Sam Harris: Meaning of Life

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GUEST BIO:
Sam Harris is an author, podcaster, and philosopher.

PODCAST INFO:

SOCIAL:

[vivian]

“This is not the rehearsal. This is the show.” There is a beautiful yet intimidating sense about this perspective.

[erichvonmolder]

The meaning of human life is to experience life, I don't think it is any more complicated than that. It doesn't have to be mind blowing and deep every minute of everyday, it is mostly quite boring or mundane, but that is ok. Now I will water my plants.

[bernardblack]

So the meaning of life is to live it in such a way that the question never even occurs to you.

[pazirandeh]

A fish says to another fish: "I'm looking for the ocean"
"This is it, you found it"
"This? No, this is water, I'm looking for the ocean"

[MarkMach]

The spontaneity by which Sam digs deep and shares his knowledge is something of a marvel. It is always a pleasure listening to him.

[yoshi]

"You cannot become happy, you can only be happy."

[Nordecke]

In a world of 140 character "answers" I appreciate when real humans take time to answer a deep question with thought, nuance, self-awareness and grace.

[djmmjd]

I've heard Sam answer and talk on this subject/question probably 100 times and it never gets old. It renews me every time.

[tekannon]

One of my students, when asked the same question, looked straight ahead and then swiveled his eyes towards me and grimaced and then smiled and said, "Why do you always ask the most outrageous questions? How do I know what the meaning of life is----no, wait, " he said. "The meaning of life for me is to enjoy my life." That gave me what I had been looking for all along. Of course, that's it; the meaning of life is to enjoy the whole trip, good days, bad days----all the days until your last breath...

[aemiliuswolf]

Wow Sam nailed how we all feel about Lex and this show. Thanks

[JapanInsight]

"The ego-climber is like an instrument that's out of adjustment. He puts his foot down an instant too soon or too late. He's likely to miss a beautiful passage of sunlight through the trees. He goes on when the sloppiness of his step shows he's tired. He rests at odd times. He looks up the trail trying to see what's ahead even when he knows what's ahead because he just looked a second before. He goes too fast or too slow for the conditions and when he talks his talk is forever about somewhere else, something else. He's here but he's not here. He rejects the here, is unhappy with it, wants to be farther up the trail but when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then it will be "here." What he's looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn't want that because it's all around him. Every step's an effort, both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant."

~Robert M. Pirsig,

[jorgeortiz]

“This is not the rehearsal it’s the show “ great quote

[nickt]

The act of seeking happiness in any person, object or circumstance outside of yourself is not only a confession of unhappiness, it is the method of unhappiness.

[ThtkidYouKnw]

Awesome answer from Sam. Thanks Lex for having him on. You two have had a huge impact on my life

[elliotlee]

The Buddha went through hell for years putting his body and mind through extreme measures to answer this question. After all the pain, experimentation, and discovery, he arrived at this: THIS IS IT! There is nothing else!

This is very much aligned with Sam's answer.

[lukasmolcic]

Only 30sec in, not sure what the whole answer is going to be, but the way he starts the answer resonates with something I've been thinking about, "what is the meaning of my life" is not a real question, but rather an intellectual expression of ones own emotional and psychological state, a satisfied happy person is not really asking that question, its usually when we feel lost or depressed that the feeling of meaninglessness emerges, and its never about finding the right correct answer to the question that resolves the the condition.

[aarinteich]

This was wonderful. Great insights, as expected. Great moment to reflect on the ‘now’. Thank you

[pumpkinhead]

Love this! Reminds me of when Eckhart Tolle beautifully talks about the present moment. Key word is "being", not "doing." Being aware that you are aware is the key to enjoying presence. This leads to meaning and feeling happy. No thinking is required! Past and future are thought forms. It's always NOW! And it's all we will ever have. ❤🙏

[henriwilson]

This is a phenomenal explanation, probs the best Ive heard. Bravo, Sam Harris

[PaoloFerrerChannel]

Keep on doing what you're doing, Lex. Your content is giving us so much value and wisdom. Thank you so much.