The Antithesis of Meditation

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Mindfulness is not a matter of thinking new thoughts or of thinking about anything at all. It is a matter of noticing very clearly what is arising in consciousness in each moment, including thoughts and emotions.
The thing about mindfulness that is distinct from all of this is that it's not a matter of understanding anything conceptually. It's a matter of bearing witness to the mechanics by which we become entangled with thought.
Thoughts are just arising all by themselves in this wider context of conscious awareness, and there is no thinker in addition to the flow of thought. There is no subject authoring the thoughts, and there is no feeling that there is one.

According to neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris, rationality is the key to safeguarding everything we cherish, and its only true enemy is dogmatic inflexibility. Harris speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the views that have made Harris famous, teasing out the often mind-blowing subtleties of his religious and cultural critiques. They discuss what Harris has learned as a podcaster and author, and how ecstasy launched his spiritual journey. Finally, they move on to the power of meditation, exploring the way it can lead to self-transcendence and real connection with others.