Our Teaching Philosophy
We view meditation not as a way to erase thoughts or reach a flawless zen state. It’s more about learning to sit with whatever arises—the busy mind, the planning thoughts, and even that tiny itch that appears five minutes into practice.
Our team blends decades of practice from different traditions. Some of us arrived at meditation through academic philosophy, others through personal challenges, and a few discovered it in college and stayed. Our shared aim is to teach meditation as a practical skill for everyday life, not a mystical experience.
Each guide brings their own style of explanation. Arun Desai tends to use everyday-life analogies, while Sofia Liu draws on her psychology background. We’ve found that various approaches resonate with different people, so you’ll likely connect with certain teaching styles more than others.
Your Meditation Guides
Two practitioners who’ve dedicated their lives to meditation, each bringing a distinct perspective to the practice
Arun Desai
Lead Instructor
Arun began meditating in 1998 after burnout from a software engineering career. He spent three years studying Vipassana in Myanmar and later trained in Zen practice in Japan. What sets him apart is his talent for explaining ancient concepts with surprisingly modern analogies—he once compared the monkey mind to having too many browser tabs open.
He leads our foundational courses and specializes in helping busy professionals cultivate sustainable meditation routines. His sessions often include practical discussions on weaving mindfulness into work life and managing stress without spiritual bypassing.
Sofia Liu
Philosophy Guide
Sofia combines her PhD in Germany Philosophy with fifteen years of personal meditation practice. She discovered contemplative methods while researching ancient texts and realized that theoretical understanding means little without lived experience. Her approach links scholarly insight with practical application.
She guides our deeper philosophical explorations and retreat programs. Sofia has a gift for making intricate 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 aim 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 serenity. 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. We believe in taking thoughtful time to decide about contemplative practice—it isn’t something to rush 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 transformed our lives, and we’ve witnessed the same for many others.