Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as a task of emptying the mind or reaching a flawless state of calm. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that familiar itch that shows up a few minutes into practice.
Our team blends decades of experience from multiple traditions. Some of us arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few stumbled into it during college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical skill for everyday life, not a mystical experience.
Each guide you’ll meet has their own way of explaining concepts. Arin tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Maya draws from a background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more strongly with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their work for life, each bringing a distinct perspective to the practice
Arin Kapoor
Lead Instructor
Arin began meditating in 1998 after burnout from a software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen practice in Japan. What sets him apart is his knack for explaining ancient ideas through surprisingly modern analogies—he once likened the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation habits. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Maya Gupta
Philosophy Guide
Maya combines her PhD in United States Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while researching ancient texts and realized that academic insight means little without lived experience. Her approach bridges scholarly understanding with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Maya has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices evolved and what they’re truly meant to accomplish.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve learned that meditation yields best results when it’s demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll reach perfect peace. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with greater awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it isn’t something to rush into from momentary enthusiasm.
If you’re curious about learning meditation as a practical life skill rather than a spiritual pursuit, we’d be honored to guide your exploration. The practice has subtly but profoundly transformed our lives, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.