Our Teaching Philosophy
We see meditation not as clearing the mind or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It’s about learning to stay with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning mind, and even that odd itch that tends to surface a few minutes in.
Our team blends decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some discover meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal hardship, and a few simply begin in college and never stop. What remains is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill rather than a mystical rite.
Each guide brings their own way of explaining ideas. Rafael tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Mira draws from her psychology background. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect more with certain teaching styles.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their vocation, each bringing a unique perspective to the practice
Rafael Karthik
Lead Instructor
Rafael began meditating in the late 1990s after burnout from his software engineering career. He spent several years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen meditation in Japan. What sets him apart is his talent for explaining ancient concepts 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 cultivate sustainable meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Gupta
Philosophy Guide
Mira combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while studying ancient texts and realized that scholarly understanding means little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges academic insight with practical application.
She leads our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira has a gift for making complex philosophical ideas accessible without oversimplifying them. Students often say she helps them understand not only 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 found that meditation is most effective when it isn’t mystified. We don’t promise enlightenment or claim you’ll reach perfect inner 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 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 subtly but profoundly changed our lives, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.