biologist in Hawai’i and New Zealand. In the mid-1990s, she began to practice more intensively, and in 2003 took novice ordination in the Burmese lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw. She took permanent ordination in Burma with Sayadaw U Pandita on New Year 2006, and until recently has mostly resided at the Chanmyay Myaing Meditation Centre in Myanmar. She was one of the editors (for Pāḷi and English) of the translation from the Burmese of Mahasi Sayadaw’s Manual of Insight published by Wisdom Publications. She teaches mettā and vipassanā meditation retreats worldwide.

 

Events with Venerable Virañani

Weekend Metta Retreat
August 1 - 3, 2025

Tara encourages a relaxed and spacious approach to meditation to support the development of confidence and independence in practice.  The weekend comprises instruction and formal practice sessions in both metta (lovingkindness) and mindfulness meditation, as well as an engaged attention to everyday activities. These will be presented within the context of the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path.