Sam Harris: “Spirituality Is a Loaded Term.” | People I (Mostly) Admire | Episode 25

Sam Harris is a cognitive neuroscientist and philosopher who has written five best-selling books. He also hosts the Making Sense podcast and helps people discover meditation through his Waking Up app. Sam explains to Steve how to become spiritual as a skeptic and commit to never lying again.
This episode was originally published April 30, 2021.
For a full transcript, resources, and more, visit: freak.ws/3My5AGI
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[@myselftik]

Sam's one of the most well-spoken people I know. The way he articulates complex ideas in such a crystal clear way... It's a gift

[@planje4740]

- sure - and I can imagine why because it is USA citizens - folk have build AI without anyone sense think ability like a worm - folk remain think stars wars is reality and not movie what is the to expect from such folk - sure sam haris is genie to them _ simplicity Big Bang is not even science but must be believed God is Religion and also must be believed - what is difference in some real court - judge would be your thrown out, out the court do not come here with yours nonsense - why to believe one and why not other one you do not known not you not nobody _ what is to expect from such folk _Sith Meditation - A Dark Atmospheric Ambient Journey - Deep and Mysterious Sith Ambient Music_ - look the ability of thinking _The Dark Side of the Force is not about evilness or being cruel... It's about feeling your emotions unrestricted. Make your Fear, your Rage, even your Love fill your power._ - no one say it is just a movie all of them remain think is reality _ what is to expect of such folk _ ти би се требао стидити да си американац

[@cazalis]

How well do you know him? How much time have you actually spent with him. Because I hear loads of people speak, and I don't jack about them.

[@ziziroberts8041]

Socialism, Communism, Fascism. Democracy, Dictatorship, Freedom, Slavery, Atheism, Agnosticism, Bigotry, Racism, Nationalism. More loaded terms to unload. Upload Interdependency, Community, Compassion, Kindness, Respect. All hearts on deck. Our planet needs us.

[@jsnel9185]

Love it.

[@samashify2]

We're inherently self-serving so it's never going to happen, unfortunately. We accumulate more than we need instinctively.

[@samashify2]

Brilliant. The world's society is built on lies so I wonder how you're able to thrive.

[@richardjaffe9972]

⁠Keep telling yourself that and you don’t have any choice but to believe it. . a cognitive distortion easy enough to be fall for. 😮 Having a different deliberate mindset can change believes and then actions. Surrender your ego and find new purpose and meaning. 😊

[@bthomson]

My grandfather was a minister (church type)) and a very truthful man. Upon being introduced to a very ugly baby by the mother he was heard to say " My that IS a baby!" I always loved that!

[@dinomiles7999]

Best thing he did for humanity ❤. Dropped out of Sandford ❤.. The Rockefeller medical matrix . ThNk you Sam ❤!

[@dandybufo9664]

Great guest ! I have learned a great deal from him over the last decade.

[@percubit10]

It is really hard. I stopped debating religious fanatics. it's a waste of time and energy. it is pointless.

[@bellakrinkle9381]

True, some are just Delusional.

[@petershelton7367]

Wow I have been aware of Harris for years and his wisdom has only now become apparent to me. Thank you so very much ❤

[@patrickkelly5004]

How did I possibly miss this episode when it originally ran??? My favourite interviewer interviewing my favourite interview subject!

[@brokenrecord3523]

I've asked a couple women met online that I've dated what they mean by "spiritual, but not religious." One admitted that they said it to not sound shallow. The other said, basically, poorly thought out gobbledygook.

[@percubit10]

I have often wondered what this meant as well. never got a real answer.

[@brokenrecord3523]

@@percubit10 I ended up marrying an atheist. She seemed the most self aware/honest.

[@steveflorida8699]

@@brokenrecord3523 is she "self aware" of the source and origin of her consciousness? Because, secular scientists do Not know the source and origin of human consciousness. If, consciousness is Not inherent in mechanistic ⚛️ atoms and lifeless molecules, then is Spirit the source? If yes, then Spiritual Life preceded man-made religions. Religions are attempts in understanding the spiritual deity.

[@manifold1476]

"Spiritual but not religious" means "I've ditched all that crap, but I'm not gonna admit it." Lol

[@percubit10]

@@manifold1476 That sounds just about right

[@patbaptiste9510]

Spiritually is a loaded term, only to those who do not understand *The Science of Consciousness,* for everything is Consciousness made visible through the extremely limited senses of the physical body...

[@user-fp6ed8ip2j]

Sam Harris Our Galileo!. Haha. Santa is ok to lie about. Relax guys..

[@bellakrinkle9381]

This is interesting. I have only one question. Did he become awakened or did Sam become Conscious? I'll listen again since I recall nothing about Consciousness. This is a good door opener, though.

[@paradoxically1984]

Kindly Bring some renowned philosophers on your podcast

[@dinomiles7999]

Merry CASHmas ! Any questions?

[@dinomiles7999]

Try to EXIST in THE Source Code of the oneness of the vibrational energy of the ONENESS ❤! Eyes mind heart and soul wide open. NO FEAR !

[@Juka161]

Sam Harris Our Galileo!

[@cazalis]

Sam Harris is a loaded idea. 😂

[@mutwa_0]

Great discussion. I just dont understand why mindfulness is being treated like the end goal of meditation. I think this robs people of all the other benefits that lie beyond mindfullness, including also restraining the left hemisphere from bull crap chatter😂 i have been saying for a long time now that the best scientists to investigate meditation are those that practice meditation.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

I don’t believe he says that.

[@musicauthority674]

That is one of the biggest problems with society today. everyone lies for whatever reason? however I don't lie much but my reason is different than most people. it's because I'm not very good at it.

[@antitheistvegan]

Why does the experience you describe have to be called spiritual? Why can’t it be called experiences of awe while still keeping within the boundaries of natural science? Spirituality will always be directly connected to the woo woo in an attempt to describe powerful individual experiences. Using the word in a world so impacted by make believe thinking is not at all helpful.

[@bellakrinkle9381]

I understand what you're saying. I thought similarly until I stumbled onto Rudolf Steiner. He writes about those mysterious, unexplainable, fortuitous glimmerings of spiritual happenings. Try "Mind Body Spirit." Steiner is also controversial and most of his writings on YT are difficult to get through. He convinced me that we can connect with a spirit realm if we are intuitive and pay attention. I ignore whatever he writes about religion. His school is Anthroposophy.

[@antitheistvegan]

@@bellakrinkle9381 I’m sure the words are well written but the word is still unnecessary. Calling something spiritual doesn’t make it lift off the ground of logic and reason. It’s just another way of describing the same experience I and others have that are powerfully meaningful. These experiences need not be muddied with words as imprecise as ‘spiritual’, especially when it’s tied to the very belief that is the cause for so much confusion and suffering.

[@joblakelisbon]

What if someone sees a vision of Christ in their sleep and has years of trauma healed?

[@antitheistvegan]

@@joblakelisbon what if someone sees a vision of Elvis and has years of trauma healed?

[@steveflorida8699]

@@antitheistvegan the "muddied" is knowing that Life is Not inherent in mechanistic ⚛️ atoms and lifeless molecules. More "muddied" is secular scientists do Not know the source and origin of human consciousness. Two Major Fundamentals of human nature --- living and consciousness. But materialistic thinking 🤔 minds are void of understanding. Religions point 👉 to Spirit as the source. The irony of knowing the limitations of nature's laws/patterns and... expanding towards sincerely seeking and knowing the intelligent living Source.

[@VedantaKesari]

Swami Vivekananda said "Religion is Realization." Sam Harris had the fortune to spend time with the great Advaitin H.W.L. Poonja and was given the opportunity for Enlightenment but he rejected it because of his prejudices. If you are interested in spirituality go to Ramakrishna, Shirdi Sai Baba, Upasani Baba, Papa Swami Ramdas, Mata Amritanandamayi, Sri Karunamayi, Anandamayi Ma or Meher Baba. It should be taught to children that St. Nicholas is Santa Claus, that Christmas is about Jesus and the Saints.

[@schmetterling4477]

Swami is a term we use for one type of people who didn't pay attention in science class but then spend their entire lives bullshitting others. ;-)

[@VedantaKesari]

A Swami is a monk. Swami Vivekananda was a genius who spoke at Harvard and the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He was a philosopher-saint who impacted Hinduism in a major way and revealed the basic consciousness underlying all religions. He also laid the groundwork for India's independence. Please read "Guru to the World: the Life and Legacy of Vivekananda" by eminent scholar Ruth Harris.

[@schmetterling4477]

@@VedantaKesari A monk is a bullshitter who asks hard working people for handouts. There is no difference to a panhandler except for the Nigerian Prince scam that the monk uses in addition to make himself feel better about being a panhandler. ;-)

[@nanuk5243]

Spirituality makes a person Guru not a teacher 😀 In this time like Psychology makes a person Psychologist .

[@manifold1476]

"Guru" and "Psychologist" are not behaviors or activities, they are titles, or professions.

[@nanuk5243]

@@manifold1476 2400 years for business and 100 years for right knowlage. This is not humanity 😀

[@schmetterling4477]

@@manifold1476 Guru is the profession of ripping idiots off with bullshit. Sometimes worse.

[@laza6141]

15:44 , 31:10

[@honeybeechanger]

I don't think that the lie about Santa Claus is to make Christmas more fun that's a byproduct. I think that the reason for lying about Santa Claus is to imbue a sense of magical-spitual thinking. It also may cause doubt but most the time they're so distracted by the fact that Santa Claus is real but they don't question whether Jesus is so it's like taking away the cigarettes from the tobacco nicotine addict and replacing it with donuts. I guess in a neurological sense you could say that it creates the synopsis for belief in God.

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

Christ salvation overcomes sin and death of cross

[@daviddieter8294]

Haha. Santa is ok to lie about. Relax guys.

[@schmetterling4477]

Why are you posting the same bullshit under different accounts? Just how many sock puppets are you operating? Relax... I am not coming after you. I am just giving you the attention you are looking for. ;-)

[@1965simonfellows]

...... all very vaulted of Sam Harris but shouldn't it be a commitment to not conscious lying ?

[@polymathlevel8]

Oh brother. Harris making more generalities about ethics, a topic he knows zip about.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

Oh really? 😂

[@KrwiomoczBogurodzicy]

43:05

[@marioceva7163]

You do not has to speack about things that you do not understand

[@brokenrecord3523]

party pooper

[@christopherhamilton3621]

What if you do understand but there are impediments to communicate and be listened to?

[@marioceva7163]

@@christopherhamilton3621 san Harris has not understanding about the matter.

[@GenericAF123]

Love Sam Harris! I heard your philosophy on golf and bowling and it's by far the worst philosophy I've ever heard. Walk off the course because you got a whole in one? Stop bowling because you bowled your best score? You are eliminating by success and likes. What is that? Quitting is a form of celebration for you? A birdie, eagle. hole in one should have the same value or what's the point? What planet are you from? lol

[@grizzlednerd4521]

My takeway was that he didn't enjoy bowling, and decent score was as good excuse as any to quit. One of his white lies.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

Wow: THAT’s your takeaway?

[@henochparks]

Too bad Sam is wrong and just guessing.

[@brokenrecord3523]

Is the not lying you disagreed with?

[@henochparks]

@@brokenrecord3523 I disagree with his claim he knows everything in the Universe. He rejects the possibility that there are beings more advanced than humans. . I disagree with his claim that people who have had near death experiences had brain damage during their experience. There is NO evidence to support his claim. I disagree his claim that the recorded experiences of humans for five thousand years history, from the four corners of this planet that report they encountered a divine being are delusions. Sam is not acting on logic or evidence bit on his belief. The very thing he accuses others of doing.

[@brokenrecord3523]

@@henochparks You seem to pick and choose when "no evidence" is a valid argument. I might use that for all of your other disagreements.

[@henochparks]

@@brokenrecord3523 Humm Sam claims people who have Near Death Experiences are having delusions because of brain damage. #1 there is no evidence that the brain has been damaged. So Sam does not know. #2 research over the last 60 years has concluded after death of the body, human consciousness exists. I.e there is life after death. Again Sam is wrong. Sam claims there are no other beings i.e divine beings. So how many dimensions are there? Sam does not know. Do other dimensions have beings more intelligent than humans? Sam does not know. Are these beings a fourth, fifth or ten dimension beings? Sam does not know. Whereas humans have reported seeing advanced brings from the four corners of this planet for fife thousand years of human written history, and these beings have similar attributes to one another are these reports true? Sam does not know. He does not know so he simply declares them all delusions. Sam does not have answers to support his beliefs. Sam ignores evidence that controvert his beliefs. Sam is a very very poor scientist. Thus he should be ignored.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

You honestly heard him say that? What are you smoking/drinking? 🤪

[@dharmayogaashram979]

In the material world, no such thing as spiritualty, religion yes. Podcast loaded with confusions. Guru? Spirituality?

[@andrewmctaggart5095]

Where does the material world start and end? If the podcast confused you, why assume everyone else shared your experience.

[@brokenrecord3523]

Religion exists, but the foundation for it doesn't... Agreed. I also agree that Sam is difficult to comprehend on a single go-through, much like physics or philosophy.

[@dharmayogaashram979]

​@@brokenrecord3523the foundation that is religio/religion is the basic, inherent, logical and inevitable human aspiration to uncover what binds/links ("religio ") life, individulas and groups.

[@meeppeep4113]

Never really liked sam harris.

[@richardjaffe9972]

Very easy to dislike someone who is so dogmatic and insensitive to others feelings and beliefs. 😢

[@meeppeep4113]

@@richardjaffe9972 Yes. He is just too sure of his non bulletproof theories, which makes him, as you mentioned, inconsiderate/insensitive to things he doesn't understand.

[@richardjaffe9972]

@@meeppeep4113 ironic for someone to believe ego is an illusion that he should have such a big one 😂

[@meeppeep4113]

@@richardjaffe9972 Exactly xD Good point!

[@brokenrecord3523]

@@richardjaffe9972 I think that the same people who hate Sam are the dogmatic and insensitive. I believe it was Ben Shapiro that said "Facts don't care about your feelings." I'm sure he is not a Sam fan.