Our Teaching Philosophy
We don’t view meditation as emptying the mind or reaching a flawless state of serenity. It resembles learning to sit with whatever arises—the restless thoughts, the planning impulses, and even that peculiar itch that shows up five minutes into practice.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others after personal crises, 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 has their own way of conveying ideas. Rahul Desai tends to use everyday analogies, while Mira Sharma draws on her background in psychology. We’ve found that different approaches resonate with different minds, so you’ll likely connect with certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve made meditation their life’s work, each offering a distinct perspective on the practice
Rahul Desai
Head Instructor
Rahul 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 knack for explaining ancient concepts with surprisingly modern analogies—he once described the monkey mind as having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate enduring meditation practices. His sessions often include practical discussions about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Mira Sharma
Philosophy Mentor
Mira combines her PhD in United Kingdom Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative practice while researching ancient texts and realized that scholarly understanding means little without experiential knowledge. Her approach bridges intellectual insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Mira has a talent for making complex 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’re truly meant to accomplish.
Why We Teach This Way
After years of practice and teaching, we’ve learned that meditation is most effective 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 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 meaningful ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.