logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2023
1h 8m

#104 — The Lessons of Death

SAM HARRIS
About this episode

Sam Harris speaks with Frank Ostaseski about death and dying—and about how the awareness of death can improve our lives in each moment.

Frank Ostaseski is a Buddhist teacher, international lecturer, and a leading voice in end-of-life care. In 1987, he co-founded the Zen Hospice Project, the first Buddhist hospice in America. In 2004, he created the Metta Institute to provide innovative educational programs and professional trainings that foster compassionate, mindfulness-based care. Mr. Ostaseski’s groundbreaking work has been widely featured in the media, including the Bill Moyers television series On Our Own Terms, the PBS series With Eyes Open, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and in numerous print publications. AARP magazine named him one of America’s 50 most innovative people. In 2001, he was honored by the Dalai Lama for his many years of compassionate service to the dying and their families. He is the author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully.

mettainstitute.org

Fiveinvitations.com

 

Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing.

Up next
Nov 2023
#175 — Leaving the Faith
Sam Harris speaks with Yasmine Mohammed about her book Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam. They discuss her family background and indoctrination into conservative Islam, the double standard that Western liberals use when thinking about women in the Muslim commun ... Show More
1h 20m
Nov 2023
#151 — Will We Destroy the Future?
Sam Harris speaks with Nick Bostrom about the problem of existential risk. They discuss public goods, moral illusions, the asymmetry between happiness and suffering, utilitarianism, “the vulnerable world hypothesis,” the history of nuclear deterrence, the possible need for “turnk ... Show More
1h 33m
Nov 2023
#207 — Can We Pull Back From The Brink?
Sam discusses the 2020 social protests and civil unrest, in light of what we know about racism and police violence in America.   Episodes that have been re-released as part of the Best of Making Sense series may have been edited for relevance since their original airing. 
1h 53m
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2017
#104 — The Lessons of Death
Sam Harris speaks with Frank Ostaseski about death and dying—and about how the awareness of death can improve our lives in each moment. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscrib ... Show More
28m 26s
Sep 2022
#297 — Preparing for the End
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam Harris speaks with BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger about preparing for death. They discuss the difference between palliative care and hospice, the tension between getting the most out of life and not clinging to experience, planning for death ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 2024
Ep. 257 – Perspectives on Death
How can we learn to live by changing our relationship to death? Ram Dass addresses the staff at a hospital and shares his vast perspectives on death, not getting caught in the drama of dying, and dealing with burnout.Ram Dass Here & Now is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give onlin ... Show More
39m 5s
Oct 2021
#263 — The Paradox of Death
tail spinning
18m 3s
Oct 2025
Ep. 288 – Opening to Death
Ram Dass explores facing fears of the future as we age, opening up to the mystery of death, and seeing dying as a window of opportunity for awakening.Ram Dass Here & Now is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ramdass and get on your way to be ... Show More
41m 9s
May 2024
#369 — Escaping Death
<p>Sam Harris speaks with Sebastian Junger about danger and death. They discuss Sebastian's career as a journalist in war zones, the connection between danger and meaning, his experience of nearly dying from a burst aneurysm in his abdomen, his lingering trauma, the concept of "a ... Show More
34m 7s
Apr 2024
Eckhart Tolle Special: Finding Death Before Death Finds You
Original Air Date: May 21, 2021Eckhart Tolle delves into a topic that is taboo for many of us…and that is the subject of Death. In the Western world, Eckhart says denial and the fear of death has prevailed for centuries. However, due to the pandemic, collectively we’ve been force ... Show More
47m 4s