Why Should I Meditate? | Sam Harris 

sam’s solo talks will always be my favorite, i wish he did more solo podcasts

My father died last week. While I was sitting at his side during the last hours, I was using my mindfulness practice to "stay in the moment" and "be present". I think that if I hadn't known how to do that or *why* I should do that, I would have disconnected from the experience and withdrawn into myself. But instead I was able to be present for my family. I also think the whole process left me with a lot less trauma than would have otherwise been the case, since I didn't have regrets or second thoughts afterwards. I have felt no need to re-examine the event in my thoughts, because I examined it while living it. It doesn't make it easier in the moment, but mindfulness at least allows you to not lose yourself in those moments.

I could listen to Sam have these solo talks forever. There’s a level of clarity in his diction that is hard to find elsewhere. It’s not that he’s using big words. It’s that his choices of words are so sharp, the meaning of what he is saying comes to in full clarity.

This is beautiful work, great writing and digital animations, thought provoking and uplifting. Appreciate your work.

If there was an Academy award on ads this will win it, amazing animation and message

Sam…you’re an appearance in consciousness that I find hard not to cling to. ♥️

Well done, Sam. I've been using Waking Up for over a year and have found it incredibly helpful in my journey. As Alan Watts stated, “Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself."

That was the most epic commercial I have ever seen in my life.

thank you Sam, for everything you've taught me in waking up courses. words aren't strong enough for me to tell you how grateful I am for being your student.

for the first time I feel like i've heard a compelling case for meditation and why it's a valuable behavior. This is really interesting

Waking up changed my life. I started it about 1 year ago. After 3 months something weird happened in my meditaion and after that I was more curious about that so I could not quit and I think I never can. Thanks Sam 🙏

I have had the good fortune of being a member since the beginning. Witnessing the evolution from what it once was to what is has become thus far has been an absolute joy. Thank you for all that you have done and all that you continue to do.

Amazing as always! It has been 3 years that I started using your app!

Incredible. After using the app for 14 months, the benefits are immense. The app has taught me not to be afraid of imperanence, but rather to recognize the incredible freedom that comes with the transistory nature of experience. We think of thoughts (especially the negative ones) as having a type of superpower that has the potential to ruin our day, only to realise that once we pay sufficent attention to their nature, their structure is inherently superficial.

Sam I am deeply grateful for your insights and teachings. And of course this amazing app.

Nice talk. Always appreciate Sam's content. Many great minds came across the difference between the concept of a thing and the actual thing whether scientists, philosophers, artists or whatever. The painting the Treachery of Images with the famous "this is not a pipe" quote, while also Richard Feynman, Alan Watts, Terence Mckenna are just a few examples. Richard Feynman: "I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something" Terence McKenna with his magnificent eloquent style: "Culture replaces authentic feeling with words. As an example of this, imagine an infant lying in its cradle, and the window is open, and into the room comes something, marvelous, mysterious, glittering, shedding light of many colors, movement, sound, a transformative hierophany of integrated perception and the child is enthralled and then the mother comes into the room and she says to the child, “that’s a bird, baby, that’s a bird,” instantly the complex wave of the angel peacock iridescent trans-formative mystery is collapsed, into the word. All mystery is gone, the child learns this is a bird, this is a bird, and by the time we’re five or six years old all the mystery of reality has been carefully tiled over with words. This is a bird, this is a house, this is the sky, and we seal ourselves in within a linguistic shell of dis-empowered perception. "

Very well put! I have been vocally critical of a couple of recent Sam's videos, but I understand those are another topic, and being able to separate those from this one taught me something, there is a lot of value on what a person as intelligent as Sam thinks and says, in this case it reminded me of something I had forgotten I have lost but that with a bit of work I can find and hold again, thank you for this Sam.

Absolutely phenomenal visuals. Truly keeps you engaged and able to 'take home' the message. Perfect delivery, and concepts shared in a crystal clear fashion, that is easy to understand. Great video!

My goodness, SO much crammed into such a short video. Efficient and life changing.

This made me tear up a bit, such a beautiful video. Thank you so much

We need more videos like this Sam. I’ve been using Waking Up ever since you first released it a few years ago. It has truly been a game changer for my well being. Thank you for letting some us having it the app for free. I encourage others to get the book as well! 🙏🏼✌🏼

Thank you for being Sam! Namaste!

Word's cannot begin to describe how much the state of my mental health, personal relationships, & overall gratitude for life has improved since I began using the Waking Up app. The work you do is amazing, & from the bottom of my heart, I wanted to say thank you. You really are helping to make the world a better place. Much love!

Always thanks for your thought-provoking videos.

I am one year into using the app (was my 2021 New Years resolution). I am a different person now. This has changed everything for the better. I can’t describe it but I’m not longer who I use to be. I’m better

thank you for these, sam! they are really helping me shift my perspective in life and become more compassionate and loving to others and myself. i’ve really been enjoying using, waking up, and carrying the mediation practice throughout each moment with me

Dear Mr. Harris, I am so thrilled to have learned that what I experienced as a child and continued to play with throughout adulthood is shared with humans. I have spoken to a handful of other people throughout my life who expressed surprise and concern about what is called by Mr Harding the headless way.. Some even advised me not to continue invoking it out of the fear for my sanity. I have to say that I particularly liked the fact that you described it as a fleeting few second state that is hard to maintain. However the way I arrived at it when I was about 6 or 7 yeas old was by trying to imagine the concept of infinity of the universe in the physical sense. This experience was in fact scary the first few times as I would struggle to find self and would immediately cling to some worldly objects to bring 'me' back. But then I mustered up more courage and stayed with it longer. I just started listening to the waking up app a few days ago and am marveling at the various descriptions of this experience by you and Douglas Harding. Being as impatient as I am, I'm eager to see what's next and how this state can be helpful for the psyche. But having discovered it on my own, I also would like to leave this for 'me' to discover... I am divided. Please advise. Thank you for sharing your wisdom in the app, podcast and here on youtube. These are simply gems!

Thanks Sam I love productions such as this. You are appreciated. Looking foward to more of the same your content is stimulating and so resonates with my core.

The most beautiful animation I’ve ever witnessed….This app is sincerely illuminating and if everyone used it, the world would be a better place.

I have been using the app for 16 days and have found the meditation technique that Sam teaches to be helpful.

Please do more of these talks Sam. 🙏

Thank you for sharing this video

Sam's team have packed a lot of interesting graphics into this, and the narration from Sam delivers a concise clarification of what the whole 'pathless path' is about. I have been immersed in regular daily meditation for about 3 years now - first with Waking Up, and later with further meditation guidance from Adyashanti, one of Sam's many well-chosen guests in the interview section of the app. I thoroughly recommend Waking Up.

The visuals are breathtaking

The video is really well made! the graphics and video production is sooo good! the music and the voice really makes it an experience and above all of that the information shared is very helpful! thank you

Simply beautiful. Thank you, Sam.

beautifully put together, thanks sam!

Amazing visual experience

I Haven't seen a Sam Harris video forever, thanks for the new one!

I feel like many of our thought leaders today will highly benefit from meditation. They are constantly asking questions about the world and their focus is being shifted based on current events. Meditation hopefully will set them back on the right track and once again makes them focus on the more important questions rather than engage in conflict of the current events. This will benefit not only themselves but the people that look to them for guidance.

Thank you Sam for bringing this to light

Thank you Sam. Beautiful visual. Lovely way to start the day. 💕

Great stuff Sam. Thanks!

Sam! I am from Pakistan 🇵🇰. And I have benefitted a lot from your meditation videos. Thank you so much. 🙏🏻

The waking up app has helped me tremendously, thank you Sam Harris.

well done this is the push i needed to restart meditation

So thankful for this app! 🧘❤️

Finally I got notification from Sam . Thanks

This is the most incredible ad I’ve ever seen and should be the future of how ads are made. Wow. Downloaded

There's something beautiful about this video. Simple, yet intriguing.

Beautiful message and animations! I love what you're doing!

The animations are exquisite in this video. Well done

Amazing video! Thank you for reminding me

I love the creative work. Just stunning

This video is so peaceful.

Been using this app since the beginning of 2022, no regrets! Works much better for myself than any other app I’ve tried. Keep it up Sam!

Beautiful animations and beautiful talk.

This art is truly beautiful

The illustrations in this video are amazing

I love these. Need to use the app more

if only all ads were this good.

Great animation and music.

Grateful for this excellent video. I felt peace and harmony. Thank you

Thanks, Sam. The app is invaluable and the recent improvements are fantastic. Thanks to all

The first half of this talk reminds of Derrida's work in 'Of Grammatology'. Words like blue, red, roses, etc invoke in us a concept of the thing we are describing. Concepts can be far away from the actual meaning of the thing we are describing. This is where Derrida originally brought in the idea of a post structuralist interpretation unique to all things & individuals. Sam talking about our inability to hint at the word 'blue' beyond the thoughts of it's perception & physical charecteristics is an important reminder of the illusion that the meaning of a word has. The word's origin in the structure of reality and at the same time making that truth part of that structure seem directly present to the mind are somehow nearly impossible to convey!

Beautiful. Thanks🙏

Thank you for creating this app..... amazing!

Sam, this is truly of great import, and while I have heard of your history with meditation, you sound like a great teacher might sound- and soothing, almost hypnotic voice. I'll get the app and experiment a bit. My formerly enjoyed creativity has gone on an extensive hiatus, so I could use the direction towards reintegrating (perhaps understanding its departure?) whatever needs to be acknowledged, owned, and potentially lived. A prayer, that last statement. Bless each of you on your respective journeys.

This is perhaps the most stunningly crafted animation on a RU-vid speech.

One of the best illustrational intro about meditation.

I wish to add my endorsement of this wonderful and life-changing app. Thanks Sam.

These digital animations are incredible 😁

The animations here are next level.

Great presentation and expanded explanation of your Waking Up app!

Who makes these animations?? Truly extraordinary artwork!!

big respect for your openions and logic . glad to be one mega tiny part of this world .

What a thought provoking and eye capturing video. Fantastic format to provide insight and hold an audience.

thank you for the great video beutifull sound and such a good explanations . thank you .

your app is changing my life... thank you so much

Interesting visuals. I like the sense of spaciousness they convey.

Wow!! This is visually stunning - displaying the concepts so well!! And ofcourse the audio right on!! Well done!!!

Thank you, Sam.

Thank you.

Thank you so very much for what you are doing 💙

Love these animations

You are wonderful Sam.

The production quality is completely on the next level ⭐ Want more solo vedio like this

Keep coming back - goat video

Someone did a great job making this video

I find it sobering that the best anyone can achieve in realization is to be here and now. When in our being, we are everywhere all at once.

Amazing presentation

Just listening to Sam's solo voice is bliss

Superb presentation, I am speechless...

Thank you

This is so well-made!

wow sam keeps up doing himself over and over, I'm so happy he decided to make this app and take us along with the trip.

Thank you Sam keep it up

Thanks Sam!!

Sam Harris that's an excellent presentation on meditation and Waking Up as an idea seems to be interesting for sure. The topics you speak of such as meditation, consciousness, neuroscience appear promising for the upcoming future. Even contemplating about how a body or agent becomes sentient and starts to think, do and live and then again have so many different experiences throughout his lifetime... Another set of questions include the idea of multiple lives and after lives for example relating to how life can even be without a body.... Whether AI a human creation can be programmed to life too is a question that is as much contemporary as difficult to answer... Arjun

Awesome video to watch.