Meditation and Empowerment

0:00 - Introduction
1:34 - Empowerment and hierarchies of advantage
3:02 - The illusory nature of hierarchical empowerment
7:27 - Empowerment that keeps us disempowered
8:46 - Introducing meditation: Presence, awareness & mindfulness
10:14 - The power of silence: Uncommon sanity... and contact with reality
12:57 - Self-awareness
16:08 - Understanding other people
18:50 - The failure of today's prevailing vision of empowerment
21:55 - The art of allowing: The power to accept things as they are
25:27 - Generating a divided, resentful world (like ours)
27:31 - A portrait of empowerment from a meditative perspective
30:42 - The automaticity of genuine empowerment

[pinetree]

I didn't just make it to the end of this video, I have now watched every minute of every video of yours on this channel. I guess you could say i am a fan, but don't worry not a crazy fan but the time has been well invested. Thanks for this channel.

[bsirius]

_I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer._

~Jim Carrey

[kaizenchi]

I started watching your vids while on vacation in 2015, at a point when I turned a corner in my dissertation writing process. It was those philosopher in less than 10 min vids. They helped me get my bearings when it came to understanding what a philosophical framework meant. I've been a PhD for years now and have seen many more of your vids. I've been on a bit of a hiatus; YouTube keeps recommending politically agitating content--this person owning that person, etc. But this was a video I needed to see. Thank you for continuing to make thoughtful, engaging content. You've been a real teacher to me over the past five years.

[selinalo]

I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and your time with us. Been feeling low and lost recently, but one of the few things I greatly appreciated during this tough time is that I got to come across your channel and learn a lot from your videos. To say that you've brought light into my life is an understatement. Greetings from your Taiwanese viewer :)

[Rocky_Anunnaki]

Hi Sir.
I enjoy watching all your videos.
Thanks for all your marvelous wisdom

[sajadtorkamani]

Thanks a bunch, enjoyed listening to this )

[plosslaw]

Thank you for the video, great insights you have presented

[dmi]

Thanks for sharing your ideas in such a simplisitc, insightful manner!

[k.q.]

Any plans to keep making videos? I love this channel

[dlloydy]

Fantastic video as always, the summary at the end confirms so many things. Having lost my way for many years then circumstances forcing me back to the path (I shouldn’t of wandered from) I’ve come to realise these things & find myself looking at how/where I was and thinking...what was that all about?

[JohnTell]

Do you have any books that you've published or maybe there's something on the way? :)
Thanks for all the great content and insight!

[brutexrp]

I love the way your videos open my perceptions, next move to apply your suggestions. Thanks as always and what happened to the hats?

[chuckmartin]

Proffessor Eric, can u please do more of the philosopher in 12 to 20 minutes series? Your previous ones were awesome- very beneficial. Can u do kant descartes or spinoaza and hegel maybe? Spinoza & hegel arei hard for many to wrap heads around.

[JohnTell]

Eric, I hope you're OK! It's been too long since this last video and I'm getting worried :( ❤️

[masonainsworth]

Thank you for this excellent shared perspective.
A Question: I recollect you once did a video on the challenges of validating the results or experience of Buddhist Mindful Meditation. Either, I am incorrect or it has been taken down.
My reason for asking: you focused upon the challenges of pursuing "scientific truths" within the subjective domain of experience. A current focus of mine.

[brianwallington]

Hi Eric thank you for all your insights.I discovered existentialism through your channel, I have been asking questions about the meaning of life since I was about 7 years old( I am now 72) . I have been searching for answers ever since. Your introduction to existentialism has resonated in my mind. I have a question..what does existentialism have to say about history ?? History has been one of my main interests since I was old enough to read. Stay safe and take care now..

[harmanveerrandhawa]

Hey Professor, great video as always. I've been pondering a question and was wondering if you could provide any guidance or wisdom?

If most of what we find attractive in life (Fame, money, status, emotional bonds etc.) is temporary (Maya - Sikhism, Hinduism, and Buddhism), then what in our lives is really worth striving for?

Some arguments/ideas I've come up with are: Nothing (Valid, but it doesn't feel satisfactory), Innovation/Art/Creativity (Transforming temporary inspiration into permanence), Truth (Once established is permanent), To inspire others (Creating a sort of domino effect, by inspiring others who inspire others to positively evolve humanity creating a lasting effect), and Union with God/Sublime (A potent source of wonder and understanding, static through time)

I guess an even broader question could be, should we strive for and value only things that are permanent through time (beyond our lives)?

P.S.- if you don't get around to answering the question, I want you to know that you have been a great source of inspiration

[ollietbow]

Do leadership, leading people properly.
Extrinsic motivation vs intrinsic motivation (Daniel Pink).
The desire and willingness of people to be lead.
How to foster a good working environment

[johndoe]

Thank you brother 🤙 much love and congratulations on making videos so long haha! Everything you say is too perfect 👌