2017 Maps of Meaning 10: Genesis and the Buddha 

"Well YES!!!, What ELSE would it be?!" I love it when he says stuff like this.

This far beats bloody news and tv... in my spare time, when not reading or listening to music, I am watching/listening to this. This has motivated me to face many fears and take on the dragon I always avoided, and I am better for it.

Finally, a man that actually produces viable theories and doesn't just spew PC pseudo intellectual rhetorical nonsense.

I just listen to everything Peterson says. He is such an outstanding man. This lecture was one of the most interesting things I've listen to on RU-vid platform.

These are the videos the Peterson haters have never taken the time to watch. Love hearing his thoughts on these subjects.

I actually feel comfortable saying that this is almost certainly the deepest, most complex, most historically and scientifically grounded exploration of the Adam and Eve story that has ever been told. The last 45 minutes or so of this lecture is an absolutely mind-boggling adventure into the past and into the self. Jaw-dropping.

i wish it was possible to take smaller snippets of this, but i don't feel that it makes justice for these videos. they aren't just golden nuggets, they're diamonds so huge that you would need a gigantic crane to move it. I love it

I wish upon a star to be able to shake this Titan's hand in my lifetime. Truly special man.

38:00 Morality is not a higher order cognitive process 40:30 Where gods come from 42:00 Archetypes being filled with cultural dress 45:30 (mentions Hume argument) 46:00 Archetypes evolved Amazing video 1:49:00 Work and sacrifice

A few years ago I felt compelled to finish Crime and Punishment despite its challenges (and despite already finding so much accessible beautiful scattered throughout). in the middle of this lecture, everything came together, I realized the deeper meaning of its epilogue. It is a final return to meaning after wallowing in postmodern, unfettered experimentation. Thank you professor for yet another fantastic lecture!

"A leader gives articulation to the imagination of the population." MC Peterson

I'm not well versed in the humanities, was always a techie. Over the course of my life I've grown to understand this on an organic level. How inspiring to hear someone able to articulate it.

Only you can get me to listen intently to a lecture for 2 hours. This is the most important lecture I'll ever hear.

wife: "it's Friday night, I'm heading out with some friends, what are you up to?" me: ... "Jordan Peterson just promised to explain the Buddha story"... wife: [stares blankly] she just doesn't get it

Massive PLOT TWIST at 1:38:17 when Peterson lends true metaphysical meaning to his catchphrase "that's that!"

I wish jp would release these as audio only download. His teaching style is so good.

This man is a light shining in these increasingly dark and confusing times...

after 40 hours of these videos i may have started to learn something

Hi Jordan Peterson, you are my hero. That is all.

*sorting intensifies*

Man deserved a standing ovation for that. Outstanding lecture 👏👏

It's funny how he revisits the same themes in every lecture, but somehow it does not get boring. Is it because this is that REAL stuff to which we got so unaccustomed these days?

I'm listening to a college lecture for entertainment.

You are a good leader and I'm am overjoyed to have found you! This is serious stuff and you really articulate it well for all to understand. Very grateful for your service 🙏

1:54:12 "This is actually quite a comedic story, except that it's also a catastrophic tragedy" classic Peterson right there.

That student shows up late than blocks the camera. Sort yourself dude.

looks like JP finally decided to get a decent microphone. I guess you could say that he is sorting himself out!

This, my friends, is Jordan Peterson, the legend, firing on all cylinders for your enlightenment: Mapping meaning and, shall we say, cosmic clarity where the fiercest thinkers and authors left off. This class is "like going into the ring with Muhammad Ali and being pummelled to death for half an hour - you don't recover from it that easily". (19:51) (Is there something about this that is of dubious validity? What else would it be like?) (35:05)

I keep coming back to Peterson again and again. He must be the most important living thinker. Anyone?

Jordan: "What do you want to subordinate yourself to?" Me: "..." Jordan: "How about your heroic willingness to encounter the unkown" 🤯

So much passion in this lecture. And such a profound message. I hope of all of us will take warning from the dreadful lessons of the 20th century before it's too late and not fall into that trap again. God knows the maw of hell is wide.

Who needs sleep anyway? Peterson until 1AM is better than sleep.

"Your girlfriend is not your mother. Or at least she shouldn't be." - Dr. Jordan Peterson

I've never encountered another mentor whom I've learned more from in one hour than in ten years. Please, You must continue your lectures.

I took my time in the first few minutes of this lecture taking notes, re-watching, and double-checking word definitions in order to understand enough to digest the rest of the content. The first two and a half minutes was like wrestling a bear. With profound levels of density, Dr. Peterson introduces the topic of this lecture so concisely that I immediately knew I didn't want to miss a single point. After what seemed to be the 30 minute mark, I was settled nicely into the lecture. I contentedly drew in my journal while my mind filled with the images, concepts, and subsequent understanding that Dr Peterson laid out.

there is a certain resonance that rings in my mind as I listen to these lectures. I have actually cleared my desk of all distractions, bought a very expensive fountain book and notepad, and all I do after work is sit by my desk and write notes as I listen to Jordan Peterson. and what particularly drives me crazy is the fact that these vids were posted 2 years ago. I have wasted my time listening to the likes of Alex jones , the whole MSN and all these alternative media pundits who parrot each other and poison the well. I am in a transitional period of my life, and it is hell. A hell I could have managed if I had come across this material earlier. The ironic thing is that I would not have come across this material, if the MSN had nit tried to take hits at Jordan Peterson. I have studied psychology, sociology, Ai and arts and media at Uni level, but the stuff they taught never sank in. If only Jordan Peterson had been my lecturer. But as long as they do not do an Alex jones on Jordan? he will always be here, and I will always have my time spare to learn. It is not everyday that a person teaches you about morality with such clarity and such truthfulness. I am really enjoying these lectures, and as long as this channel is open? I feel like I am getting an education fro free. Absolutely loving this :)

My pronouns are bucko and buckself. If you don't refer to me as such then you probably need to sort yourself out.

Drink for every: "Roughly speaking" Shot for every: "And that's that"

Sometimes the wisdom of this video overwhelms me and I have to stop, take a breath and continue. Still amazing!

It's really wonderful to observe your lectures. They are truly informative, inspirational and interesting. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. You REALLY are a brilliant person Jordan! Thank you for everything you do and how you do it.

The crucifix often has a great eye above it. I've seen it everywhere, even at my local Catholic Church

Really enjoying the difference in Peterson’s tone of voice at the beginning of a lecture, straight after the end of a previous one. Listening to him work himself into such excitement is very engaging. Learning loads. When are you doing lectures on exodus Prof?

Dr. Peterson is the Carl Jung of our era. A true genius, eh? :) THANK YOU, Jordan.

This man needs his own podcast.

53:00 he starts to discuss Biblical Stories/Buddha

Dear Jordan Peterson I owe you a genuine gratitude. The society needs more people capable of critical thinking, deep understanding and sincere humbleness. Thank you so much for these lectures that helped and helps me to be a better person.

It's like being able to listen to Jung and Freud lecture at the height of their work. Such a treat!!

ive been to 2 colleges in my life but none had these fancy lectures so really enjoying this lol

i can see the recent events have begun creeping into these lectures in subtle ways. the lectures from 2015 and before dr Peterson didnt stress his voice as much when talking about universities and underlying soc justice thoughts.

Can't believe I never noticed the comparison, but then I read about the Buddha looking for alternatives to Christian belief systems when in my late teens, the only information I had for comparison were bible stories I could barely remember from early childhood. Thank you again professor P for another great lecture.

The lecture is titled “Genesis and the Buddha”, but there is very little consequential substance in the legend of Prince Siddhartha that parallels the genesis story. Possibly the only plausible parallel is their comparable mythological origins that are meant to establish an archetypal narrative. The scholarly references to the historical figure of Gautama “the Awakened One” have raised significant questions on the genesis of his provenance and whether they align at all with the references the Buddha himself gives to his family origins in the Suttas. More importantly, Buddha’s main contribution to the world of philosophy is less concerned with his legendary origins, which would fall into the timeline preceding the moment of complete awakening, but the significance of his teaching is revealed to him from the moment of realization and insight into the nature of reality. This moment of enlightenment is then followed by a lifetime of conscious existence that contributes the practical backbone to the philosophy of gradual awakening, that can be traced across multiple rebirths and the karmic forces that define them. According to the Buddhist psychology, we cannot define a single birth as determinant of the point of origination, even in the case of Gautama, who is considered one of several awakened masters in a lineage of samsaric disruption (paralleling the legend of the Buddha’s contemporary Mahavira of the Jains). The birth stories (Jataka tales) are further proof that Buddhist philosophy is far more invested in reincarnation as a ceaseless process of cause-effect formations, rather than a story of beginnings. The very notion of dependent origination points to no particular point as an origins, but lays out a series of co-arising factors that act upon each other in a co-dependent fashion to fuel the process of continuous rebirth. The “fuel” becomes of central value to the Buddhist doctrine, for this practical philosophy recognizes that for any mechanism to function it must be fueled, in this case by the volitional acts that constitute the karmic blueprint for the subsequent rebirth. Exhaust the “fuel” and the fire extinguishes itself. The genesis of Buddhist philosophy must be sought out not in the archetypal preludes to a single lifetime, but in the karmic factors influencing the continuous thread of cause-effect mechanics of rebirth. It is a rather futile exercise to speak of genesis within the Buddhist philosophy, or to equate it with other archetypal narratives.

The unsorted collar strikes back ;) And yet quickly ameliorated. SORTED

So grand. What else can you say. 100 % 10/10 360 degrees this is THE basic lecture for being a educated civilian in the West

Something I find very interesting about Buddha and the Lotus flower reaching the dark depths in the water of the collective unconscious, to bring it out into the world, is how similar it is to Odin and Yggdrasil. Odin hung himself on the world tree, with a spear into his side, for 9 days and 9 nights, in a state between life and death, peering into Mímisbrunnr (Mimir’s well) to gain divine wisdom, the runes. And gives it to mankind

Sort you life out for everytime he says "roughly speaking" Clean your room every time he says "And that's that"

Western Civilization needs rescuing. It is a serious and noble task. We must accept this responsibility voluntarily, on an individual basis, doing as much as we each can to think clearly and express ourselves honestly and freely.

I think Jordan Peterson has restored my faith in the ideal, or that which is God.

I've NEVER...heard anyone so capable of articulating a subject so well that.... it's not only sooo educational....but very entertaining as well

Genesis and Buddha? FUCK YES.

How sick is his laptop with the god damn dragon of chaos as its crest!

An amazing lecture that was more worthwhile to watch than a typical movie

Anything Jordan Peterson says is worth the time!

what I keep finding problems with is the notion that without god/higher value everything is allowed. I watch a fair bit of Slavoj Zizek as well and I find his case of the opposite more convincing, that without god nothing is permitted and with god everything is. I would love to see a discussion between dr. Peterson and him on the matter.

Such a great man. I'm a big fan and interested listener on a regular basis. I'm glad his lectures are uploaded. They are very inspiring!

I've never heard anyone better explain the dichotomy in the bible stories. Thank you.

My favourite lecture so far. I can feel my brain expanding with knowledge!

So what JP is saying is that there's unwritten prequel to Genesis where God has an epic battle with a Leviathan that we're all missing out on. :(

Looks like Dr. Peterson is wearing his vampire look in the beginning of the lecture. Should attract more female viewers.

Thank you Jordan Peterson. I am not linguistically gifted enough to express how thankful I am for your material. You have rescued me from the whale. I was unemployed, addicted to drugs,smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, depressed and deeply nihilistic. I viewed religion as the opiate of the masses. I was also a moral relativist and at more times than I am proud of had suicidal thoughts. I would often feel like it would be better if it all just fell apart. I was hopeless. Your material has helped me so much. I began exercising, and cleaning my room, and tried to stay to a schedule. I looked at western society and Christian values in a whole new light , slowly I started to feel better and better. I eventually got a job, I have stopped almost all drugs. I still have a few drinks occasionally, and smoke a little pot every once in a while. But my depression and nihilistic thoughts are gone. I have my ups and downs like anyone else but as far as just feeling hopeless all the time like I was that is gone. I have whole new lease on life and I don't know how I can possibly thank you enough. I truly believe you saved my life. You are an amazing teacher and a hero for the stand you are taking against the radical leftist pc authoritarians in the fight for western civilization.

If I fall asleep to Jordan Peterson every night, does my subconscious get smarter? Heaven I sure hope so, then everything will just manifest itself right before my own eyes. He knows how many lives he's touched and made better. How many people get to say they've done that, let alone SHOW you how much that they care that they've been able to do that for you? I'm hopeful to meet this incredible man some say!

I like it that there is a dragon of chaos on his laptop.

I love the fact he's not trying to open the door but he is giving you the tools to move forward how do you know when you come to the right conclusion and what you do with it one taught shared by many harming no other is where the result of your conclusion is proven

RU-vid has a worthwhile purpose. I knew it deep down. My hope in humanity is restored.

It's so sad that most of the people who used to love to discuss these kinds of extraordinary ideas that connect everything to everything get bored with me very quickly anymore. It just takes too much effort to move into these higher perspectives. I know. Because I am often that person.

Legend has it that if you comment this early Dr. Peterson will respond with "Sort yourself out, Bucko"

I would have loved to hear a little more about the Buddha, but this was such a fantastic lecture!

Ego comment here. Since I didn't go to Uni then the Uni came to me... thanks Universe and thank you, from the bottom of my heart, Dr. B. Peterson. (Hours of watching your videos spent thus far over two weeks now that I discovered you by chance).. So true what he says. On every point!! I've lived it so far.

pre-liked

The intelectual brain power of Peterson goes beyond belief.

Im living in my van and had to up the gbs to ensure enough bandwidth to keep watching. Maybe I'll bloody well be able to put my life back together again, take on some responsibility and get out of this crazy whale that has swallowed me up... eh. Im sure I will....

I've been an atheist since forever, but JP has given me an intense new respect for mythological narratives I had dismissed as too primitive to be of real value today. Hell, JP has given me a new understanding of the meanings of value and even meaning itself. This is great work, and I love watching these lectures. Thank you, sir! Two thoughts in regard to the argument for scientific morality made by Sam Harris that Dr Peterson brought up early in this lecture (admittedly, I am both a noob in psychology and a novice in philosophy): 1. To me, the actions of the manipulative psycho who just uses people to get what he wants are very irrational due to the complexity problem brought up very early on in this lecture series. Manipulation and deceit increases complexity exponentially, unless one has zero long or medium term relationships. I find it very irrational to trade the short term gains of manipulation for the long term stress of added complexity and ruined relationships. That said, ... 2. In my mind, the bigger problem with Sam Harris's attempt to thrust science into the realm of morality is more fundamental. Science does not tell us anything concrete about truth, it merely reveals what is NOT true (empirically). Scientists theorize about what could be true, and develop models of the universe that approximate the truth well enough to actually predict the future within specific bounds, but can never validly claim to know THE truth, as all fields of science are open to revision and often updated and the scope of science expands into new fields of discovery. It's a process, a sometimes incredibly messy and unpredictable process, with trial and error built into the scientific method itself. In his TED Talk on this subject, Sam seems right when he says in the title, "Science can answer moral questions," but it seems to me it's only really true for those questions with a negative answer (even if we assume his presuppositions are true). To use Sam's food/nutrition analogy, science can say that drinking poison is not a healthy thing for a person to do, but science cannot say whether eating or drinking any specific food is a morally good thing to do, because that always depends on the person (allergies/aversions) and the situation (a severely dehydrated person can die from simply drinking too much water quickly). What science can affirmatively say is that people must eat and drink something or we will die. Beyond that, it can't give much concrete affirmative dietary (or any other) guidance that will apply universally to all those within a society. A morality which only gives concrete negative guidance and no lasting concrete positive guidance seems severely handicapped, IMO. JP is helping me realize that if a civilization is to survive for long, its morality must be based on something more permanent, and it must give positive guidance about what actions people should take in order to be good people for themselves, their families, and their societies. I'm heartened by the information that at least some of this moral structure is built into the narratives of mythology, and I wonder...are our conceptions of an everlasting heaven and an eternal hell just poetic abstractions of our sense of ourselves within our societal and family histories? In other words, if I live a good life and make good choices and truly become the hero of my life, the idea is that in the actualities (to the extent that my life has consequence to theirs) of my descendants and my society, I will be a hero forever. On the flip side, if I choose to be a villain to those I should love, after death I will continue to live on through the consequences of my actions, and that will be a sort of eternal hell as the ramifications extend indefinitely. Would love to hear JP's thoughts about these issues. Looking forward to the next lecture!

Peterson's mind is on fire and its amazing watching it burn.

57:32 That awkward moment when the camera man tries to film an imaginary painting.

Dr. Peterson... you may or may not find this, less find it interesting, but you showed up in my dream last night. It's a bit fuzzy at this time, but I will recall what I can. I was at the beginning of a long drive from my childhood hometown to where I live now. Imagine it as a roughly 4-5 hour drive. I crossed the river via the interstate driving south and happened to be going through the town where you live (your town just so happened to be directly across the river from my hometown). I got off the highway and drove around for a minute through the area. It was an older neighborhood with beautiful mid-century homes on bluffs looking north over the river. There was interesting artwork and metal sculptures in several of the yards and nice landscaping through most of this neighborhood. As I exited the neighborhood, I began traveling along a 4 lane road past early 90s apartment complexes and various mundane suburban sprawl. I decided I should give you a call since I was in the area. To my surprise you answered and said, "Sure, come on over." I arrived at your home, which was one of those late 40s/early 50s post-war G.I. bill ranch style homes with yellow/orange brick in the midst of a neighborhood of hundreds of near identical homes. The garage was open to a cluttered workshop and there was a car or two in the driveway. It was around dusk and the sky was overcast. I parked and walked to the front door where I encountered your wife. She was on her way out with a couple relatives, but was very nice. I told her I was there to see you and she in a welcoming way let me know you were just inside in the living room. I entered the home and you were sitting forward with your elbows on your knees tinkering with something. I couldn't tell exactly what you were doing but is was something along the lines of reading a book or writing notes You were in a wooden chair the center of the wood-paneled living room cast in the yellow glow of your reading lamp. The room was cluttered, but not necessarily messy - It more similar to someone's house who is in the middle of writing a book where stacks of papers are everywhere. There was an awkward tension. I attempted to cut through this by introducing myself. You had seemed so open to meeting me over the phone, but now that I was there you seemed so into whatever it was you were doing that my presence seemed a mild annoyance. I really don't know why I was there, so I awkwardly tried to strike up conversation but I got little more than a couple "okays" and "uh huhs." You never looked me in the eye nor acknowledged my presence in any meaningful way, instead you were focused intently on your task. After several minutes of trying to get you to open up and figure out why I was even there, your wife and extended family returned and overshadowed any attempts I was trying to make at conversation. I believe your wife was trying to get you to stop doing what you were doing and go somewhere with them. I attempted to say "Thank you for your work, it has helped me..." so on and so forth, but I knew it was time for me to leave and anything further would be an intrusion. So I left. I began driving toward home; through the neighborhood of GI houses, past apartment complexes and gas stations, and ultimately back to the interstate. The whole time wondering, what did I hope to accomplish by going to Dr. Peterson's home? I realize that is a relatively mundane dream, but it struck me as oddly profound - especially the architectural details. The first set of homes were elegant nad beautiful, and the latter were careless and uninspiring (I often wonder why people accept such mediocrity in their environment). Further, why in the world did I go to Jordan Peterson's house and try to talk to him? Perhaps it is dealing with something along the lines of an expression of the frailty and disappointment one encounters when looking outward for approval. I'm not really sure, but regardless I thought you may find this little anecdote interesting.

The track Transcendence of Suffering by Akira the Don is mixed from this lecture, possibly my favorite song in existence.

he really is some special kind of guy! isn't he?! he understans so many things about psychology, but his aura just makes you wanna run away in fear.

8:40 - This at eonce the most powerful set of words ever said, and yet will be nearly totally ignored.

Gojira song off of album From Mars To Sirius "Where Dragons Dwell" A deep voice is rising From the heart of the mountain Vibrations of the stone I can hear in my heart The call of instinct The flight of the powerful I hunger for it It just keeps me alive I met the dragon In a cave by the mountain Now I bring the evidence The beast is alive This ageless army Will strike in the morning And then a star will rise And shine in the sky But I grow impatient Cannot stand the wait And I start to dig Within me This tunnel to I In this region of me A great dragon is lying On the wealth of a mighty world My own world inside I saw I saw monsters And I And I started to dig within When I When I turn my back on them They devour me In this region of me A dragon is lying there Awake Monster Monster king Do now scorn them But do not fear them Muster Muster thy army Dragons are the myth alive In the heart of men

He's a very dear man, and we must hope that he gets better and is even better mentally than before. This is possible because all things are possible in Messiah Jesus and Dr P is a believer.

This is a fantastic lecture. One of the best ones...

I’ll tell you why it’s being taught. It’s because we were taught almost nothing about the Soviet Union and everything was focused on World War II(not even World War I really much) plus all we focused on was our independence and Columbus. They never touched on what went on in the Soviet Union or even spoke about the deaths and what happened. We also were never taught what a failed state was. I swear the education system in America is so bad. The reason why college kids are talking about marksim is because they were never taught the problem with it. Coming from someone with a high school education I don’t remember talking about this.

Hi Jordan, wishing you well. I'm engaging with feminists, social justice advocates, and other individuals with ideas different than mine. I don't claim to know the truth but I will commit to be honest. I don't claim to be smart, but I will be industrious. I want to live a good and worthwhile life, and want the same life for my opponents.

"You're trying to figure out what you're up to." Still figuring it out, but it's getting clearer.

Mr. Peterson, there is more going on today with this novel instant information era to be bogged down by the past; and you are at the forefront

thanks

Thank God for Jordan Peterson

This man is one of the most calculated and most intelligent men I have seen speak

If I met this guy in person he'd have to watch out because I might hug him. I love this guy.

30:00 what if our dreams are the memories of our ancestors, or their genes from epigenetics, coming forward when similar experiences occur to you that had occurred to them and your body releases those experiences to you somehow in dreams to help you understand or contemplate your current environment, whether abstract ideas or physical location ? Surely that would lend to intrinsic biological mechanisms that mammals have, like fear of cat urine in mice at birth, facial recognition in humans, at a simple level (not so simple) for a start, for example?

And to think that this person could have become rector of my university... Instead some lawyer who based his campaign on "protecting LGBTQ+ rights" won the chair...