The Way App Provides an Opportunity to Practice Meditation with a Zen Master

Introducing The Way, a novel application created by the uncle-nephew team of Henry and Jack Shukman. This app aims to deepen the meditation journey for its users, providing a well-defined path under the guidance of an authorized Zen master. Unlike the generic mindfulness approaches found in other popular meditation apps such as Headspace or Calm, The Way delves into ancient meditation teachings, offering a more profound experience.

Henry Shukman, distinguished as one of the mere five Sanbo Zen lineage authorized Zen masters globally, transitioned to teaching meditation online amidst the COVID-19 crisis. This move proved successful, laying down a digital groundwork for meditation that resonated well with practitioners.

Henry’s teachings captivated one of his students, Kevin Rose, a technology entrepreneur and partner at True Ventures, who suggested the idea of the app. Initially, without a CEO candidate, the concept lingered without development.

Concurrently, Henry began mentoring his nephew Jack in meditation, who had recently left a decade-long career in investment banking and consulting. Initially skeptical, Jack found significant personal growth through meditation. “My uncle Henry evolved from the mundane figure of my youth to a beacon of wisdom and guidance,” Jack shared with TechCrunch.

As Jack’s reliance on Henry for spiritual insight grew, so did his desire to make this guidance accessible to others.

In 2022, the Shukman duo launched The Way, which subsequently secured $1.4 million in seed funding led by Kevin Rose and True Ventures, bolstered by a few angel investors.

The Way distinguishes itself by offering daily sessions akin to learning directly from a Zen master. Upon launching the app, users are greeted by Henry in a virtual Zen school setting, introducing the streamlined teaching progression. It offers daily guided meditations complimented with insightful talks.

The distinctive approach of The Way lies in its linear progression model for meditation, a stark contrast to the overwhelming abundance of choices found in other apps. “We opted for a simplified pathway, removing the burden of choice based on initial user research, which revealed a common theme of decision paralysis among practitioners using contemporary meditation apps,” explained Jack.

The curriculum, meticulously curated by Henry, intends to usher users into more profound realms of meditation. While acknowledging the merits of apps like Calm and Headspace in introducing mindfulness and relaxation, The Way aims to elevate users’ practice to deeper explorations of existence and interconnectedness, as described by Henry to TechCrunch.

Offering the initial 30 meditations for free, The Way encourages further exploration through a subscription model. Those unable to afford it can apply for its scholarship program. The application awaits users on both iOS and Android.