824 Suffering vs. Satisfaction with Sam Harris, Part 2

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Jul 17, 2019

In this engaging discussion, Sam Harris—New York Times best-selling author and respected thinker—explores the interplay between suffering and satisfaction. He emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in transforming our understanding of emotions like anger and sadness. Harris reveals how meditation can help dismantle the illusion of self, allowing us to find true fulfillment in the present moment. The conversation delves into life's inherent unsatisfactoriness and the significance of letting go of the pursuit of happiness to embrace genuine contentment.

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ADVICE

Responding to Intense Suffering

When intense suffering arises, treat it as a mindfulness alarm.
Observe the physiological reactions and sensations objectively, distancing yourself from the narrative.

INSIGHT

Two Landmarks of Mindfulness

Notice the difference between being lost in thought and being present.
Non-judgmentally accepting present moment experiences frees you.

INSIGHT

Illusion of Self

Recognizing there's no central "self" is another mindfulness level.
It disconnects your well-being from the experience's intensity, offering freedom.

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THERE IS JUST CONSCIOUSNESS AND ITS CONTENTS. When you’re dreaming, you don’t know that you’re asleep. You’re caught up in the dream. That’s how most of us go through life. We’re unaware that we’re not actually experiencing the things we are feeling. But you can break the spell in a moment with meditation. When you become present, you’re no longer asleep. It’s time to wake up. On today’s episode of The School of Greatness, I continue my conversation on meditation and mindfulness with one of the greatest thinkers of our time: Sam Harris. Sam Harris is a New York Times best-selling author, podcast host, and creator of the Waking Up Course. His books include The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying, Waking Up, and Islam and the Future of Tolerance (with Maajid Nawaz). The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction. His writing and public lectures cover a wide range of topics—neuroscience, moral philosophy, religion, meditation practice, human violence, rationality—but generally focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live. Sam shares that when he experiences emotions like anger to sadness, he becomes interested in the emotion. He observes his body’s reaction and tries to distance himself from the feelings. So get ready to learn how mindfulness can end suffering on Episode 824.
Some Questions I Ask:
How do you eliminate worry? (49:00)
How do we stay satisfied in an unsatisfied world? (1:07:00)
When do you feel the most loved? (1:15:00)
What’s the one lesson you want to teach your kids? (1:21:00)
What’s the question you wish you had the answer to? (1:31:00)
What are you most proud of? (1:40:00)
In This Episode You Will Learn:
The landmarks for mindfulness (53:00)
Why the feeling of self is an illusion (54:00)
The hardest part of meditation (01:11:00)
What death has meant in Sam’s life (01:37:00)
If you enjoyed this episode, check out the show notes, video, and more at http://lewishowes.com/824 and follow at instagram.com/lewishowes

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