Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as a task of clearing the mind or reaching a flawless state of calm. Instead, it resembles learning to sit with whatever arises—the bustling thoughts, the planning mindset, and even that peculiar itch that pops up midway through sitting.
Our team combines decades of practice across varied traditions. Some of us entered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few simply discovered it in college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical pursuit.
Each guide you encounter has a distinct way of conveying ideas. Arun tends to draw on everyday-life analogies, while Mira leans on her background in psychology. We’ve found that different methods resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who've made meditation their life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Arun Mehta
Lead Instructor
Arun began meditating in 1998 after burnout from a software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What distinguishes him is his knack for explaining ancient concepts through surprisingly contemporary analogies—he once likened monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Shah
Philosophy Guide
Mira pairs her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She found contemplative practice while studying ancient texts and realized that academic understanding is meaningful only when paired with lived experience. Her approach blends scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira has a gift for making intricate philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them grasp not just how to meditate, but why these practices emerged and what they aim to achieve.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve learned that meditation works best when it’s demystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll reach perfect serenity. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you face 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 aligns with you. We believe in taking thoughtful time to decide about contemplative practice—it's not something to rush into out of 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 witnessed the same for many others.