Meditation in Practical Philosophy | Philosophy of Meditation #3 with Lou Marinoff

In the third episode of the "Philosophy of Meditation" series, hosts John Vervaeke and Rick Repetti engage with Lou Marinoff, a renowned figure in practical philosophy and philosophical counseling. The episode provides a rich tapestry of discussions, starting with Marinoff's initiation into meditation during the 1960s' counterculture, leading to his profound integration of Eastern and Western philosophical traditions. Marinoff elaborates on the transformative role of meditation in personal development and virtue ethics, emphasizing its impact on philosophical counseling and its empowerment of individuals as architects of their futures. The conversation also covers the global influence of the philosophical counseling movement, highlighting Marinoff's interactions with key figures and the practical application of philosophical and meditative practices in daily life. This episode offers listeners deep insights into meditation's philosophical underpinnings and its potential for personal growth and wisdom. It is a fascinating listen for anyone interested in exploring the depths of meditation and its philosophical connections.
Lou Marinoff, a Canadian-born academic and Commonwealth Scholar, is a prominent figure in philosophical counseling. He initially studied theoretical physics before earning a doctorate in philosophy of science. Marinoff is a Professor of Philosophy and Asian Studies at The City College of New York and the founding president of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. He is best known for his groundbreaking book "Plato, Not Prozac," which popularized practical philosophy and significantly contributed to the philosophical counseling movement in the U.S.
Glossary of Terms
TM: Transcendental Meditation
APPA: American Philosophical Practitioners Association
ICPP: International Conference on Philosophical Practice
John Vervaeke:
Website: johnvervaeke.com/
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Patreon: / johnvervaeke
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Facebook: / vervaekejohn
Rick Repetti:
Website: www.rickrepetti.com/
Instagram: / rickrepetti
X: / rickrepetti
Facebook: / philosophicalpractitioner
Lou Marinoff:
Website: www.loumarinoff.com/
KZbin: / loumarinoff
Facebook: / lou.marinoff​​
LinkedIn: / lou-marinoff-2933
Join our new Patreon
/ johnvervaeke
The Vervaeke Foundation - vervaekefoundation.org/
Awaken to Meaning - awakentomeaning.com/
Books, Articles, and Publications
Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti
www.amazon.com/Routledge-Hand...
Plato, Not Prozac!: Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems - Lou Marinoff www.amazon.com/Plato-Not-Proz...
The Inner Philosopher: Conversations on Philosophy's Transformative Power - Daisaku Ikeda, Lou Marinoff www.amazon.com/Inner-Philosop...
Choose Hope: Your Role in Waging Peace in the Nuclear Age - David Krieger, Daisaku Ikeda
www.amazon.com/Choose-Hope-Wa...
The Middle Way: Finding Happiness in a World of Extremes - Lou Marinoff www.amazon.com/Middle-Way-Fin...
Philosophy, Humor, and the Human Condition: Taking Ridicule Seriously - Lydia Amir www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Hum...
Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: Revised and Updated Second Edition - Robert Kennedy www.amazon.com/Zen-Spirit-Chr...
A resolution of Bertrand's paradox. Marinoff, Louis (1994). Philosophy of Science 61 (1):1-24.
www.academia.edu/44669146/A_R...
Quotes
"You can't do anything with your body unless your mind is calm... It's all about meditation." - Lou Marinoff
"One can take any practice and use it as a basis of meditation." - Lou Marinoff
"The purpose of philosophy is counsel." - Lou Marinoff, referencing Seneca
Chapters with Timestamps
[00:00:00] - Introduction and Lou Marinoff's Background
[00:03:30] - Lou's Journey into Meditation and Philosophy
[00:13:18] - The Influence of Martial Arts on Lou's Philosophy
[00:28:13] - Exploring the Practical Applications of Philosophy
[00:42:58] - Meditation as a Philosophical Concept
[00:51:03] - The Philosophical Nature of Meditation Practices
[00:54:25] - Key Meditative Experiences and Philosophical Insights
[01:02:09] - Intersections of Meditation, Science, and Geometry
[01:09:18] - Visualization in Science and Philosophy
[01:17:50] - Humor in Zen and Buddhist Practices
[01:23:00] - Closing Reflections on the Dialogue

[@sendakan666]

This discussion made me realize for the first time that philosophical counseling could actually work, and is not some pie in the sky idea. Thank you for sharing freely.

[@dianagoddard6456]

I’ve heard Roshi Kennedy.l in London some years ago at WCCM and as someone familiar with Thich Nhat Hanh I’m a sort of Zen Catholic . It’s tricky and as a Father at my Catholic Church said ‘fringe’ - licking honey off a razors edge 😊

[@parallax_media]

Hey Lou! You are mench. An awesome explosion of ideas. Thank you, gentlemen.

[@Andrew.baltazar]

Wondering talk, so uplifting!

[@kk215487965]

Thank you John for introducing me to Lou and his work. He is great and has so much energy. Maybe, he could go to the Jordan Peterson podcast, just for exposure and fun. :D

[@mcnallyaar]

Super excited they're talking to Massimo Pigliucci!

[@oxy5100]

Another rich episode. So appreciative. Thank you.

[@mikegarrigan5182]

Thank you, gentlemen you kept me totally engaged🙏

[@howiewhitehouse1202]

Wisdom provides one with the balanced 'Perspective' --Love provides the 'Unconditional Offering' to the community-at-large.

[@WarriorKeoki]

What an excellent conversation!! Thank you!

[@colorfulbookmark]

The learning philosophy is vital in escaping traps of life, and it was allowed to people who really experienced it. However, the nature of "reasoning" and its associated feelings, things are inversed and hardened by later added things, so I think philosophical counseling is needed. The inversion is what is mixed with superimposition, and dismissed what were really happened--it is harmful but carried out. The truth when it is known to people--philosophy should conduct it.

[@treeofwisdom9936]

Great talk! I like to think of meditation and contemplation as a back and forth process of inquiry. If contemplation is asking god a question, then meditation is listening to god's answer. So basically prayer is the combination of both.

[@riccardorepetti]

I think that the saying I heard, which is similar, and which I think I heard in the book, “eat, pray, love,” was that praying this speaking to God and meditating, is listening to God.

[@TimCCambridge]

👍👍Yes! Great! Thanks for this. A true spirit of cooperating insight is beautifully raised in this interaction. Directed attending?

[@ericwickeywoodworkersurfbo6135]

Saint Peter's College, JC! I teach Philosophy there currently.

[@vashra4826]

Gracias. 🙏

[@colorfulbookmark]

I think Prof.Marinoff and his practice is needed for the world and it is learned by many students who experienced family harassment, and its dangerous addition is not his teachings but human instinct that is beyond the imagination. The peaceful writings written by people who exeprienced--how is it modified later?^^ I think philosophy learning is vital to escaping situations others cannot help them.

[@colorfulbookmark]

Philosophy can give people to extend their perspective to the world around us, and helpful to develop expressive ability and defend themselves independent being from others. The meditation is not effective is that their life experiences are beyond imagination, chronically experienced by, so philosophy is taking role to save them. The simple mode of response is vulnerable sense, if chronicity is concerned seriously.

[@mattgumbley1317]

Haha what a great guy

[@serenity9984]

I'm here!

[@pantherstealth1645]

YES

[@colorfulbookmark]

In South Korea, recently about 10 years, people's attention is widely to philosophy too. It is often not form of academicity some people worry about some kind of feeling to "philosophy", I think Prof.Marinoff's books are amazing if it is translated for Korean readers. The seriously written papers are hard to find way to practice to life, the works for general public is what is how philosophy contributes people for their life cultivation? I also have reveres to people appearing in this video, experienced pros who can help people ^^ Can I continue to put reply if invoked? I am feeling sorry when I post replies more than 1 at each day ^^

[@colorfulbookmark]

Aha! Prof.Marinoff two books were published in Korean too! The good thinking is equally worldwide!

[@jonyspinoza3310]

🌞

[@matthiasstaber9216]

Please consider Thubten Jinpa and Alan Wallace for some great guests

[@riccardorepetti]

I know, Alan Wallace, and I invited him to write a chapter in the Rutledge handbook on the philosophy of meditation, and he had written a chapter for a previous anthology of mine on Buddhism and free will, but he is too busy teaching and no longer publishing, but he might grant us an hour. I’ll certainly reach out to him. Good suggestion. Thank you!

[@matthiasstaber9216]

@@riccardorepetti thanks for considering my suggestion 🙏

[@homiesaywhat]

Wondering who's translation of The Republic you prefer most?

[@homiesaywhat]

Curious if you'd be willing to share*

[@johnvervaeke]

@@homiesaywhat yes I like the Grube translation.

[@homiesaywhat]

@@johnvervaeke Thank you very much!

[@sohamsuke]

'their consciousness is being hijacked...' Aztecs and their black mirrors would agree.

[@nickidaisydandelion4044]

The art work of the one man makes me nervous. I can't watch the conversation.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

Why does it bother you that much?

[@freethinker79]

"Misosophy" (hatred of knowledge/wisdom) by and large is the prevalent attitude of most of the modern world, sadly. If true philosophy were taught to everyone beginning at an early age, the world would most certainly be a much better place.

[@xmathmanx]

The idea of using to philosophical counselling to help corporations get better at a screwing us all harder seems deeply unwise to me

[@riccardorepetti]

that would be unwise, but that’s not the purpose of bringing Philosophical Counseling to organizations. However, in the same way, that some criticize organizations that provide mindfulness training to their employees, with the objection being that they are just indoctrinating them to internalize stress and overlook external structural inequities, but the counter to that objection that I make being that nonetheless teaching those employees to cultivate the virtues associated with mindfulness, will backfire, as it will make them more enlightened, so to, even if a philosophical counselor went into an organization and use Philosophical Counseling for similarly objectionable reasons, so too converting employees into Socratic inquirer would likely backfire. I predicted that it would backfire in the same way that Lou was joking about how philosophy for children backfired by converting those children into Socratic, inquirer, instead of simply better domesticating them.