Vipassana Metta Foundation operates a small retreat property on Maui, Hawaii, established in 2007 by senior Insight teachers Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters. The property serves as a dedicated long-retreat center in the Burmese Mahasi tradition, with a particular emphasis on the Sayadaw U Tejaniya lineage that Armstrong and Masters have studied and taught for decades. The Maui setting, the small scale, and the specific lineage emphasis distinguish the foundation from larger Western Insight centers. Steve Armstrong has been a senior Western teacher in the Burmese Mahasi line, with substantial training in Burma, including extended periods with Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. Kamala Masters trained similarly in Burma and brings additional teaching presence in the broader Insight network. Their teaching emphasizes the U Tejaniya approach: continuous awareness of mind itself rather than the more body-focused noting practice typical of mainstream Mahasi teaching. The property is small, with capacity for around 20 yogis on retreat at a time. Programs typically run as multi-week or multi-month long retreats rather than the weekend or week-long sittings more common at larger Western centers. The smaller scale and longer retreats reflect the founders' commitment to providing depth-of-practice infrastructure that is harder to find elsewhere in the Western Insight world. The Maui setting provides a quiet contained environment for sustained practice. The foundation operates on a donation basis. There are no published fees; yogis are invited to give what they can at the close of retreat. The dana model reflects the lineage's traditional Burmese Theravada economic shape and the founders' commitment to making sustained practice accessible to serious yogis without financial barrier where possible. The combination of small scale, Maui setting, U Tejaniya lineage emphasis, donation model, and long-retreat orientation gives the foundation a particular role within the Western Insight world: a deepening site for practitioners ready to commit to extended practice.
Programs are typically multi-week or multi-month silent retreats following the standard Insight retreat form: 5:30 a.m. start, alternating sit-and-walk through the day in 45-60 minute periods, vegetarian meals in silence, evening dharma talks, individual or small-group teacher interviews. The teaching style emphasizes the Sayadaw U Tejaniya approach: continuous awareness of mind itself, with attention to the quality of awareness rather than to the specific objects of attention. The form differs in subtle but significant ways from mainstream Mahasi noting practice. Posture is open: cushions, benches, chairs, lying down for those with physical needs.
The teaching line is the Burmese Mahasi tradition with particular emphasis on the Sayadaw U Tejaniya approach. Steve Armstrong trained extensively in Burma with Sayadaw U Pandita and later Sayadaw U Tejaniya; Kamala Masters trained similarly. The lineage emphasizes continuous awareness of mind itself as the principal practice, drawing on U Tejaniya's specific teaching. The foundation sits within the broader Western Insight network while holding this distinct lineage emphasis.
Yogis ready to commit to multi-week or multi-month silent retreats, with sufficient practice background to use sustained intensive time productively.
Practitioners specifically drawn to the U Tejaniya approach of continuous awareness of mind itself, distinct from mainstream Mahasi noting practice.
Yogis already in relationship with these senior Western Insight teachers who want sustained retreat time with them in the Maui setting.
Arrival is on Maui after travel through Kahului or other Maui airports. Yogis check in and are oriented to the daily schedule, the property, and the practice. Lodging is in simple shared or single rooms. Meals are vegetarian, taken in silence during retreat. The Maui setting is tropical with consistent warm weather year-round; appropriate clothing is needed. Phones are stored at registration. The container is intensive: multi-week or multi-month sustained practice. First-time visitors are advised to begin with shorter retreats elsewhere before attending the foundation's longer programs.
The property is small with capacity for around 20 yogis. Lodging is in simple shared or single rooms with shared bathrooms. Meals are vegetarian, taken in silence in the dining area during retreat. Walking grounds are limited; the property is small but quiet. The Maui setting is tropical with year-round warm weather and significant rain in some seasons.
All retreats are donation-based. There are no published fees for tuition, accommodation, or meals. Yogis are invited to give what they can at the close of retreat. The dana model is foundational to the lineage and the foundation's commitment to accessibility. Travel to Maui is on the yogi. The foundation is supported by past-yogi donations and a small donor base in the broader Insight community.
A small Maui retreat property in the Sayadaw U Tejaniya lineage, donation-based and oriented to long retreats.
Smaller scale (capacity around 20), longer retreat focus (multi-week or multi-month rather than weekend), and specific lineage emphasis on Sayadaw U Tejaniya's approach. The foundation is a deepening site for practitioners ready to commit to extended practice rather than an introductory center. First-time Insight practitioners are pointed elsewhere for shorter retreats before considering the foundation's longer programs.
Yes. All retreats are offered on dana with no published fees. Yogis are invited to give what they can at the close of retreat. The dana model reflects the Burmese Theravada economic tradition and the founders' commitment to accessibility. The foundation operates on past-yogi donations and a small donor base.
Sayadaw U Tejaniya is a contemporary Burmese Mahasi-tradition teacher whose approach emphasizes continuous awareness of mind itself, with attention to the quality of awareness rather than to specific objects of attention. The approach differs in subtle but significant ways from mainstream Mahasi noting practice. Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters trained extensively with U Tejaniya and carry this lineage emphasis.
Generally not. The foundation's programs are designed as deepening for practitioners with substantial prior practice. First-time long-retreat yogis are pointed to larger Insight centers (IMS, Spirit Rock, IRC) for foundational long retreats before considering the foundation. The small scale and donation-based access depend on yogis having the practice background to use the time well.
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