Our Teaching Philosophy
We believe meditation isn’t about clearing your mind or reaching a flawless state of tranquility. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arrives—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that peculiar itch that pops up five minutes into a sitting session.
Our team combines decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some joined meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal upheaval, and a few discovered it in college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical experience.
Each guide you encounter brings a unique approach to explaining ideas. Arin Kapoor tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mei Chen draws on a psychology background. We’ve found that different styles resonate with different people, so you’ll likely feel drawn to certain teaching methods more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their life’s work, each bringing a distinct perspective to the practice
Arin Kapoor
Lead Instructor
Arin began meditating in 1998 after burnout in his software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets him apart is his talent for explaining ancient ideas through surprisingly modern analogies—he once compared monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals establish sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mei Chen
Philosophy Guide
Mei Chen combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while examining ancient texts and realized that academic understanding means little without lived experience. Her approach fuses scholarly insight with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mei has a gift for rendering complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices arose and what they’re truly meant 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 peace. Instead, we focus on building skills that help you navigate life’s inevitable challenges with more awareness and less reactivity.
Our courses start in September 2026, giving you time to reflect on whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking the time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it isn’t something to rush into based on 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 transformed our lives in subtle yet profound ways, and we’ve witnessed it do the same for many others.