Steven Smith is a founder of Vipassana Hawai'i (1984) and Kyaswa Valley Retreat Center in Burma (1995). Anchored in the Theravadan Buddhist Burmese lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw since 1974, he was trained by revered monk and meditation master Sayadaw U Pandita.

Steven is a founder of the MettaDana Project for educational and medical projects in Burma and is also a senior advisor on contemplative practice to the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society where he has developed programs for teaching meditation to business leaders, environmental leaders, journalists and philanthropists.

Vipassana Hawai'i is parent to the Hawai'i Insight Meditation Center (HIMC) on the Big Island of Hawai'i's remote North Kohala. A 30-year dream of Steven and Michele McDonald is giving birth in 2007 to a unique, innovative retreat center on our fragile planet. With thoughtfulness guided by simplicity, HIMC is growing a totally green, sustainable living retreat center on 200 acres of extraordinary land with lush tropical valleys and streams on a mile-long, dramatic coastline.

Steven and Michele McDonald regard this project as their opus and fruit of a three-decade dedication to the transmission of a Burmese Buddhist lineage into the modern world.

Three strong pillars of HIMC include: care of the land; trademark Fusion Dhamma retreats combining senior nun and monk Burmese masters with senior teachers of Vipassana Hawai'i; nurturing Next Generation students committed to the Hawai'i-Burma lineage to carry the legacy far into future generations.

Steven teaches Vipassana and the Divine Abodes-loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity-meditation retreats in nature environments for small groups around the world.

See also Steven Smith's Writings and Photos.

Steven's Schedule

Please note: As well as Vipassana Hawai'i retreats, Steven teaches a number of retreats that are not sponsored by Vipassana Hawai'i. We list his complete schedule here for the convenience of his students. For non-VH retreats please follow the links below to get further information from the sponsoring organization.