Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation as more than merely emptying the mind or attaining a flawless state of calm. It’s about learning to sit with whatever arises—the wandering thoughts, the planning mind, and even that peculiar itch that appears midway through practice.
Our team brings together decades of practice across diverse traditions. Some of us encountered meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal crisis, and a few stumbled upon it in college and stayed. What unites us is a commitment to teaching meditation as a practical life skill, not a mystical ritual.
Each guide has their own way of explaining concepts. Samir tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Lina draws from her background in psychology. We’ve found that various 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 life's work, each bringing unique perspectives to the practice
Samir Joshi
Lead Instructor
Samir began meditating in 1998 after burnout from 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 ideas with surprisingly modern analogies—he once likened the 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 conversations about weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Lina Wei
Philosophy Guide
Lina 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 academic understanding means 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 oversimplifying them. Her students often say she helps them understand not just how to meditate, but why these practices developed and what they’re truly meant to accomplish.
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 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’s not 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 changed our lives in subtle but profound ways, and we’ve seen it do the same for many others.