#347 — Finding Sanity in 2024 | Making Sense with Sam Harris

Intro

In this episode of “Making Sense with Sam Harris,” Sam discusses the crisis of meaning in affluent societies and the importance of understanding our own minds to find sanity in a chaotic world. He explores how modern life’s abundance and distractions can prevent us from achieving true fulfillment and offers insights on how meditation can help us navigate these challenges. Sam also reflects on the future and emphasizes the possibility of finding sanity, wisdom, love, compassion, and gratitude, even in uncertain times.

Main Takeaways

Seeking Meaning in Affluent Societies

• In affluent societies, there’s a crisis of meaning, evidenced by loneliness, erosion of social trust, and political partisanship.
• Modern life’s abundance doesn’t guarantee a good life; buying more stuff and excessive social media use can’t fulfill human striving.
• Understanding our own minds and taking responsibility for them can alleviate the crisis of meaning.

The Chaos of Human Minds

• Chaos in the world is a symptom of human minds being out of control, driven by greed, fear, hatred, ignorance, and false certainty.
• Each individual can radically change their own lives and those closest to them by understanding their minds.
• Modern life leads to partial attention, preventing us from noticing the fragmentation of our minds and its cost.

The Perennial Spiritual Problem

• Modern life makes it harder to understand and solve the perennial spiritual problem of aspiring to contentment.
• The crisis of meaning is deeper and existential, requiring real meditation for a real understanding of the predicament.
• Real meditation is the recognition of what the mind is like prior to thought and conceptualization.

Meditation and the App

• The app was initially focused on teaching meditation without religious or new age influences.
• Meditation allows experiencing impermanence, leading to a feeling of freedom and fulfillment.
• The app now offers courses on stoicism, time management, and cognitive behavioral therapy, in addition to meditation.

The Future and Finding Sanity

• The future is uncertain, with potential global conflicts and a challenging US presidential election in 2024.
• Despite concerns about the state of the world, the app emphasizes that sanity, wisdom, love, compassion, and gratitude are still possible.
• Setting intentions for the upcoming year can help guide our actions and decisions.
• Reflecting on past experiences can provide valuable insights for future growth and development.
• Embracing the unknown and being open to new opportunities can lead to personal and professional fulfillment.
• Wishing others happiness and inviting them to join in future endeavors fosters a sense of community and support.

Summary

Seeking Meaning in Affluent Societies

In affluent societies, there is a crisis of meaning characterized by loneliness, erosion of social trust, and political partisanship. Despite the abundance of modern life, material possessions and excessive social media use cannot fulfill human striving. To alleviate this crisis, it is crucial to understand our own minds and take responsibility for them.

The Chaos of Human Minds

The chaos we witness in the world is a reflection of our minds being driven by negative emotions and false certainty. However, each individual has the power to transform their own lives and those around them by gaining a deep understanding of their minds. Modern life’s distractions, such as partial attention, prevent us from recognizing the fragmentation of our minds and its consequences.

The Perennial Spiritual Problem

Modern life presents challenges in addressing the perennial spiritual problem of seeking contentment. This crisis of meaning goes beyond surface-level issues and requires genuine meditation to gain a true understanding of our predicament. Real meditation involves recognizing the nature of the mind prior to thought and conceptualization.

Meditation and the App

The app initially focused on teaching meditation without religious or new age influences. Meditation allows individuals to experience impermanence, leading to a sense of freedom and fulfillment. In addition to meditation, the app now offers courses on stoicism, time management, and cognitive behavioral therapy, providing users with a comprehensive toolkit for personal growth and well-being.

The Future and Finding Sanity

The future is uncertain, with potential global conflicts and a challenging US presidential election in 2024. Despite these concerns, the app emphasizes that sanity, wisdom, love, compassion, and gratitude are still attainable. Setting intentions, reflecting on past experiences, embracing the unknown, and fostering a sense of community can guide individuals towards personal and professional fulfillment.

Conclusion

In a world filled with distractions and uncertainty, it is essential to find meaning and sanity within ourselves. Understanding our minds, practicing meditation, and embracing personal growth can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Despite the challenges we face, there is still hope for finding wisdom, love, and gratitude in our daily lives.