Dr. John Vervaeke Ep. 8 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - The Buddha and "Mindfulness"
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Apr 3, 2023 Explore the philosophical roots of mindfulness and its evolution during the Axial Age. Discover Siddhartha's transformative journey from confusion to awakening in the face of life's challenges. Delve into the contrast between rigid and fluid concentration techniques, introducing the concept of 'soft vigilance.' Learn how mindfulness can lead to personal transformation and provide insights to tackle the meaning crisis, encouraging a shift from a focus on 'having' to a deeper sense of 'being.'
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Siddhartha's Palace Life
- Siddhartha's myth portrays his early life in a palace, symbolizing modal confusion.
- He's trapped in the having mode, seeking being needs through material possessions.
Existential Modes
- Two existential modes exist: the having mode (meeting having needs) and the being mode (meeting being needs).
- Modal confusion arises when trying to fulfill being needs through having, leading to a vicious cycle.
The Four Signs
- Siddhartha encounters a sick person, an old person, a corpse, and a mendicant, triggering an existential crisis.
- These four signs shatter his having mode, revealing the suffering inherent in the world.