All class instructors are experienced in meditation and practice a simple, active, healthy and self-giving spiritual lifestyle in accordance with the teachings of Sri Chinmoy.  Because each one has his or her own teaching style, personality, and life experiences, every class offers participants something unique.

All classes include multiple meditation exercises so that each learner can benefit from “experiential learning”–the most effective way for adults to adopt new skills and knowledge.

Read more about our instructors below: Mahiyan Savage • Vasudha Deming • Papaha Gosline • Pushkara Blue • Astika Mason • Pujari Sheaffer • Prema Jackson • Pransukh Marks • Harita Davies • Muktalata Koumjian • Salil Wilson

Mahiyan Savage

Mahiyan has taught meditation in San Diego for nearly 30 years. A graduate of UCSD with a major in Physics he was a champion tennis player who initially learned meditation in order to help his tennis game. He owned a tennis shop in La Jolla for many years.

In 1979 Mahiyan met Sri Chinmoy. Following the suggestion of Sri Chinmoy, Mahiyan opened Jyoti-Bihanga Vegetarian restaurant in San Diego in 1986. Today Jyoti-Bihanga stands as San Diego’s oldest vegetarian restaurant and weekly serves thousands of people delicious and healthy vegetarian cuisine.

Not one to remain idle, Mahiyan has helped to open five vegetarian eateries and has run over 100 marathons. He has travelled the world teaching meditation. He continues to teach the techniques taught to him by Sri Chinmoy over the past 30 years.

Vasudha Deming

Vasudha was drawn to the teachings of Sri Chinmoy as a restless college student. Curious about the benefits of meditation, she ultimately found profound well-being by balancing a deep spiritual practice with engagement in professional work, service projects, peace initiatives, and endurance running. 

As the founder of Noble Learning, Vasudha leads free meditation classes based on Sri Chinmoy’s voluminous teachings. Topics include Happiness, Gratitude, the Spiritual Heart, Inner & Outer Peace, Creating a Daily Practice, and more. 

On the professional side, Vasudha is an accomplished Facilitator and Instructional Designer—regularly working with businesses and individuals to achieve meaningful results. She has authored four books—all published by McGraw-Hill—as well as countless skills training courses. 

Step inside the Noble Learning Shop and Gallery (3333 Adams Ave.) to instantly feel uplifted and inspired! Vasudha and her team specially curate a selection of books, cards, activities, and handicrafts—and oversee the vibrant gallery featuring original “Jharna Kala” paintings by Sri Chinmoy.  

Papaha Gosline

Papaha has studied with Sri Chinmoy since 1982. He helped build Jyoti-Bihanga vegetarian restaurant and was one of their chefs for over a dozen years. Papaha now owns a gallery and art studio that focuses on both showing spiritual contemporary art and producing commercial design. One of his favorite activities with the Sri Chinmoy Centre is producing stage design, and has worked on concerts and plays throughout the United States and abroad.

Inspired by the example of Sri Chinmoy he also lives a very athletic lifestyle teaching tennis part time, along with enjoying many other sports activities in sunny San Diego. “Learning about spirituality with Sri Chinmoy has revealed paths with heart, creativity and fulfillment in my life. Meditating and working with the Sri Chinmoy Centre has been a powerful and enlightening experience for over 25 years.”

Pushkara Blue

Pushkara has studied meditation for over 35 years. His journey began in college in Long Island, New York and his spiritual adventure lead him to California in the 80’s. He teaches in a down-to-earth style that is sincere and unpretentious.

Pushkara’s classes focus on the basic building blocks of the meditation practice. He also shares from his wealth of experience having studied with Sri Chinmoy for many years. Pushkara is a prominent member of the San Diego Sri Chinmoy Centre and a key player at Jyoti-Bihanga Vegetarian Restaurant located at 3351 Adams Avenue.

Astika Mason

Astika has been a disciple of Sri Chinmoy since 1972. He has been a member of the San Diego Centre for more than ten years. He believes that the spiritual experience is similar across all faiths and though there are as many religious beliefs about God and soul as there are people in this world, it is in the heart and not the mind that our destiny is created. One experiences the heart and lives from the heart in the same way, regardless of one’s religious beliefs.

Pujari Sheaffer

Pujari has integrated art, music and mantra into his meditation practice for over 40 years as a student of Sri Chinmoy. He taught art to children for 20 years in Northern California and is currently a muralist and landscape gardener in San Diego. He is an experienced meditation instructor known for his personable, approachable style.

Prema Jackson

Prema has been a student of Sri Chinmoy for over 40 years. She is committed to the tenet that the path to inner peace can be as diverse as those who seek it. In addition to leading meditation classes, Prema creates and hosts radio programs and often serves as an MC for the global Songs of the Soul concert tour.

Pransukh Marks

Pransukh’s original inspiration to learn meditation came from reading about the life of Buddha. At the age of 18, he was deeply inspired to practice spiritual life under the guidance of Sri Chinmoy. After moving to San Diego from his native North Carolina, he’s taken up an avid interest in organic gardening as well as hiking, camping and ultimate frisbee. As a meditation instructor, he is eager to assist other aspiring seekers to pursue their personal goals.

Harita Davies

Harita is one of the world’s foremost ultra-distance runners, having twice completed the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-mile Race (the world’s longest sanctioned ultramarathon) as well as dozens of other endurance events. She has been a student of Sri Chinmoy for over 25 years and utilizes concentration, breathing and meditation exercises to help with her athletic performance. A native of New Zealand, Harita now lives in the United States, where she regularly offers classes, accepts speaking engagements, and works in a busy cafe.

Muktalata Koumjian 

Muktalata has studied and practiced meditation since 1995 as a member of the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre in San Diego. She was certified as a yoga instructor and enjoys sharing the benefits of breath and body awareness as the foundation for meditation. Seeking to consolidate her interests in the healing and movement arts she completed the Yoga Teacher Training at the Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga Studio in 2009. She has studied both traditional and complementary therapies and has been employed in medical, holistic, and educational settings.

Salil Wilson

Born in Australia, Salil has lived in New York since 1990. He was first introduced to Sri Chinmoy in Melbourne in 1984, at the age of 19 and shortly after became a student of his. Salil moved to New York in 1990 and has been closely involved in the organization of numerous athletic and cultural events. In 2004 Sri Chinmoy asked Salil to serve as the Executive Director of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, a global running relay. He currently serves in this capacity.