Dr John Vervaeke, leading expert in diagnosing the spiritual, practical and cognitive causes of increasing isolation and disillusionment, deep-dives into the meaning crisis, the cognitive science of desperation, and the significance of psychedelic experiences.
The meaning crisis is caused by disconnection in the modern world, but intentional practices can enhance connectedness and understanding of ourselves and the world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the meaning crisis, highlighting the need for resilience and practices that help us cope with the complexity of the world.
Deep dives
The Crisis of Meaning and the Human Need for Connection
John Bloveke discusses the concept of the crisis of meaning, which is the convergence of different themes. He explains that human beings seek and are constituted by meaning in life, which involves being connected to oneself, others, and the world. However, the overwhelming amount of information and distractions in the modern world can make it challenging to maintain a sense of connection and presence. Bloveke emphasizes the importance of developing wisdom through practices and ecologies of practices that enhance connectedness and help us navigate the complexity and self-deceptive behaviors that can arise. He argues that evolution alone cannot lead us to our desired goals, and we need intentional practices and interventions to enhance our connectedness and optimize our understanding of ourselves and the world.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Crisis of Meaning
Bloveke discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the crisis of meaning. He points out that the pandemic has intensified feelings of isolation, upended people's sense of being at home in the world, and magnified the sense of disconnection. He suggests that the pandemic has also highlighted the limitations of our subjectivity and shallow self-indulgence, prompting some individuals to seek a deeper sense of self and a more meaningful existence. Bloveke mentions the 'Great Resignation' phenomenon, where people are opting for a more meaningful life over materialistic pursuits. He argues that the pandemic has brought to the forefront the need for practices and perspectives that enhance our resilience and help us cope with the complex and unpredictable nature of the world.
The Role of Culture and Media in the Meaning Crisis
Bloveke explores how cultural and media factors contribute to the meaning crisis. He highlights how our sense-making machinery can be corrupted in an information-rich environment, leading to the proliferation of conspiracy theories and polarized political extremes. He emphasizes the influence of attention-seeking platforms and algorithms that reward outrageous expressions of anger, hindering calm and nuanced reflection. Bloveke also discusses how phenomena like COVID-19, with its strict purity code and invisible threat, contribute to the rise of mythological frames of mind and conspiracy theories. He suggests that this corrosion of sense-making contributes to the dysfunction and disaffection with political systems, as well as the rise of extreme ideologies that resemble religious fervor.
Building Flexibility and Resilience in Meaning-Making
Bloveke proposes the development of a meta-trait of flexibility and resilience in meaning-making. He suggests the integration of various practices, such as mindfulness, active open-mindedness, and flow, to enhance our cognitive abilities and overcome self-deception. Bloveke emphasizes the importance of opponent processing, where different practices and perspectives mutually correct and challenge each other. He argues that the cultivation of wisdom requires an ecosystem of practices that address the perennial problems we face and go beyond propositional knowing. Bloveke also advocates for the role of communities in supporting and enriching the meaning-making process, emphasizing the dynamic and distributed nature of cognition. Lastly, he highlights the need for a dynamic self-organizing system of practices, constantly evolving and coordinating our ecology of practices to adapt to the complexity and change in the world.
Enter Dr John Vervaeke. The world’s leading expert in diagnosing the spiritual, practical and cognitive causes of increasing isolation and disillusionment.
In this episode, John deep-dives into the ‘why’, and outlines what we can do to fix it.
We cover the scope of spirituality, the cognitive science of desperation and the significance of psychedelic experiences.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.
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