Neurodivergent Sangha Practice
The below article was written by Sylvia Clare, who facilitates a Neurodiversity Sangha Smiling Sitters.
Take a room full of neurodivergent people and you’ll find that each person is entirely unique. Alongside neurodivergence, we each bring other aspects of identity such as gender or race. All of which are embraced. Together, we form simply a unique representation of the diversity within the wider human community.
A spectrum condition is, by nature, a wide-ranging variety of indicators which are each expressed in individual ways. Yes, we have lots in common but we also have different expressions and experiences of whichever Neurodivergent diagnosis we have.
The Key words for our sangha are:
1. Acceptance – total acceptance of how each of us shows up, including what we can and can’t manage.
2. Safety – we are all responsible for making the sangha a collectively safe space. This means being considerate and mindful of the diversity of expression and avoiding putting our own stuff onto others, recognising that many of whom are deeply empathic so are likely to become preoccupied and involved with each other’s struggles.
Being aware of this, helps to make sure everyone is heard but no one is left carrying anything on after the meeting ends.
Adapting the practices for neurodivergent brain means everyone is encouraged to approach them in a more playful and creative way. A less formal approach can make the practice feel more accessible and less daunting.
My own experience was always one of feeling like a failure at everything because I couldn’t follow the formal ways. Thay says ‘enjoy your practice’, and the emphasis is to find ways that genuinely work for us as Neurodivergent practitioners.
The commitment is there to practice mindfulness, but the strictness is replaced with an approach that is more open and playful. That attitude makes practice feel possible to develop. It would work for anybody. For us, as neurodivergent practitioners it makes it possible to come together as community and share our experiences without the feeling like we have failed.
Below please find feedback from current members of the Smiling Sitters Sangha:
‘Smiling Sitters differs by not assuming opt-in – we can choose to opt in on practices or not and there is conscious consideration of when people choose not to opt in – including impact for others – and flexibility about how we join in if we choose to. Plus openess to discuss practices rather than assuming it’s fine for everyone. Awareness of self and others includes ND as well as other differences‘ – P.
‘Having been given a clinical diagnosis of Autism six months ago, it was another bitter pill to swallow. Reeling from this diagnosis led me to the Smiling Sitters Sangha. It was and is transformational in its ethos, language, tonality and projection. The fact that it takes place remotely (via Zoom) through screen relations, the power and positive energy that fills me is immense. My prior experience (of Buddhism) has been through the spectrum of recovery from, as opposed to positive projection toward proactive, autonomy through mindfulness and the wonder of joyful silence. I was not expecting to feel such warmth from the Smiling Sitters Sangha and feel incredibly grateful to receive a warmth of projective positive regard each week.‘ – S.
‘Smiling Sitters is an adjusted space where differences are celebrated: time perception differences are understood, not judged and different ways of perceiving the world from a sensory perspective are welcomed and affirmed making the practice accessible to as many as possible.’
‘A space where ND discrimination is understood; supported with love and compassion.’ – I.
If you would like to join the Sitting Sitters Sangha, please find more information here.
If you’d like to find out about Sylvia and making mindfulness accessible for people with Neurodivergent challenges, please watch this video.
