Venerable Virañani

Ayya Vīrañāṇi began to practise meditation in 1979. In 2003, after several years working at the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts, USA, and training in the Thai Forest tradition, she began a period devoted to intensive practice 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.  Ayya has a science background and was previously a conservation biologist. She is passionate about using Dhamma and nature to help others rediscover the intrinsic goodness in all beings.