Peter Doobinin is the guiding teacher of the Downtown Meditation Community. Peter has been practicing insight meditation since 1990 and teaching it since 1998. Peter is a co-founder of New York Insight Meditation Center. He is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders program. He teaches insight meditation at New York Insight, the New York Open Center, City University of New York, Pratt Institute, Asphalt Green, and other venues. He’s an instructor in the Insight Meditation Correspondence Course. He originated and continues to teach the "Summer Nights in the Garden" series held at the 6^th and B Community Garden, just down the block from where he lives. Peter is deeply interested in helping to develop community (sangha), a refuge in the city where likeminded individuals can share their meditative path and contribute to a more joyful and peaceful world.

Loch Kelly studied Buddhist meditation in Sri Lanka from 1981-1982. He then traveled to Nepal to study Dzogchen with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. Loch has been teaching insight meditation for 15 years. He is a psychotherapist in New York City.

Dr. Paul Epstein is a naturopathic physician, meditation teacher and yoga teacher. He specializes in integrative mind-body medicine and the application of mindfulness and Buddhist perspectives. He emphasizes exploring stresses, attitudes, beliefs and emotions and their role in the healing process and the treatment of disease. Paul has completed the Community Dharma Leaders program. He was the co-founder and co-director of The Israel Center for Mind-Body Medicine. He is presently in private practice in Westport, CT. He has been studying meditation and its integration in health care for over twenty years.

Susan Kuralt Smith has been practicing Insight meditation since 1990, and has taught Insight meditation at Pratt Institute, Tibet House, Downtown New York Meditation Community, and the Wellness Center at Riverside Church.