Wystan Bryant-Scott
Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A.
Certified UM Trainer/Teacher
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.