Meditation and Empowerment

0:00 - Introduction
1:34 - Empowerment and hierarchies of advantage
3:02 - The illusory nature of hierarchical empowerment
7:27 - Empowerment that keeps us disempowered
8:46 - Introducing meditation: Presence, awareness & mindfulness
10:14 - The power of silence: Uncommon sanity... and contact with reality
12:57 - Self-awareness
16:08 - Understanding other people
18:50 - The failure of today's prevailing vision of empowerment
21:55 - The art of allowing: The power to accept things as they are
25:27 - Generating a divided, resentful world (like ours)
27:31 - A portrait of empowerment from a meditative perspective
30:42 - The automaticity of genuine empowerment

[@76pinetree]

I didn't just make it to the end of this video, I have now watched every minute of every video of yours on this channel. I guess you could say i am a fan, but don't worry not a crazy fan but the time has been well invested. Thanks for this channel.

[@ericdodson2644]

Holy crap, Ric. I'm flabbergasted... and deeply honored, too. Anyhow, I'm glad that you're enjoying and benefiting from these videos so much. That makes me happy... especially because that's why I make them in the first place. Anyhow, I'm thinking of doing one on the interrelationship between holism and darkness next... that is, if I can ever dig myself out of a mountain of household & automotive repairs. Whew!... sometimes life gets freakin' physical. But I guess that that's just part of the larger holistic totality of life. Anyhow, I hope that you're well and thriving in Newnan (right?). My best, Eric D.

[@76pinetree]

@@ericdodson2644 I believe you define wisdom as responding to what the world is calling for. After traveling a different path I would agree with you that what the world is calling for as a cognitive structure is holism and for individuals to take care of their souls. We both have an interest in the intersection of philosophy, psychology and daily life; I think we could do some really good work together where this intersects with education and psychotherapy. I have two ideas 1. I would like to ask you some brief questions going into more detail on how to take care of your soul over zoom fleshing out the concept of soulwork. 2. I approached your channel like a class and would love to be the graduate student working with small groups of students trying to apply the material covered in the lectures. This would work perfectly with the lecture channel that I now follow. Dialogue and discussion, the old oral tradition is my method of teaching but you provide the necessary focus and content to get the discussion going. I don't know if this is private and not sure if I can still reach you using the old email address at west ga. and I never want to impose on your time, but I hate communicating this way; I would love to talk over the phone or in person at corner cafe sometime.

[@ericdodson2644]

@@76pinetree That sounds cool. I haven't been checking my W. Georgia email too often. But if you sent me a message there, then we could exchange phone numbers....

[@crimsonsarge1]

@@ericdodson2644 Dr. Dodson, my name is cori kelley. I was one of your students at UWG before covid. I have something i need to ask you for and i do not know how to get up with you other than here. Can you help me out?

[@2bsirius]

_I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer._ ~Jim Carrey

[@kaizenchi3915]

I started watching your vids while on vacation in 2015, at a point when I turned a corner in my dissertation writing process. It was those philosopher in less than 10 min vids. They helped me get my bearings when it came to understanding what a philosophical framework meant. I've been a PhD for years now and have seen many more of your vids. I've been on a bit of a hiatus; KZbin keeps recommending politically agitating content--this person owning that person, etc. But this was a video I needed to see. Thank you for continuing to make thoughtful, engaging content. You've been a real teacher to me over the past five years.

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, thanks, KaizenChi. It makes me happy that you've managed to derive so many benefits from these KZbin videos. After all, that's why I make them in the first place... to help other people, and to try to give something worthwhile to the world in the process. So, it's gratifying to hear that that's been the case for you. Thanks for telling me that. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@selinalo2980]

I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and your time with us. Been feeling low and lost recently, but one of the few things I greatly appreciated during this tough time is that I got to come across your channel and learn a lot from your videos. To say that you've brought light into my life is an understatement. Greetings from your Taiwanese viewer :)

[@Rocky_Anunnaki]

Hi Sir. I enjoy watching all your videos. Thanks for all your marvelous wisdom

[@sajadtorkamani9399]

Thanks a bunch, enjoyed listening to this )

[@benjamindover4337]

Love this

[@plosslaw]

Thank you for the video, great insights you have presented

[@d0mi96]

Thanks for sharing your ideas in such a simplisitc, insightful manner!

[@JohnTell]

Do you have any books that you've published or maybe there's something on the way? :) Thanks for all the great content and insight!

[@dlloydy5356]

Fantastic video as always, the summary at the end confirms so many things. Having lost my way for many years then circumstances forcing me back to the path (I shouldn’t of wandered from) I’ve come to realise these things & find myself looking at how/where I was and thinking...what was that all about?

[@chuckmartin935]

Proffessor Eric , can u please do more of the philosopher in 12 to 20 minutes series? Your previous ones were awesome- very beneficial. Can u do kant descartes or spinoaza and hegel maybe? Spinoza & hegel arei hard for many to wrap heads around.

[@brutexrp7207]

I love the way your videos open my perceptions, next move to apply your suggestions. Thanks as always and what happened to the hats?

[@ollietbow3342]

Do leadership, leading people properly. Extrinsic motivation vs intrinsic motivation (Daniel Pink). The desire and willingness of people to be lead. How to foster a good working environment

[@masonainsworth]

Thank you for this excellent shared perspective. A Question: I recollect you once did a video on the challenges of validating the results or experience of Buddhist Mindful Meditation. Either, I am incorrect or it has been taken down. My reason for asking: you focused upon the challenges of pursuing "scientific truths" within the subjective domain of experience. A current focus of mine.

[@masonainsworth]

ANSWER: "Phenomenology and Meditative Consciousness"

[@k.q.594]

Any plans to keep making videos? I love this channel

[@brianwallington9744]

Hi Eric thank you for all your insights.I discovered existentialism through your channel, I have been asking questions about the meaning of life since I was about 7 years old( I am now 72) . I have been searching for answers ever since. Your introduction to existentialism has resonated in my mind. I have a question..what does existentialism have to say about history ?? History has been one of my main interests since I was old enough to read. Stay safe and take care now..

[@JohnTell]

Eric, I hope you're OK! It's been too long since this last video and I'm getting worried :( ❤️

[@ericdodson2644]

Well, thanks for your concern. I'm okay. Other things in life just pulled me away from making videos. But I actually started working on one this morning. The working title is: _The Death of News._ We'll see if it sees the light of day. But in any case, thanks for caring. Gratitude. Eric D.

[@JohnTell]

@@ericdodson2644 fair enough!! Happy to hear that you're doing well! Excited for the next release :D 🎉

[@harmanveerrandhawa841]

Hey Professor, great video as always. I've been pondering a question and was wondering if you could provide any guidance or wisdom? If most of what we find attractive in life (Fame, money, status, emotional bonds etc.) is temporary (Maya - Sikhism, Hinduism, and Buddhism), then what in our lives is really worth striving for? Some arguments/ideas I've come up with are: Nothing (Valid, but it doesn't feel satisfactory), Innovation/Art/Creativity (Transforming temporary inspiration into permanence), Truth (Once established is permanent), To inspire others (Creating a sort of domino effect, by inspiring others who inspire others to positively evolve humanity creating a lasting effect), and Union with God/Sublime (A potent source of wonder and understanding, static through time) I guess an even broader question could be, should we strive for and value only things that are permanent through time (beyond our lives)? P.S.- if you don't get around to answering the question, I want you to know that you have been a great source of inspiration

[@ericdodson2644]

Actually, Harmanveer, this is such an important and worthwhile topic that I want to do an entire video about it. I also love the way you've articulated the question... really sweet! Anyhow, it seems like *you* have managed to inspired me. I guess that all things come around again eventually. Anyhow, thanks for the cool, hella bitchin' idea! Gratitude. Eric D. P.S. I'll give a shout-out to you in the video...

[@johndoe1778]

Thank you brother 🤙 much love and congratulations on making videos so long haha! Everything you say is too perfect 👌