Meditation Is Path to Profit at This ‘Monastery for Hackers’

There’s a historic mansion on the northeast corner of San Francisco’s Alamo Square Park where several dozen people live, spending their days immersed in ascetic concentration. When a gong rings to announce a meal, the residents drift into the dining room to fuel their bodies, then return to their rooms or to the basement. The house, notable for its ornate staircases and dark wood paneling, also has a cold-plunge tub and spaces for meditation. Mind-altering substances aren’t allowed, unless you count the little cans of green tea in the mini fridges. Every weekend, bags of laundry are whisked away, then ...