Buddhist practitioners often have an uneasy relationship with identity. The teachings of the Buddhist traditions emphasise the practice of anatta or not-self, leading to a way of perceiving that involves less clinging and attachment and therefore less suffering. But seeing everything as not-self at all times may not lead to fulfilment. A nuanced view of the self and identity is required if we are to understand the implications of what it means to be a person in the world.
After experiencing the dilemma of going through multiple periods of burnout while having a life filled with things that he loves to do, Kynan looked to various different sources to understand what exactly was taking place. Through the process of learning about Autism and the involved self-reflection, Kynan found that the way neurodivergence is currently understood provided a different understanding of self and identity that helped greatly with alleviating certain difficulties that were still present after years of practice. While any identifier, such as Autism, is empty, lacking solidity, and not ultimately “real”, it does provide a way to understand the self and find wholeness on a relative level.
There will be a talk, guided practice, and discussion around finding self-attunement and self-understanding that leads to practice being more fully integrated into every aspect of life.
Teacher profile
Kynan Tan is a meditation teacher who takes a collaborative approach to helping students achieve their meditation goals. He came to meditation after struggles with stress, anxiety, and depression and found the practice to be transformative. He believes that meditation has enormous potential for creating positive change and opening up new ways of relating to our experience.
Kynan draws upon a number of different modern and traditional techniques of contemplative and introspective practice. He is a longtime practitioner of the stages of samatha-vipassana (as presented in the book The Mind Illuminated), Rob Burbea’s insight meditation techniques, nondual awareness, and brahmavihara practices (metta, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity).
Kynan teaches residential retreats, one-on-one students, co-teaches the Pragmatic Dharma Club at the San Francisco Dharma Collective, and leads online meditation courses. Kynan has sat a number of retreats, including a month-long solo retreat in 2021.
All Sessions are by Donation (Dana) to the Buddhist Library. All donations to the Buddhist Library of $2 and over are tax deductible.
Dana is the traditional practice of generosity, the extending of one’s goodwill, which is fundamental to Buddhism and other spiritual traditions. The dana you give is shared equally with the teacher and the Buddhist Library. This helps to maintain the Library and supports the teacher so that they may offer more teachings on the Dhamma in the future. It is up to each person to determine the amount of dana they’d like to offer. We understand that this is a difficult time financially for many, and people will give what they can. An appropriate dana can’t be prescribed but requires sensitivity to its intent and to the individual’s own situation, as well as awareness of the cost of organising events and supporting teachers who spread the Dhamma.