Sam Harris - Meditation is preparation for the worst day of your life

Sam Harris talks about the basic mechanism by which our minds create suffering, it's very simple, but I think he is one of the best at explaining it. He also touches on free will, the nature of the self, and concentration vs distraction.
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[@howardrobinson4938]

Here's a good excercise. Works well for me while walking. A thought arises and I immediately tell myself, "I don't HAVE to thing about this now." Then I go back to looking at the trees on my walk. Another thought presents and I say the same thing to myself. And so on. At some point on my walk I realize that I just feel good because I haven't been thinking about anything beyond it's initial arising and my letting it go. Sure, there's a time to go deep into particular thoughts on things...but NOT all the time, compulsively! You CAN do this and the more you practice, like anything, the better you get. If just feeling better in your own skin more often is what you want, then practice not thinking about things that you don't have to think about...which really are most things that your mind automatically brings up for you to run with. You do not have to run with any thought. YOU choose what to think about and when. Getting good at this is really also quite thrilling because it's empowering to be in control of your mind in this way. We like being in control of our hands when we cook, our eyes when sightseeing. Our bodies when walking around. So why not be in control of what and when to think about something? It's really not that hard! Try it, you'll like it!

[@dagimhaile4173]

Great advice man I’m going to try this right now

[@Mel-os3ld]

Love that Howard!! 💜

[@troyg708]

That is truely amazing advice

[@leehappy3259]

This describes the essence of my meditation practice. You've summarized it very elegantly.

[@Odis78-w7v]

A million thanks 🙏 for a great look in life and thoughts

[@whoaitstiger]

Sam is getting better and better at explaining the lack of self. He really nailed it with this one.

[@djhale05]

A great explanation from a secular point of view and very practically helpful. What he explains is the first step in abandoning the self that we normally see. What Sam doesn't explain is how we identify with our actual self. I've never heard him speak of this so I assume it's not within his beliefs. He would, therefore be more aligned with a Buddhist Sutra point of view.

[@TrollAxeThrower]

One does not simply explain the lack of self.

[@johnmcguire9687]

whoaitstiger inn

[@emaster01]

​@@TrollAxeThrower Gold man haha

[@MrShahid0072]

@@djhale05 any books you would recommend to someone for the path ie (for someone having glimpsed that selflessness of consciousness and knowing how to do it again and again)

[@ArtNowCoding]

I listen to sam harris meditation every day, and I have slowly gone from non-understanding of the self to having longer and longer spans of awareness. Love it. Thanks for posting this

[@ArtNowCoding]

Even though i've meditated for hours, hundreds of times...every single time I "want" to meditate somewhere in me is a strong sense of resistance like "Oh no not that whole awareness thing again". But eventually I come to my senses, usually when the going gets tough and I am almost forced into the need to be aware. Once I finally sit down and allow my mind to just attempt at being at rest, I usually feel very tense, because I am now aware that I was tense all along. Then when I focus on my breath, I go in between the subjective focusing from thoughts to my breath, until eventually I am able to mainly focus on the arising and falling of my breath. I eventually start to notice my awareness widening to more and more sensations, such as my nerves firing in my legs, muscles relaxing in my face and neck, odd sensations of pressure, and tingling coursing through my body. I can even eventually start to feel the blood rushing through my chest. After this stage I usually finally start to focus on sounds and finally light. I am a creative person, so the entire time my mind is generating very vivid imagery that I either am distracted by or become aware of moment by moment. The part that I am working in next, is how to maintain this feeling of full awareness after the meditation is "over". I am starting to realize just by thinking "it's over" becomes the distraction that ends my blissful awareness and by allowing myself to be aware of the "end" of the meditation it continues on for sometimes 15-30min afterwards. I think I may try more awake style's of meditation, meaning walking meditation or meditating with my eyes open the entire time to train my brain to be aware in waking day not just in a continual thread of distracted thoughts until eventually enough of them force me into the dissatisfied state of "needing" to meditate. P.S Super jealous of you interviewing Sam Harris. Perhaps I need to go half Jew as well, to seduce him into a conversation. ;D Chris P

[@tbayley6]

I gave up formal meditation a long time ago. I think it's better and more natural to simply be aware that you're aware, and to do this naturally during the day. Just an inner curiosity and aliveness that is awakened whenever you remember you are always here. And it's the frequency of the remembering that counts, not the depth of the experience or the duration. At some point you realise that's what you already are and so it becomes your centre of gravity, and you stop worrying about being distracted. You will ping back when the distraction is over, and you can enjoy pinging during it as well. I found the pinging disconcerting at first because it's just so weird to be real sometimes. Like farting in polite company or something.

[@EvilThoughtsBaby]

Thanks for sharing Not Tech, I can relate with a lot of it

[@emaster01]

While I'm not as good of a meditator as Sam, and I might even have less concentration than you or other people in this thread, I can say with confidence that I know *perfectly* what Sam means when there is no self, and I know exactly how to do the type of meditation he likes the most: Concentrating on the lack of center in your experience. Sam Harris talks a lot about the inability to locate the self, and that when you "look" for the self, it can't be found, but by *noticing* its absence, you can clearly see that the sense of having a self is illusory. However this can be difficult to do, and I think its because the instruction to "look for the self" isn't straightforward. I would augment his instruction by saying "Look for the self in relation to phenomena you notice in consciousness. So when you hear a sound, you may be able to infer the distance, but how far away are *you*, as a self, from the experience of the sound? With your eyes open, attempt to focus on your whole field of vision at once, don't tunnel vision on a single object. Next, locate yourself in relation to the entire field of vision. Where are you in relation to the field of vision? Where is the field of vision in relation to you? How far away are you, from your field of vision? (Note, this is equivalent to the "having no head" meditation) Continue to do the same with all other sense, even thoughts. Try to notice where your thoughts arise, and try to notice the distance between you, and that thought. Anywho, maybe nobody will find those instructions useful, but don't give up on enlightenment and self-transcendence! Its really quite simple once you get it!

[@MelFinehout]

Pragmatic Entertainment My subjective experience is that I realize I'm sitting there. I feel somehow lighter. I next, usually, realize that I am thinking etc. Immediately I realize I also am "listening" at this point, a very positive emotional feeling floods my body. It feels like energy. Recently, listening to Sam's meditation I realized that "there isn't an I" I feel like just another part of what's happening. "One with the whole" describes it. But, even to myself I cannot put it into words because words are actually divisions of the totality. Each word being nearly a symbolic label of one piece of the whole, the more words you use, the more you're slicing up the whole. So, no one can hand another the recognition because the whole is devided by the very process of language. I understand the Tao for a moment when I'm there, in that state. When I "come back" things seem much more clear to me. But, essentially nobody could ever accurately describe it to anyone.

[@codinginflow]

I can't express how grateful I am for having someone reasonable like Sam Harris explaining all of this without all the spiritual blather. Just from a scientific point of view. I am a really really big fan of him.

[@Eelmascapito]

cant believe i found u here! do you still meditate?

[@codinginflow]

@@Eelmascapito Yes, but not 1h/day anymore like I used to do.

[@Eelmascapito]

@@codinginflow nice! what benefits did you see in general life and in programming? and how long do u meditate nowadays?

[@n8sterling727]

In my years of listening to Sam and his interviews, talks ect. I cant help but think something profound happened in his life. The way he speaks and the subject matter these days says it all. Keep it up man!

[@hypnotechno]

"being able to drop your anxiety is a like a superpower".

[@erickgarcia6494]

what an incredibly clear description of what meditation is all about! Sam Harris is the man! Not cause he's some kind of genius (he didn't uncover all this information by himself), but his ability to communicate in a way that makes sense is far beyond what most others can do. I could've spent years reading cryptic buddhist texts and hardly feel like im gettin anywhere. thanks for the upload.

[@0123-y5i]

That does make him a genius :p

[@BunnyCentauri]

That's how you know someone understands a subject very well, they can explain it well, very simply, to a general audience.

[@ZeeL4J8C2]

Ive listened to this 50 times and am still finding new things

[@sunnysoto1084]

I listened to this while I work construction in the sun. So my suffering is spiced with philosophy.

[@pedestrian_0]

bro you work inside the sun, talk about suffering to the next level

[@FunnyBuns1]

Sam Harris' talks on mindfulness and meditation remind me very much of Alan Watts' talks. If you enjoy Sam Harris, you're guaranteed to enjoy Alan Watts' wisdom.

[@thedolphin5428]

Chrisantechell Yeah, they both me to sleep.

[@effortlessawareness8778]

Alan Watts. I listen to parts of his lectures every day and notice how so many others today are transitioning to ideas that he has communicated.

[@alexfinn7989]

Every day being the new worst day in my life lead me to meditation (and Sam).

[@onyxperidot]

Sam Harris never disappoints as a good source of mind lifting ideas. His intellectual clarity is admirable.

[@ancientfuture9690]

"Your life has a character of a kind of long emergency" - Sam Harris. Wow! That is so true and something I've come to realise about myself in the past year after being hit with a terrible panic attack. It dawned on me that I was (in the background of my mind) worrying CONSTANTLY. I became aware of this subtle panic that was (and always has been as far as I can remember) always present...bugging me. After spending some time meditating, it's like this sort of safety net (like a trapeze artist uses) of calm has settled directly underneath what was once uncontrollable chaos and despair. It's not perfect (but what is?) but it's better.

[@maxwellcooper2]

I also loved that phrase!

[@sylvia1297]

Loved the phrase as well!

[@joshlicht1359]

I liked this also... it's a little like a variation on Henry Thoreau's famous words 'the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation'.....

[@Getyourwishh]

@@maxwellcooper2 when we see reality outwards, we are safe to say its not perfect because of all the chaos in it and nothing is really done quite beautifully or wonderfully. But here is the thing, the only thing i can feel safe to have an opinion about that is perfect is when we look inwards, its the illusion that you exist, a deception done in such a way, very wonderful, true perfection, a work of art from nature through out all of those years of evolution. You arent in control of anything yet you feel you do, you do not exist but you have the sense of self, a true self deception. Out standing perfection.

[@Seifer_42]

I just bought a subscription to Waking Up and have been using it for 5 days now. Even with just 5 days of practice, I noticed more often when I'm lost in thought, and I am able to go back to being more aware. There is still so much more training I need, but I can genuinely notice the difference from just the practice from the last week. I'm so glad I started the guided meditations.

[@blackbird5634]

try meditation. if your life improves, keep doing it.

[@uradragon]

Thanks I needed that.

[@alexandert696]

I ve been doing that for 2 years now. And I was a skeptic. And yes, my life has improved.

[@masterezended7891]

My life improve. My bad temper is gone. I don't honk at people at traffic. Jam and try to pick a fight with my neighbour anymore. I apologise to everyone that I have hurt before

[@pushkarmahale912]

@@masterezended7891 Yes, exactly. I do the same. Unconditioning and unlearning.

[@farahjama2332]

I tried and my life changed . my anxiety and negative thoughts plummeted. I am happy to know Sam. i have been fan of him for 5 years. the only intellectual that i like keep listening!

[@thejetavanagrove3865]

This clip has helped me immensely to understand what meditation is and why it benefits us. Thank you!

[@whitetrashtrucker908]

After a life of Anxiety, including panic attacks and the worst .. Non stop intrusive thoughts... I found mindfulness... Not only has it all but cured my OCD.. But i feel like I am born again... Like living life in the moment.. Every moment... It's strange.. Like walking into the world and my life for the first time.... Understanding my true self... My anxiety was so bad I could not even work... I saw 8 therapists and a psychiatist.. Put on meds. Nothing helped.. At all.... I just can't stress how my life has been changed by this ..... My life of obsessing and panic to calm and present.... I just wish this was the standard treatment for anxiety/depression... Once u understand the mind.. U realize most health care proffesionals do not.....

[@counterculture10]

true--and can do the same with positive thinking.

[@calebsanders5689]

I love Sam Harris. I’ve heard him describe the self being an illusion many times, and I’ve never understood it as fully as I do when listening to him explain it in this video. Thank you.

[@joesmoke9624]

Caleb Sanders Which self is Sammy talking about, the real self or the false self?

[@tubular1020]

are you a relative of Bernie sanders?? haha

[@americanatheart110]

@@joesmoke9624 lol i wonder how sanders underdstood his self by listening to sams self? But sure sam made sanders another sheep

[@joesmoke9624]

@@americanatheart110 I have not even watched the clip lol Sam might still be stuck in the false self like most of us are. Good luck

[@americanatheart110]

@@joesmoke9624 u just commented not even watching..lol like it

[@neerajkmanoj90]

This is by far one of the articulated talk/explanation on the working of meditation. This occurred to me as a very profound content as I was having prior experiences with meditation and most of the things Sam talked was aligning with my personal understanding. The understanding I had was not sorted out in my mind...but his explanation brought out more clarity regarding the same. Wow... Everyone deserves to see this information and at most understand it .

[@Virtual-Media]

This video is life changing. The thought we could acquire a superpower by our own choosing is amazing. The superpower we can choose to accept is one I've never considered before as well as one I would take over any other. Sam Harris is on another level of intelligence.

[@Ahmet_Koctar]

The adventure of mindfulness makes life magical.

[@AD31E]

The moments of flow, of peak experience. Something has caused your mind to just go full immersion into whatever it is. It's collapsing the distance between observer and observed. Once I had an adventure buddy; we swam across seaways, explored uninhabited islands. We caught waves filled with fishes and got ourselves recklessly cut up on barnacles. We swam around headlands and into caves. We ran and we danced and we climbed and we read and we spoke, a lot. We only had 5 days. But they were some of the brightest I've ever had, in the moment, full immersion, full feeling.

[@maxwellcooper2]

"Your life has kind of the character of a long emergency." Fantastic phrase

[@mojo5093]

puts life in perspective

[@DrPeacockOfficial]

🙏🏻 Thank you for this. Very helpful.

[@pedestrian_0]

This video was the beginning of the end of 'I' for 'me', it all started with an LSD trip a year ago where there was confusion with who I am, this video laid the foundation for a truly better life.

[@travisbickle8008]

"To choose what you think would require that, "you think it, before you think it" - SH

[@Officiall_JD]

This idea of focus/observation can be applied to every principle of our life. From the broadest perspective of just being satisfied and present with where we currently are in life and not tying our satisfaction to future success; all the way down to fully engaging in moment to moment experiences every single day. I’ve been applying this to my life for the past few weeks and I experience an immense feeling of joy during normal day to day activities. I recently shared this realization to some of my friends and family that happen to also be Christians. They told me that this was the devils work. That meditation and clearing your mind somehow opens you up to be inhabited by evil spirits. Has anyone else gotten this response?

[@atwaterpub]

Note on the process of thinking: Similarly, I am a professional piano player and occasionally when I am playing piano now days, I have a feeling that I am just watching my hands play the piano by themselves.

[@fredericksharon6908]

Muscle memory??

[@ryry5249]

That must be bissful

[@guitarrocks4561]

I have absolutely noticed that with guitar too.. it’s the strangest phenomenon

[@mindboard8203]

It's like the split brain experiment. You can see a part of your brain doing something and then you notice you're not your mind

[@technologicalsingularity1788]

This is the best descripiton on the subject matter of meditation I've ever heard.

[@sarareedcoaching1313]

Really needed this reminder today after hitting a road block! Thank you 🙏

[@nicklausss]

Conventional sources of gratification are unreliable. They are short-lived and insignificant to our happiness. We need something profound to enjoy life in full flower. And that 'something' is training your mind to be more aware of whatever is going on around you or inside you. One of the best ways to achieve that awareness is to meditate every single day. Sam is the human who taught me that and many thanks to him for that

[@MrCmon113]

Nika Obolashvili You are kind of refuting yourself there. Through mindfulness you gain the ability to better enjoy everyday delights and the need for anything "profound" decreases.

[@TKO-qj5zx]

An interesting exercise to try, while meditating, start taking away body parts and ask yourself if you are still you. For example, take away your legs and ask yourself if you had no legs, are you still you? Then start taking everything else away until you get to your head. Ask yourself, if you only had your mind, are you still you? Most of us feel the “self” is somewhere in the mind. Finally, take away your head and ask yourself, are you still you? For a split second you will see it, the you that’s aware of the thinking, before the ego quickly covers it back up. Shuts the curtains, so to speak. It’s freaky

[@marklawson2871]

Shuts the curtains...great description..

[@davecash7669]

This piece is one big gem. Thank you!

[@lolololololol8639]

Just a masterpiece as always. Thanks Sam!

[@BrandonRibak]

🔥”A sense of self is a product of not seeing a thought as a thought arising in a larger condition of consciousness or the mind. And meditation training is a way of recognizing the prior condition in which thoughts and sensations and everything else arises. At a certain point you can notice thoughts themselves arise and not be anymore identified with the thoughts in your head as my voice.”🔥

[@michaelbrown7561]

you can also notice the dichotomy -the point in which self is created in the mind. it's a very quick flash of energy--"Me" "you"

[@JeremiahCruickshank]

And yet people would label Sam as someone who doesn't understand the usefulness of spirituality, mediation etc. yet Sam is probably the most "spirituality" Atheist in the world.He understands this better that most religious people

[@liamc1102]

Well I believe in God but without the religious side.

[@jonathankarlsson1505]

Thank you for the peace, clarity, and articulation I didn't have.

[@sunny45488]

This picture expresses spiritual journey. The memory of endlessly treading water, being pulled at by under currents, unaware of the shore. Suffering. Shift happened bringing the waters edge with glorious strength to stand in worthiness. Stuck on the bank, becoming drained calling to others to notice what is possible. More suffering. Permission to move inland and into self knowing everything is as it should be. Peace and gratitude.

[@aoiahiru670]

I've been meditating on doves bedding down in the thicket during cold weather. Their feathers all fluffed up, their eyes half closed. The picture of comfort if it weren't for the chilly air.

[@fatsmcgee4451]

Thank you my friend for those words

[@justinsmith629]

Free will is the basis of our decision making , sometimes we find intense comfort in possessing the ability to make the wrong decision in peace without responsibility . It at times feels like a blanket of warmth on the stomach . We are so happy to not be bothered by responsibility that we succumb to its nature (the warm feeling of irresponsibility ) . Of course we have the ability to redirect our path , but that path now seems like it’s lacking in love , even though it’s the right path . This is a reality of our lesser desires . We must train in the art of contrary action if we want anything worthwhile in the type of power that is available . The goal for me is feeling contentment as well as loving ability to make YOUR life better through my words I choose to share with you , even if it’s just for entertainment. Empty your cup so God can fill it . If you empty your cup for the dark so to speak ( porn, drugs, egotistical indoctrination of others ) you just bring yourself farther from the path of enlightenment. Atheism needs to feel as though they are helping people , but when the atheist tries to help someone through misguided indoctrination , it’s all about ME (them) and self gratification. If a godly man tries to share wisdom with you it’s because he knows it will help and wants to see it work in your life and bring you inspired understanding of the struggles we face, and how to learn to genuinely love the struggle or obstacle. Atheism and its advice can only bring you a superior attitude and fashion sense . The “atheist” learns to meditate ... why is he meditating and what does that look like ? He draws his thoughts and “power” to let go of thought from somewhere. He closes his eyes and thinks of self. I choose to meditate with my eyes open . I meditate on the surrounding shapes , I think about the life that built the shapes, the angles that make up the geometry, the space in between , the stability of my elbows on my thighs to my shoulders to the structure of my head and the feeling of stability . My thoughts yearn for Jesus to help me pivot mentally , without my permission so to speak because it literally yearns for the power of the pivot.

[@GrowthMindsetFollowers]

Sam Harris always gives such great insights 👏

[@tejasnair3399]

Sometimes there’s enough distance from myself that I get the feeling like "you don't recognize you so nicely set up this consciousness for yourself long before. Don't you remember?" I never believed in the eternal soul especially since I read JH Newman talking about the notional and real understanding, which actually served to make me more skeptical of all of the various types of “mental gymnastics” (sadhguru’s term) or the mental exercises sam harris talks about from buddhism, unless I could corroborate them experientially. It’s true that I’ve amassed my brain at this moment which is for me ‘this’, like my awareness itself. Now it’s night and music is playing so maybe part of it is it's eternally loving insight permeating and I unknowingly am lulled past the boundary to where I can connect to another person and be them temporarily, or to the ‘eternal soul’ which is ambiguous in regards to embodiment. That or the music, so sincere in itself, was sweetening me and tuning my mind to a pitch too high for subtle inflections to be verified, a pitch also where religious language comes out in psychotic bricolage. It’s hard to say, there a belief formed out of a state that was more ecstatic and considerate than my normal though, so for that reason I believe it now too.

[@basedstruggler3436]

I want what you're smoking. Now.

[@SuperFez87]

Pretty sure this video will change my life

[@benjaminclymer2073]

Pretty amazing! I hadn't thought about concentration and distraction in this way.

[@bbbabrock]

Where is this from? I listen to all his (free) podcasts. But I do miss bits when t noise at work drowns it out. So every time I hear anything new from Sam, I wonder if it is a part of a podcast that was drowned out or if it is something entirely different.

[@jurgenpeter9227]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6LNY62AopVlpas

[@joelyazell7380]

The doubt of self is the journey to ourselves. Our understanding in our midst

[@aznstride4325]

I love when he says “eh I meaaan eh I meaan”

[@moesypittounikos]

In his younger days Sam hung around Papaji for a few years! Sam even said that Papaji was the most unique human being he has ever come across! Its near the end of the Darren Brown podcast.

[@themathinstructor]

Identification is the term harris should use. Getting identified with thoughts brings suffering..

[@cmvamerica9011]

When my body feels well, my mind feels well.

[@Mel-os3ld]

When my mind feels well, my body feels well!!

[@jellyicecream3324]

When I wake again, I am again.

[@batfink274]

Best way to control your emotions is to not care. Best way to get people to hate you, is to not care.

[@liamc1102]

Well haters are good for growth

[@LLlap]

I`m from Eastern Europe. All my life my parents and friends and most of the people I met always bugged me for not caring enough. Like, I`m inhuman because I`m not hysterical. Can`t help but wonder how much pain they caused me and how many decades I`ve lost.

[@travisbickle8008]

I would recommend Sam's Waking up APP my brother,it'll help, trust me : )

[@LLlap]

@@travisbickle8008 You seem to misunderstand my comment. I`m chill enough. Me being too chill is exactly the problem. People around me think the hysterical long emergency life is the norm and something all good humans should aspire to. How do I get THEM to wake up? Also they`e mostly incredibly christian and will immediately buck at first mention of anything they deem heretical.

[@travisbickle8008]

@@LLlap are you from Caucasia ? an orthodox ?

[@travisbickle8008]

@@LLlap i was thinking about the same thing ..you should shut up and listen .. grab the moment and strike but with sense oh humour,not to make em feel disrespected .. all of my people's are like that

[@juanlongoria5406]

Sam harris could possibly be the only one able to explain a psychedelic trip

[@jonjohn855]

That is a ridiculous stretch

[@humanoid8344]

I don't think anyone can explain a pyschadelic trip and there are many people saying what he is saying it's classic buddhism my man

[@ryry5249]

Words describing anything accurately is near impossible let alone such an ineffable experience

[@joelyazell7380]

You are you before recognition

[@kjs667]

Great...explained very well

[@evanbarker6168]

Very interesting video. Got me thinking. I think that if you can learn to separate how you attach to your thoughts you can alter the emotions that are evoked by them, or in a way suppress them such that you can just be observant. I think that is easier said than done though for the reason that people get uneasy feelings when they aren’t truly their thoughts. Who are they?

[@harmonyvegan]

Thanks for sharing! What's the painting?? Where's it from?? :)

[@nik7426]

You should mention the original source of this conversation, so people can listen to the whole thing.

[@mamunurrashid5652]

Self is the 'container',thoughts are the 'contents' of the container! Self can therefore observe the thoughts coming and going! Self can separate itself from thoughts and remain just an observer of the thoughts. Thoughts are not facts!

[@MrCmon113]

Mamunur Rashid No. There is no container or observer. The only thing coherent with logic and experience is the self as nothing but a string of impressions. That is the primary insight of mindfulness meditation. The nonexistance of the observer.

[@sebastianmelmoth685]

Preparation to do what? Face it stoically? To what purpose? To face it unemotionally? To what purpose? To protect yourself from emotional harm? To what purpose? The circular logic of atheism.

[@TheGaraiden]

To 'to'? toot toot haha Not an intellectual, so just asking, what does it have to do with atheism? It sounded like existential nihilism? Don't know much about that either, but I liked your question "To what purpose?" I 'feel' like if don't rely on thoughts too much, 'purpose' is self-evident (whatever that means...) but also intrinsic in the nature of our being. But, if you really really NEED a purpose, is it asking for something redundant since we're already here?

[@sebastianmelmoth685]

"Already here" implies a purpose. Otherwise, to what purpose are we already here? Even the word "already" implies a point of departure from some given time or state, which requires explanation before we even get to the word "here". Everything in nature has a purpose. Every atom, every chromosome, every speck, and every micro and macro organism. Whether that purpose is to devour, be devoured or (in our case) contemplate the purpose of mankind. To say, as a conscious being, that our purpose is to devour and be devoured seems to me to fall extremely short of the purpose of consciousness, which MUST have a purpose other than cannibalism and copulation, since it is so utterly other to the brute purposes of the non-conscious beings with which we share the planet. PS Sam Harris is an atheist.

[@MrCmon113]

All of those are perfectly reasonable things to aspire to, so you refuted yourself.

[@boris9047]

Preparation to be able to cope and make good decisions in the moment of pain and tragedy. Unless you have that solid point you can easily make very destructive decisions that would ruin your life much more than the situation itself will.

[@hester234]

i love this. Thanks a lot for uploading!

[@ZeeL4J8C2]

Does anyone have the actual source wanted to listen to the whole conversation

[@pippop4693]

So, according to what he says, does the continuous practice of meditation sort of inevitably abolish the belief in free will? Because he really seems to imply that. Mind the paradox, though, if that were the case. As a tool for freedom, meditation would liberate us by showing the gritty rereality of our inner life; namely, that deep down inside we are not free.

[@humanormachine2936]

I wonder if you can practice meditation and get the benefits of it when you have ADD.

[@waedjradi]

Yes.

[@counterculture10]

Probably the best think you can do for yourself.

[@timangar9771]

Wow, that was amazing.

[@javierg602]

Sam Harris going balls deep.

[@darrinheaton2614]

lol

[@kittywampusdrums4963]

It's not that hard to get but attaining a perspective outside of our construct plus HOLDING it is a whole other ballgame. I found the tradition at Drukama to be beneficial check it out.

[@babblingidiot7903]

Call me crazy but I stopped meditating because it became too addicting. I found myself just wanting more and more. It was freakishly scary because it was so natural. Was that one of the side effects of meditation?

[@mjnoon3609]

Can you please describe it more ? because most people have the opposite problem. when you meditate do you feel truly present? and by contrast to normal day to day living it feels wrong like you were living life wrong before you discovered meditation? is that what you mean?

[@ryry5249]

Dw about it.. till you find yourself living in a monastery staring at a wall for 8 hrs a day

[@chrislaro1396]

far 2much scalpel looks into this topic. Bottom line: be IN the present much as you can and attempt throughout ur life to quiet the Self and mental dictation our minds suffer us with. Then remember the ol' cliche which goes: 'before I was enlightened I was depressed. During my path to enlightenment, I was depressed. And when I became enlightened, I was STILL depressed.' Period. Peace and good luck on the path.

[@JDW-arden]

Where is this from? I'd like to hear the full conversation

[@JDW-arden]

thanks

[@jurgenpeter9227]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6LNY62AopVlpas

[@SN-qu2gz]

Does anybody know the artist of the painting in the thumbnail of this video? It is a painting of the Buddha under the bodhi tree. I really like it.

[@MixInfinity]

Can someone please tell me what was Sam talking about when he said that we can now measure in the lab that "you were going for pastrami sandwiches" before you even know it. Is there some sort of reliable research based on this or was he referring to Moran Cerf's box?

[@ganapatikitty]

Seriously so great.

[@kamenkisiyov1332]

I have a few questions, if anybody can answer them i would be very thankful. At min. 8:12 sam says that there is a simple way to demonstrate that you can't choose what you think, but it's so hard for me to get. I can't direct my thoughts? Then he is interrupted and i dont really understand it. By the end of the video he says that being able to choose to drop your anger is like a super power, but then says that you don't really choose because the selflessness goes hand in hand with the lack of free will. I dont really get this idda either.

[@ZeeL4J8C2]

If you decide to meditation and gain any relative benefits, it isn't through your free will. Your just a character in a movie, you didn't choose anything. If we rewound the movie of your life, you were always going to start meditating. There is a contradiction. For example, if you decide you were going to work out and get in great shape, it's not through free will. You were always going to do it, and you will always do it.

[@galactic904]

Tell me where in the Bible that explains the mind and thoughts in the way Sam is explaining it?

[@effortlessawareness8778]

Thats why that clan of extreme buddhist monks would partake in self immolation as the final part of their transcendence to full enlightenment. They Meditated with the intention to detached themselves from their bodies and completley transcend awareness of their senses reaching that particular point in spsce/time that non local spot of consciousness itself: The final test/phase is being able to detach yourself completley from the worst dat of your life and in the monks case, the day you are going to be self immolated (burned alive) is the day of true transcendence because your detachment From the most excruciating pain of being burned alive without flinching shows how you are not the body and not the mind. If you can face that then you truly are awake.

[@HoldenCoughfield]

We are the universe experiencing itself

[@ryry5249]

Obviously

[@cmc6122]

But some thoughts do need attention... how do you discern which thoughts would move you forward and motivate you ? Meaning how would you ever change things in life if all your thoughts are just running through with no focus?

[@jakkelway]

But when do you / should you act (even to just survive)? Won't you become too passive?

[@henkkoppelaar9580]

I dare to say that ... he who does not meditate ... can not be called a full-fledged person!

[@ryry5249]

How dare you

[@low459]

Where can I find this full conversation?

[@sisyphushappy5200]

Where is this clip from? I can't for the life of me find the source!

[@Harleysvideos]

It's from his podcast with Dan Harris

[@sisyphushappy5200]

@@Harleysvideos I recognize Dan's voice but what podcast is this? Waking Up? Which number?

[@jurgenpeter9227]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6LNY62AopVlpas

[@OnekamaProducts]

Okay, he claims we dont have freewill but when the brains natural form is full of anxiety, freewill is what decides to change. IE meditation and choosing not to have anxiety

[@laza6141]

You don't understand his arguments , you don't have free will because you can't choose your thoughts , in order to choose them you would have to think them before you think them.

[@TheSuperCoolMan122]

so trust your mind, not your feelings, but how are you supposed to know when a feeling is right? You can't observe all the possible outcomes, the present is chaos

[@lover5012]

Thank you.

[@sbccave4015]

As Homer Simpson said "worst day of your life, so far!"

[@MonjTootMedia]

I’ve tried meditating and it doesn’t really do anything for me. I tend to fall asleep And I don’t feel any different when i wake up. Why is that ?

[@leemckerrow4990]

Qi gong is a good meditation to learn to become present.

[@theodoredreiser5782]

14:20 "Being able to decide to drop your anger. . ." But how can I decide to drop my anger if I cannot even decide to think of a pastrami sandwich?

[@ev0lution1]

Wondering the same thing...

[@PremIndi]

It's like when you squeeze your fist for a few minutes and then try and let it go and your hand balls itself back up. Now imagine that clenching is happening in your mind, and change five minutes to twenty years, thirty years, forty years. The first moment you unclench your fist, you have stopped the process that is causing it to ball up, but it still has that memory. So it clenches, and you let go. Then repeat. After a few minutes the hand is relaxed again. It takes longer with meditation because you're not undoing five minutes of clenching, you're undoing years' worth. But every time you let go you are winding down the machine. Eventually, just like that relaxed hand, your mind's default mode becomes openness instead of closure. That's how 😉

[@billsyd2004]

Sam you speak well, u had a good attempt at logically trying to explain what meditation is or isn't. But untill u experience the benefits of meditation directly from consistent practice over time, you will never be convinced of its benefits, and your position on the subject will unfortunatley remain the same.

[@rufus001]

He has meditated for quite a while.

[@studio-flash]

I had this feeling..it was immense..what was it? Sex and another..alcohol and being on the dance floor totally in "the moment" watching everyone else as we were dancing ti.."Dancing queen" by Abba..its a great song..( and this is coming from a kiss..ac-dc guns n roses fan..haa) i remember being very happy..very euphoric. I didnt have any negative thoughts..infact.. i was lustening to the words but thinking how cool it was that everyone was singing dancing and smiling. It was strange as i still think about it today..i think i even closed my eyes as i was dancing on the dance floor..taking it all in. I think i need to get those times back again.

[@usernameryan5982]

I’m generally confused that he says our decisions are not our own but then he says having the abiltity to make the decision to drop your anger or embarrassment as a superpower. I agree with the second point but seems incongruent with the first.

[@undpaul]

It's not about deciding to drop your anger in that moment. your mind will just have practice in dropping it, through consistent meditation.

[@undpaul]

although sam harris certainly phrased it that way. maybe just poor choice of words. edit: he's basically acknowledging this misphrasing at 14:48

[@MorphingReality]

Who is recognizing that the next thought is arising in consciousness?

[@GSDKXV]

Morphing Reality You

[@cgortz89]

Thank you! I just loved hearing these thoughts. Sam Harris is so articulate and this is something that is reaching to me, eventhough I still feel far away from an ability to meditate and see beyond my suffering and ego. I was lying down, feeling my chronic ache and kinda softly listening to this clip. I certainly want to hear more. You have my subscription of course!

[@Jaybird196]

@@PragmaticEntertainment Hi. I know, this is a seperate conversation, but do you know which meditation(s) would be useful, if you feel like you've/you're wasted/wasting your time/life ('hope, that made sense)? Or, seeing the good in bad situations, people, etc? Thanks.

[@lilwhiteguy1493]

never thought of it in this way

[@colingeorgejenkins2885]

We are still trying to feel what ew have already felt in a world of janism

[@abelchavez5647]

Couldn't have reality with only one person

[@joelyazell7380]

From one perspective only doubt moves anything. And all that moves, moves away.

[@MrCmon113]

joel yazell That sounds like meaningless drivel.

[@TangMathVideos]

“The practice of non-distraction.” ‼️Boom‼️

[@jairofonseca1597]

If the self is an illusion, who is being illuded ?

[@sheeltushar798]

The illusion of self is being illuded

[@robertjsmith]

Jairo Fonseca The conceptual self points to the inherent self that doesn't exist.

[@robertjsmith]

@Sean Moore the self is only a concept

[@masterezended7891]

This is true. I meditate a lot now. And I'm calm like Jesus Buddha in traffic jams. My bad temper is gone. Not easily irritated by my wife.

[@user-yk9sk7pg6v]

thank you