Melissa McKay

Teacher

Melissa began her path of meditation in 1998 with a small group of dedicated practitioners in Oakland, CA with her beloved, though not known, teacher named Barbara Janus who introduced her to the teachings of Sayadaw U Pandita of Burma. Her first retreat was with Sayadaw U Pandita and the profound changes she saw in herself gave her a strong faith and dedication to the practice. She practiced with Sayadaw and his monks at centers in the U.S. and Burma.  She met Bhante Khippa Pano of Vietnam in 2000 and he became her main teacher.  She continues to attend intensive meditation retreats yearly and has trained for over 10,000 hours.  

Bhante gave her permission to teach, and since 2003. She has taught at centers all over the United States.

Jack Kornfield has said of her, “Melissa is one of the most experienced practitioners of the new generation of teachers.”  And Lodro Rinzler, “Melissa has a skillfulness in making esoteric teachings relatable to modern day living.”

After nearly two decades in New York City, she now resides in Las Vegas with her family.

For more information visit www.melissamckay.net. 


Upcoming Events

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Monday Meditation Group

Monday
July 6, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PT
Buddhist Teachings (Single Class)

Mary & Joseph Retreat Center Annual Summer Insight Retreat

Friday
July 10, 2026

4 days 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM PT
Residential Retreats (Multi Day Retreat)

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Monday Meditation Group

Monday
July 13, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PT
Buddhist Teachings (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
July 26, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
July 26, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 2, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 2, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Monday Meditation Group

Monday
August 3, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PT
Buddhist Teachings (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 9, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 9, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 16, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 16, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 23, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 23, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 30, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
August 30, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Monday Meditation Group

Monday
August 31, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PT
Buddhist Teachings (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
September 6, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
September 6, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
September 13, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Canyon Sanctuary Sundays

Sunday
September 13, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Past Events - Teacher and Office Team view only

Hybrid Santa Monica Community Dharma Nights

Wednesday
June 17, 2026
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Santa Monica Meditation Center (Hybrid: In-Person) Sundays Together

Sunday
June 14, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Sundays Together

Sunday
June 14, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Experienced, Introductory

Benedict Canyon Retreat House (Hybrid: In-person) Beyond Distraction: Five Practical Ways to Free the Mind from Distracting Thoughts

Saturday
June 6, 2026

2 days 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM PT
Non-Residential Retreats (Multi Day Retreat)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Beyond Distraction: Five Practical Ways to Free the Mind from Distracting Thoughts

Saturday
June 6, 2026

2 days 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM PT
Non-Residential Retreats (Multi Day Retreat)

Hybrid Santa Monica Community Dharma Nights

Wednesday
June 3, 2026
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Monday Meditation Group

Monday
May 25, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PT
Buddhist Teachings (Single Class)

Mary & Joseph Retreat Center Metta-Vipassana: Integrating Mindfulness and Metta practices

Wednesday
May 20, 2026

6 days 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM PT
Residential Retreats (Multi Day Retreat)

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Monday Meditation Group

Monday
May 18, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PT
Buddhist Teachings (Single Class)

Santa Monica Meditation Center (Hybrid: In-Person) Sundays Together

Sunday
May 17, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Online (Hybrid: Online) Sundays Together

Sunday
May 17, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PT
Weekly Classes (Single Class)

Experienced, Introductory