Spending his early childhood in northern Iran, Faramarz Hidaji developed a deep affinity for the mountains. Almost as soon as he was walking, he began tagging along with his father on challenging hikes in the mountains near their home in Tehran. As a young boy in a country without television, toy stores, and supermarkets, he learned entertain himself - exploring the outdoors, raising silk moths, collecting gems, building paper kites and model airplanes, and reading any books he could get his hands on. 

After his family immigrated to the US in the late 70's, he pursued a track that led him to becoming an eye surgeon. He founded a private practice in Memphis, TN, and used it as a base to conduct more than a dozen third world surgical mission trips, performing and teaching surgery in places as remote as Niger and Bangladesh.

Throughout his life, Faramarz Hidaji has been a seeker of knowledge and meaning, particularly in the areas of self-actualization and spirituality. Through the teachings of Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and author Eckhart Tolle, Dr. Hidaji became an avid meditator and meditation teacher. 

He believes strongly in the Buddhist concept of "right livelihood," which holds that one's work should center on helping others first discover, and then transform the causes of suffering in their lives. This principle embodies the central mission and purpose of Aramesh - the transformation of causes of suffering through self-reflection, awakening, compassion, and enlightened action.