logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2017
41m 27s

#111 — The Science of Meditation

SAM HARRIS
About this episode

Sam Harris speaks with Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson about the current scientific understanding of meditation practice. They speak about the original stigma associated with meditation, the history of introspection in eastern and western cultures, the recent collaboration between Buddhism and western science, the difference between altered states and altered traits, an alternate conception of mental health, “meta-awareness,” the relationship between mindfulness and “flow,” the difference between pain and suffering, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and other topics.

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/subscribe.

Up next
Jul 8
#423 — “More From Sam”: Democracy, Populism, Wealth Inequality, News-Induced Anxiety, & Rapid Fire Questions
In this latest episode of the “More From Sam” series, Sam and Jaron talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. They discuss Epstein’s “client list,” how to safeguard democracy, populism, wealth inequality, the allure of socialism, ho ... Show More
19m 28s
Jun 19
#422 — Zionism & Jihadism
Sam Harris speaks with Haviv Rettig Gur about Israel and her enemies. They discuss Israel’s war with Iran and America’s role in the conflict, Israel’s military capabilities, Iran’s nuclear program, what a ground invasion of Iran could look like, how Iranians view the regime, anti ... Show More
2h 4m
Jun 17
#421 — “More From Sam”: Political Violence, Iran, Deportations, Protests, & Rapid Fire Questions
In this latest episode of the “More From Sam” series, Sam hopped back on with his manager and business partner, Jaron Lowenstein, to talk about current events and answer some of the questions you all submitted on Substack. They discuss the assassination of Minnesota state represe ... Show More
17m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Dr. Sam Harris: Using Meditation to Focus, View Consciousness & Expand Your Mind
My guest is Sam Harris, Ph.D. Sam earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stanford University and his doctorate (Ph.D.) in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is the author of multiple best-selling books and is a world-renowned public-fa ... Show More
4h 17m
May 2023
Joe Loizzo on The New Mind-Body Research & the Yogic Science of Integration
This episode of Chitheads is a talk from Joe Loizzo republished from Embodied Philosophy’s Yoga Seminar.  It's a taste of a deeper dive with Dr. Joe Loizzo in our upcoming 30-hr Certificate Program, “Buddhist Psychology in the Nalanda Tradition,” co-presented with the Nalanda Ins ... Show More
1h 18m
Oct 2022
How Meditation Works & Science-Based Effective Meditations
In this episode, I discuss the biological mechanisms of the state changes that occur during different types of meditation and describe how to develop the meditation practice optimal for you. I explain key meditation principles, such as using specific breathwork patterns and adjus ... Show More
2h 23m
May 2023
Jon Kabat-Zinn: Befriending Pain
Current statistics tell us that 20% of the US population has some form of chronic pain, defined as severe discomfort that has continued for six months or more. That’s more than 50 million people. Jon Kabat-Zinn has received international acclaim for his leading work in bringing t ... Show More
1h 5m
Mar 2021
How meditation can help you live a flourishing life, with Richard Davidson, PhD
Meditation practices date back thousands of years and are a part of nearly every major religion. But it’s only in the past couple of decades that researchers have begun to use the tools of modern science to explore what is happening in the brain when people meditate and how medit ... Show More
31m 28s
Dec 2018
#34 - Sam Harris, Ph.D.: The transformative power of mindfulness
In this episode, Sam Harris, neuroscientist, author, and host of the Waking Up Podcast, walks us through the profound, yet practical, ways that meditation can transform our lives. Additionally, he helps to define the types of meditation and clarifies potential misconceptions with ... Show More
2h 43m
Oct 2019
Jon Kabat-Zinn: The Mindfulness Revolution
Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is the internationally renowned founder and director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts, whose trailblazing research has helped bring mindfulness meditation into mainstream medicine. Jon is the author of many books and audio pro ... Show More
1h 12m
Dec 2021
EP13: Meditation & Dream Yoga
Ryan J Burton is a Meditation instructor & the Host of a podcast called After Awakening.  He has been on multiple meditation retreats that have helped him deeply understand why incorporating meditation into his lifestyle was game changer. We talk about the benefits meditation can ... Show More
34m 21s