Hi, I’m Wystan. I’m a Teacher/Trainer at Unified Mindfulness, and am currently in training to become a fully certified teacher of that system. Ever since I picked up a copy of Shinzen Young’s book, The Science of Enlightenment, I’ve been continually impressed by the conceptual clarity and practical utility of his style of teaching, and I’m thrilled to carry it forward.
Prior to training in Unified Mindfulness, I was for a time (1.5 years) intent on becoming a Buddhist monk of some variety motivated both by my own intense and protracted experiences of depression and anxiety in adolescence and ongoing despair at the state and trajectory of the world. I trained in monasteries in Thích Nhất Hạnh’s and Ajahn Chah’s lineages as a lay-person, and briefly as an anagārika, dedicated full-time to Buddhist practice. Following that, I’ve spent the time since exploring various traditions and practices, all the while integrating a secular life, with all its complications and joys, within continuous and committed practice.
I teach from Shinzen’s and Unified Mindfulness’ secular system of attention training; my competency and certification therein is my primary qualification. That being said, my own experience in various traditions’ conceptual and practice paradigms combined with Unified Mindfulness’ universal applicability and adaptability afford traction and enthusiasm discussing and advising any and all attentional practices spiritual, religious, or otherwise identified.
For my own practice, I’ve relied mainly on Shinzen Young and Unified Mindfulness, Rob Burbea’s body of work, The Mind Illuminated, Leigh Brasington’s presentation of jhana, ortho-and-heterodox Theravada teachers and texts, and broadly what’s been called Pragmatic Dharma. Finally, and especially as my practice has matured, I’ve been greatly helped by exposure to Indo-Tibetan Vajrayana and Dzogchen.
Some of my other interests include philosophy of mind, morals, and metaphysics, cognitive and neuro-science, qualia computing, ecstatic dance, psychedelics, and any art which poignantly depicts the homeostatic activity of autopoietic agents against entropy.
I intend, as best I am able, to fully realize, research, and make available the benefits of dedicated attentional practice to all who want them.
I teach within the guidelines and professional standards of Unified Mindfulness, which I encourage you to read about here: https://unifiedmindfulness.com/ethical-guidelines-2.
I’m enthusiastic to answer questions, advise, and mentor individuals in their practice on a dāna, or donations, basis. If you think we might be a good fit, please click one of the links below to either my website or twitter profile to set up an initial consultation.
Julianna received her BA in psychology from Duke University. As founder, president, and head trainer of Unified Mindfulness, she is dedicated to disseminating Shinzen Young’s comprehensive mindfulness meditation system through the creation and presentation of educational programs and teacher-training certification programs.
Dr. Hunter serves as associate professor of practice and is the founding director of the Executive Mind Leadership Institute at the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management, Claremont Graduate University. He also serves as visiting professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, where he developed and co-teaches the Leading Mindfully executive education program..
Dr. Eisendrath serves as chief psychologist and president of the Institute for Dialogue Therapy, P.C., where, as a Jungian analyst, she offers psychotherapy with individuals and couples, psychoanalysis, supervision, and training.
Dr. Vago serves as the research director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and the director of the Contemplative Neuroscience and Integrative Medicine (CNIM) Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Department of Psychiatry.
Stella is a psychologist, professor, and Zen practitioner. She became a formal student in 2008 in the Soto Zen tradition. She teaches courses in mindfulness based psychotherapies and the psychology of compassion at the Union Institute & University. She also co-facilitates a family program and young adult program at Shao Shan Temple, in Woodbury Vermont.
Dr. Creswell serves as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also the director of the Health & Human Performance Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. McCormick currently serves as director of education at Unified Mindfulness. In 1975, he received a B.A. in psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz, where he was part of Dr. Elliot Aronson’s research team that examined cooperative approaches to reducing interracial conflict and academic performance problems in newly integrated school, and made Honors in Psychology, College Honors, and Thesis Honors.
UnifiedMindfulness.com is the official teacher training platform for Shinzen and the Unified Mindfulness System.
Created over 50 years of research and testing by Shinzen Young, Unified Mindfulness is a system of meditation that’s easily researchable by science, with clear terminology and rigorous precision around concepts and procedures.
The Unified Mindfulness system is a comprehensive, robust and refined support structure that any individual at any stage of meditation practice can rely on to go deeper in their insight and their ability to share it with others. It is also a secular form of meditation, which means it’s not religious in any way so anyone, of any faith, can do it.