Team & Partners
The people behind the Institute
A growing community of practitioners, clinicians, and researchers committed to developing this work slowly and responsibly.
Zachary A. Perlman
Zach is the creator and developer of the NDSR program, the culmination of spending over two decades studying meditation, nonduality, and comparative spiritual traditions including Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, Dzogchen, and Kashmir Shaivism. He has extensive experience designing contemplative programs, leading guided meditations, writing spiritually-informed books, and creating online courses, all bridging ancient wisdom with the modern world. His current work aims to evaluate whether NDSR can equal or exceed the effectiveness of existing programs like MBSR by targeting the root causes of suffering rather than surface-level symptoms. Ultimately, his research seeks to offer clinicians a scientifically grounded, spiritually neutral approach that promotes resilience, well-being, and a deeper sense of connectedness.
Michael A. Spurling
Mike Spurling is the co-creator and co-developer of Nonduality-Based Stress Reduction, a certified mindfulness teacher dedicated to making transformative contemplative practices accessible, grounded, and scientifically sound. With years of practice in mindfulness, meditation, and consciousness studies, Mike brings a calm, thoughtful presence to INT and the development of NDSR. His clarity, embodiment, and direct experience help participants approach nonduality not as a philosophy, but as a practical pathway to reducing stress and suffering in daily life.
Advisors & collaborators
Growing over time
Clinical & psychological advisors
INT consults with mental health professionals, contemplative clinicians, and trauma-informed practitioners to keep the program safe, grounded, and accessible: trauma-sensitive curriculum design, psychological safety protocols, stress physiology integration, and clinical suitability guidelines.
Names and bios will be added as advisors formally join.
Research partners
INT is building collaborations with researchers in contemplative neuroscience, the psychology of self and identity, stress research, consciousness studies, meditation science, and psychophysiology, supporting pilot trials, research protocols, and evidence-based evaluation of NDSR.
Research partners will be listed here as studies begin.
Teaching assistants & future instructors
As INT grows, certified instructors and teaching assistants will support program cohorts, retreat facilitation, research groups, and clinical integration workshops.
This section will expand as the Training & Certification program launches.
Join Us
Become part of the work
INT is actively building collaborations across clinical practice, research, and contemplative teaching. If our mission resonates with you, we would love to hear from you.