Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation as not about clearing the mind or reaching an ideal Zen state. Rather, it's about learning to sit with whatever arises—the wandering thoughts, the busy planning mind, and even that peculiar itch that tends to surface a few minutes in.
Through decades of practice across different traditions, our team brings together diverse experiences. Some of us arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal crisis, and a few simply found it during 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'll meet offers their own way of explaining concepts. We’ve shifted names here to reflect different voices: Arin tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Lina draws from her 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 life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Arin Kapoor
Lead Instructor
Arin began his meditation journey in 1998 following burnout in his software engineering job. 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 concepts with 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 cultivate sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about integrating mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Lina Shah
Philosophy Guide
Lina 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 understanding meant little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Lina has a gift for making complex philosophical concepts accessible without oversimplification. Her students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices developed and what they’re really meant to accomplish.
Why We Teach This Way
Through years of practice and teaching, we've found meditation is most effective when demystified. We don't promise enlightenment or perfect serenity. Instead, we focus on cultivating skills to navigate life's challenges with greater awareness and reduced reactivity.
Our courses begin in September 2025, giving you time to consider whether this approach resonates with you. We believe in taking time to make thoughtful decisions about contemplative practice—it’s not something to rush into on the basis of fleeting 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 altered our lives in subtle but profound ways, and we've seen it do the same for many others.