Sam Harris on Stoicism and Mindfulness Practice

Ryan speaks with Sam Harris about the overlap between eastern and western philosophy, how mindfulness practices like meditation help us become better Stoics, why he is so dedicated to providing his content for free, and more.

Sam Harris is a philosopher, neuroscientist, author, and host of the Making Sense Podcast. His work touches on a range of topics, including rationality, religion, ethics, free will, neuroscience, meditation, psychedelics, philosophy of mind, politics, terrorism, and artificial intelligence. He has written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Economist, London Times, The Boston Globe, and The Atlantic, and he has authored five five New York Times bestselling books, including The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason and Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion.

#Stoicism​ #DailyStoic​ #RyanHoliday​

[rationalmystic]

Sam harris has always calmed me. Even if im not listening to what he says. Soul truth in him.

[gardengirl]

Sam Harris is always brilliant and well spoken. I learn something new every time I hear him speak. Thank you for this conversation!

[Jax_Destro]

I've read or listened to several books that have knowledge on how to live a better life. None of it really stuck til I stumbled on stoicism. I don't know why, it just seem to pull it all together in a way that has given me results. Its been two weeks now and my mental state has already improved. Also, I haven't thought about journalling being a form of meditation, but now that I've heard you say it, it's true. I started journally when I picked up stoicism. I don't think about or plan what I'm going to write. It's more like channeling the chaotic thoughts through my pen onto the paper. It solidifies my understanding of the topic, and after my mind is quieted. I think that is why stoicism stuck, I felt the serenity of a quiet mind in the first time that I can remember.

[TheTimkunedo]

I love both Sam and Ryan. Stoicism and nonduality/consciousness are my jam.

[TheSillyBeagle]

I think there was a vital opportunity that was missed with this podcast! I love both Ryan and Sam, and would've loved for them to talk more about the paradigm differences of Stoicism and Buddhism / meditation. For example, how these two practices differ in dealing with thoughts and emotions. The practice Sam talks about seems to go about it in a very deep way, uprooting our basic understanding of our own reality, whereas Stoicism seems to rely of a more traditional western understanding of a self (people like Marcus Aurelius even use the word and concept of a soul when speaking to himself ) that is using rationality to divert negative thoughts and emotions into more helpful states.

Really a shame that a talk on these deeper differences and overlaps between the two philosophies were missed!

[JessicaCooper-mi]

Sam Thank you for your meditation practice and your teachings of mindfulness. It really helped me when I needed it the most. You. Have helped people, like myself . 😊

[SingleDigitDriven]

Outside of my immediate family, there are not 2 people on this planet that I would rather listen to than these 2. Love you guys 👏👏

[FrankieCrumb]

Waking Up is my favourite Meditation App

[mralexander]

Yes to all of us who are quite moved and inspired by Sam Harris and Ryan Holiday….Two mavericks sowing the seeds of the future renaissance that is waiting in the wings for human beings to begin (again) to cultivate the river of energy that moves us towards the flourishing, robust dynamic necessary to live in the excellent pursuit of being the best that we can.
Alhamdullilah, How fortunate I am to have discovered these two formidable forces for good in the 🌎 ❤️‍🔥🔥world

[enbonj]

These two are just awesome for the world arnt they. All the wisdom with seemingly little ego or theatrics. Theyve changed my life

[jordanbeaudoin]

Ryan, your content is great - but - most of what you put out I have to crank to max volume just to hear somewhat normally. Pump it up, man!

[Pradeep_]

This is probably the most insightful discussion I've heard from Sam on meditation. Good job.

[chefman]

Thanks for having Sam on with you, and thank you Sam for joining in. What a great segment.

[joblo]

I love mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Theyve helped so much to overcome many addictions and physical impairments. I love being outside in nature, God's wonderful creation while i practice. I ask the Holy Spirit to direct my movements and stretch my body and take my pain away.
Thanks Sam!

[bilashranjundas]

Sam Harris is an iconic person in my life. His thinking power is a good example for establishing humanity.

[dangood]

Hi Ryan, thanks for talking with Sam Harris, im a long time fan of his and have been practicing stoicism roughly 3 years, reading the classics, W.B. Irvine and yourself. I enjoyed this conversation and came away with this thought:

Sam is quite intellectual in his approach and is where he spends most of his time, whereas you seem to want to inhabit both the intellectual and the practical simultaniously.

Thank you

Im a subscriber to the waking up app too (4 years) and have benefitted from both Sam and stoicism. Just an observation

[willmpet]

“Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional!”

[JDTherrien]

What a cool sign off from Sam at the end! Great content man!

[Abdulja]

I'm in love with Sam's vocabulary. Every time I listen to him I gain 2 or 3 new words. Sam is proof that while everybody can talk, only very few can speak (or are speakers)... if you know what mean.

[lmb]

Could have listened to this for ten hours