A Conversation with Wystan

A Conversation with Wystan

From Deconstructing Yourself by Michael W. Taft

April 28, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 111

About this episode

Michael Taft interviews meditation teacher Wystan about various aspects of awakening and Buddhist practice.

Host Michael Taft interviews meditation teacher Wystan about teaching awakening outside a strict lineage framework, cultural translation of Buddhist practice, why awakening does not “come with a Buddhist label,” the tension between preserving traditional forms and adapting them for modern students, devotion as a powerful but often avoided dimension of practice, the heartbreak of compassion as barriers of separateness break down, the importance of turning toward suffering rather than distracting from it, gratitude and forgiveness as possible “neo-Brahmaviharas,” why shamatha and vipashyana training can prepare students for more direct nondual practices, and Wystan’s encouragement that awakening is real, possible, and worth pursuing. Wystan is a meditation teacher threading together influences from training in Theravada, Zen, Vajrayana, Dzogchen, and Shinzen Young's systematic secular approach in service of awakening. Learn more at https://www.wystantbs.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

People in this episode

Host: Michael Taft

Guest: Wystan

Topics covered

  • meditation
  • awakening
  • Buddhist practice
  • cultural translation
  • compassion
  • nondual practices
  • modern adaptation

Keywords

  • awakening
  • meditation
  • Buddhism
  • compassion
  • nondual
  • devotion
  • suffering
  • gratitude
  • forgiveness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Buddhist, Theravada, Zen, Vajrayana, Dzogchen

More episodes of Deconstructing Yourself

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Deconstructing Yourself podcast page.