Is Consciousness a Fundamental Building Block of the Universe? | Rebecca Newberger Goldstein
In the interview, philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein introduces her latest book, *The Mattering Instinct*, which argues that humans possess a deep‑seated drive to feel they matter beyond mere biological survival. She distinguishes between "self‑mattering," the innate imperative to preserve one’s own life, and the "mattering instinct," a uniquely human urge to justify that self‑mattering to oneself and to others. Goldstein explains that this instinct pushes us to seek external validation, construct narratives of worth, and evaluate our actions against subjective standards of significance. The book maps how this longing influences personal choices, moral frameworks, and social conflicts, illustrating the concept with stories ranging from everyday anxieties to historical figures. She highlights the paradox that while our biological makeup ensures attention to survival, the mattering instinct compels us to demand objective justification for our existence, often leading to division when individuals pursue divergent criteria for worth. Goldstein calls humanity "homo justificans," emphasizing our unique capacity for self‑reflection and theory of mind. The framework offers a fresh analytical tool for psychologists, ethicists, and policymakers, suggesting that many societal tensions stem from competing attempts to satisfy this instinct. By recognizing the mattering instinct, we can better understand motivations behind cultural movements, mental health struggles, and the search for meaning in a complex world.
Abiding and Nonabiding Awakening (Excerpt)
The video explores why many spiritual seekers experience a push‑pull between moments of profound insight and a return to ordinary, ego‑driven consciousness. Host Ali asks about this unsettling back‑and‑forth, and the teacher distinguishes two models: non‑abiding awakening, where the glimpse...
Not Knowing Is the Beginning of True Wisdom | Eckhart Tolle
In the talk, Eckhart Tolle argues that true wisdom begins with the willingness to admit ignorance. He revisits Socrates’ claim of being the wisest because he knows nothing, framing "not‑knowing" as a state of pure awareness rather than intellectual emptiness. Tolle...
Why a “Good Life” Might Be Built on Self-Deception
The video argues that a seemingly comfortable “good life” often rests on unexamined self‑deception. It challenges listeners to move beyond surface‑level contentment—church attendance, family harmony, career success—and to interrogate the underlying meaning system that sustains those experiences. The speaker stresses that...
Where Do Our Experiences Go When We Die?
The video uses a maritime metaphor to explore what happens to individual experience after death, framing infinite consciousness as an ocean without form. It argues that each mind is a wave that temporarily rises from this boundless sea. Key insights include...
What Happens to My Life’s Learning When I Die?
The video explores what becomes of a person’s accumulated knowledge and development when they die, using a metaphor of an ocean and its waves. The speaker rejects literal reincarnation but frames consciousness as an infinite ocean, with each individual mind...
This Moment Changed Georges St-Pierre’s Life Forever (Why He Stopped Fighting)
The video centers on Georges St‑Pierre’s decision to retire, revealing a profound psychological shift from ego‑driven ambition to prioritizing family and personal fulfillment. He explains that while he once measured success by public perception, the turning point came when he...
Death as a Great Equalizer
The video dissects the 1958 posthumous novel “Ilgato Pardo the Leopard,” a singular work by the late Sicilian aristocrat‑author Joseeppi Tomasi Demped. Framed as a character study of Fabritzio Corba, a middle‑aged astronomer‑mathematician, the book uses his life in the...
The Counterintuitive Need to Slow Down and Find Spaciousness with Iain McGilchrist | TGS 217
The TGS episode features philosopher‑neuroscientist Iain McGilchrist exploring why our culture’s relentless push for speed and more stuff may be misguided. Drawing on his divided‑brain theory, McGilchrist argues that the left‑hemisphere’s narrow, goal‑oriented focus dominates modern life, while the right‑hemisphere...
If You Have to Say It, It’s Already a Problem
The video tackles a subtle but pervasive communication flaw: the habit of announcing honesty before delivering it. Drawing on Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, the speaker highlights how phrases like “I’ll be honest with you” betray an underlying assumption that honesty is...
Even 20 Years From Now This Moment Will Be Live | Eckhart Tolle
In this brief guided meditation, Eckhart Tolle reiterates his core teaching that the only true reality is the present moment, which he calls “the now.” He frames the video as a live‑stream that will remain “live” even decades later, underscoring...
How to Become Silent? | Sadhguru
In this short video, Sadhguru explains that silence is not a technique but a natural condition that emerges when one ceases to react to stimuli. He distinguishes “noise” from ordinary sound, defining noise as any sensation—external or internal—that triggers a reaction....
What Empire Cannot Erase with Prof. Fatemeh Keshavarz and Omid Safi, Facilitated by Mays Imad
The virtual panel titled “What Empire Cannot Erase” brought together Persian literature scholar Fatemeh Keshavarz, Islamic mysticism expert Omid Safi, and facilitator Maysam Imad to confront the ongoing bombardments of Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon. The conversation framed these attacks as...
True Spirituality Goes Beyond Meditation
The video argues that true spirituality extends far beyond sitting on a meditation cushion; it demands a clear vision for the future. By citing Buddha, Moses, Muhammad, Paramahansa Yogananda and Mother Teresa, the speaker shows how spiritual leaders have historically...
The Healing Power of Awareness with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
In a recent teaching, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche links meditative awareness to physical and mental health, emphasizing that intention is the missing catalyst for deeper healing. He cites modern research showing meditation improves heart function, immunity, and brain plasticity, then introduces...
Peeling Layers of Self (Excerpt)
The video delves into the nature of the self, arguing that what we call "me" is an illusion uncovered through introspection. Using the onion analogy, the speaker illustrates how each peeled layer—thoughts, feelings, memories—reveals nothing but more layers, leaving no...
UNRAVELING THE DREAM (A New Documentary Executive Produced by Sam Harris)
The new documentary "Unraveling the Dream," executive produced by Sam Harris, investigates how the brain constructs reality and what occurs when that construct collapses, drawing on Aldous Huxley’s mescaline experiments and modern neuroscience. Featuring leading researchers Anil Seth, Robin Carhart‑Harris,...
The Secret Element that Makes Love Last | Eckhart Tolle
The video explores what Eckhart Tolle calls the “secret element” that makes love endure – a transcendent, spacious dimension that goes beyond sex, emotion, and intellect. Tolle argues that physical attraction wanes, emotional love oscillates between affection and resentment, and mental...
Seven-Day Livestreamed Retreat From Mandali Retreat Centre, 19–26 April 2026 – ‘Balyani and Th
The Mandali Retreat Centre streamed a seven‑day meditation retreat (April 19‑26, 2026) centered on the 13th‑century Sufi mystic Balyani and his concise work “Know Yourself.” The facilitator presented the text as a lens for exploring personal consciousness rather than a historical study. He...
Try This Journal Exercise. I Promise. #changeyourlife #selflove
The video introduces a three‑step journaling routine designed to break cycles of negativity and cultivate lasting optimism. The creator outlines a five‑minute venting phase, a brief gratitude list, and a forward‑looking prompt about what the writer looks forward to, emphasizing...
The Best Passages From Marcus Aurelius' Meditations Read by Ryan Holiday
The video features Ryan Holiday reading his favorite passages from Marcus Aurelius’s *Meditations*, positioning the ancient text as a practical guide for modern life and work. Holiday highlights how Stoic discipline forces us to examine whether our fears are based on...
Alan Watts - Intellectual Yoga Full Talk Now on Our Channel #alanwattsquotes
Alan Watts frames “intellectual yoga” as the practice of quieting the inner monologue to access a pure, unmediated present. He argues that self‑talk constructs the illusion of past and future, and creates the artificial split between knower and known, subject...
If Happiness Is Within, Why Do I Seek Pleasure?
The video explores a philosophical view that happiness is internal, not derived from pleasure‑seeking activities. It argues that once one realizes happiness resides in one's being, external pursuits become optional; you can still travel, dine, watch movies, but not as a...
The Great AI Unraveling Series with Tristan Harris
In a community‑hosted session titled “The Great AI Unraveling,” tech ethicist Tristan Harris joined hosts Maurizio and Zaya Benazzo to discuss how artificial intelligence has leapt from narrow, task‑specific tools to a new generation of scalable “digital brains.” Harris traced...
Is It Wrong to Still Want Pleasures After Awakening?
The video explores a common post‑awakening dilemma: whether enjoying travel, meals and social outings is contradictory once one recognizes that true happiness resides within. The speaker questions if continued pursuit of external pleasures signals a lack of inner fulfillment, and...
6 Stoic Rules of Arete (Excellence)
The video outlines six Stoic rules for cultivating arete—classical excellence—by applying timeless principles from Marcus Aurelius and modern interpreters like Ryan Holiday. Each rule emphasizes self‑discipline, purposeful action, and aligning daily habits with a higher moral purpose. Viewers are encouraged to...
What Does Purpose Really Mean for a Woman?
The video dissects a popular online comment that equates having children with a more purposeful life, and the speaker explains why that sweeping claim deserves scrutiny. She argues that parenthood does not automatically confer mindfulness or meaning; many adults raise children...
Poetry Wakes You to Reality | John Vervaeke & Adam Walker
John Vervaeke and poet‑scholar Adam Walker explore poetry as a disciplined spiritual practice, arguing that close reading awakens the "imaginal" faculty—distinct from mere entertainment—and grounds a deeper grasp of reality.\n\nThey contend that the disciplined imagination cultivated through poetry can be...
Panpsychism: Arguing Pro and Con (Part I) | Alex Gómez-Marín
The video features Alex Gómez‑Marín examining the resurgence of panpsychism—a view that consciousness, or at least experience, is a fundamental feature of the universe. He frames the debate not as a sociological trend but as a shift in ontology, challenging the...
Why You Can’t Feel Happy for Long | Eckhart Tolle
In a recent talk, spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle argues that the fleeting nature of happiness stems from the mind’s dominance over identity. He defines the unconscious state as complete identification with incessant thought, which he says most people experience daily. Tolle...
Hygiene of Emotion
The video argues that emotional hygiene should be taught from kindergarten, just as physical hygiene is. Understanding emotions equips children to manage destructive feelings, drawing on India’s 3,000‑year tradition of ahimsa (non‑violence) and karuna (compassion) as timeless frameworks. The speaker...
Nir Eyal, Author of Beyond Belief | Your Beliefs Are Quietly Shaping Everything You See | READ
Nir Eyal, author of *Beyond Belief*, opens the conversation by recounting the story of Anne, a 20‑year‑old runner who, while passing a homeless shelter, questioned why she could run while others could not. That moment of self‑reflection sparked an entrepreneurial...
Crying Easily Isn't Weakness; It Means You've Been Strong for Too LONG
The video reframes crying as a sign of resilience rather than a flaw, arguing that frequent tears indicate a life lived with fewer emotional barriers. It contends that society’s stigma around visible emotion mistakenly equates vulnerability with weakness, despite the...
Adya Explains The Middle Way #adyashanti #opengatesangha #buddhateachings
Adya Shanti opens the video by challenging the popular notion that the Middle Way is merely a balanced midpoint between opposing extremes. She argues that this surface‑level interpretation misses the profound revelation at the heart of the teaching: the Middle...
Meera Bai’s Bhakti Was Sweet and Crazy | Sadhguru
In this talk Sadhguru examines the legendary poet‑saint Meera Bai, portraying her bhakti as a blend of ecstatic madness and profound sweetness. He argues that her devotion, while seemingly irrational, was a conscious, purposeful state that transcended ordinary logic. The core...
The Real Reason Your Life Feels Incomplete | Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle argues that the pervasive sense of life’s incompleteness stems from identifying oneself solely with a personal narrative. When the ego constructs a story of "me"—filled with expectations, failures, and possessions—it creates a fragile self that constantly seeks validation...
Addiction, Prison & Recovery — The Power of Breath | John O’Hegarty
The podcast features John O’Hegarty, an Irish former philosophy student turned breath‑work practitioner, recounting his unconventional path from a curious rural childhood to a career in breathing techniques. O’Hegarty describes how early curiosity led him to study philosophy, a stint in...
Compassion in Times of Conflict—A Conversation with Tara, Paul Gilbert, and Rick Hanson
In a timely dialogue moderated by Rick Hanson, psychologist Paul Gilbert, meditation teacher Tara, and neuroplasticity expert Rick Hanson explore how compassion can be cultivated as a strategic response to interpersonal and intergroup conflict. The conversation bridges evolutionary neuroscience with...
Who Are You Without Your Past | Eckhart Tolle
In the clip, Eckhart Tolle poses a probing question: what remains of you when you strip away every memory of past and every projection of future? He suggests that the sense of self is not a story but a living...
How Do I Move From Understanding to Knowing?
The video tackles a common dilemma among spiritual seekers: how to move from merely understanding nondual concepts intellectually to actually knowing them experientially. Host Ruben guides the guest, Peter, through a practical exercise that shifts attention from thoughts and sensations...
Stop Start in Love
The video dissects the “stop‑start” or push‑pull dynamic that haunts couples worldwide – from a dentist in Rio to teenagers in Canberra – describing it as a predictable cycle of growing intimacy followed by abrupt retreat.\n\nIt argues the behavior is...
America’s Unhealthy Obsession with Making Pain Meaningful | Kate Bowler
In her talk "America’s unhealthy obsession with making pain meaningful," historian Kate Bowler argues that U.S. culture has turned purpose‑seeking into a compulsive narrative, insisting that every hardship must serve a lesson. She calls this the rise of "purpose monsters," a...
BTS' RM Talks About the Band's Identity, 'Fighting Demons', And the Meaning of Life | Cover Story
RM sits down with Rolling Stone to discuss BTS's evolving identity, his post‑military psychological state, and the philosophical questions driving his solo work. He emphasizes that without continual challenge, the group loses purpose, and he frames his upcoming album as...
What Awakening Actually Does to Your Mind | Eckhart Tolle
In the clip, Eckhart Tolle explains that spiritual awakening does not silence the mind but shifts the relationship to thought, turning thinking from an unconscious driver into a witnessed process. He argues most people assume “I think” denotes a voluntary act,...
Epicurus - Live Like A God On An Average Salary (Epicureanism)
The video explains how Epicurus’ ancient philosophy shows that a god‑like life is achievable without a six‑figure income, emphasizing contentment over consumption. Epicurus divides desires into natural‑necessary, natural‑unnecessary, and vain‑empty, urging viewers to satisfy basic needs, treat upgrades as optional, and...
You Think You’re Nice… But It’s Just Fawning
The video introduces fawning, a lesser‑known trauma‑response akin to fight‑flight‑freeze, where individuals constantly seek to please others to stay safe. The speaker describes how the habit of saying yes—even when exhausted—creates a cycle of fatigue, resentment, and invisibility, and links it...
A Month of the BEST Lessons From Marcus Aurelius
The video unpacks Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, translating the ancient stoic text into actionable guidance for today’s leaders and professionals. It frames the emperor’s private reflections as a roadmap for cutting through modern noise and reclaiming purpose. Central to the lesson is...
Upcoming Lecture Course in Toronto
A three‑session lecture series will be held at Toronto’s Sivananda Yoga Center on April 18, April 25 and May 2. Hosted by John Veriki and Sara, the events combine a 90‑minute talk with a 30‑minute Q&A. The curriculum covers the cognitive science of mindfulness,...
The Quiet Crisis Beneath the Surface of Modern Life | Eckhart Tolle
Eckhart Tolle warns of a quiet mental‑health crisis, noting that 23 % of U.S. college students were prescribed antidepressants last year. He ties the surge to pervasive digital distraction, arguing that constant device use fragments attention and saps vital energy. Tolle distinguishes...
A Special Message From Dr. Ramani...
Dr. Ramani announced a series of three in‑person retreats designed to help survivors of narcissistic and antagonistic relationships regain clarity, boundaries, and confidence. The first gathering runs June 19‑21 at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, where participants will...