Deep Psychology
Deep Psychology is a podcast hosted by author and coach Ross Edwards that explores psychology, meditation, and self-observation for deeper self-knowledge. New episodes are released on Wednesdays, with snippets on Thursdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays. The show has a 200-episode archive categorized by topic, and listeners can follow a fortnightly newsletter. The host also shares his books and music through the podcast's website.
Episodes
Why Learn About The Levels of Consciousness?
If we're going to spend a whole month learning about the levels of consciousness, we should know why.Put simply, absorbing this knowledge can dramatically change how you see yourself, others and humanity at large.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 1/7 episode, What are The Levels of Consciousness, no. 151.
What Are The Levels of Consciousness? (#151)
The levels of consciousness are a critical tool for understanding yourself, others and the human condition.Today and this month you’re going to understand this fundamental trajectory that is guiding our lives.Our lives are not random or aimless: we're all on a journey, for which the levels of consciousness form a timeless blueprint.Understand them, and it will greatly enhance your understanding of
The Story Medicine Can't Tell
The medical system tries to reduce our problems down to simple, pragmatic descriptions and solutions. But does this always help?This is a snippet from my Wednesday 24/6 episode, The Diagnosis Obsession Part 2.
Your State is More Fundamental Than Any Diagnosis
Diagnoses are always trying to describe a state, which is more real than any diagnosis applied to it, and is independent of it: your state is not the diagnosis, and the diagnosis is not your state.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 24/6 episode, The Diagnosis Obsession Part 2.
A Diagnosis Is Just a Heuristic
We tend to think diagnoses are absolute, when really they are practical tools that professionals use to attempt to improve your health.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 24/6 episode, The Diagnosis Obsession Part 2.
The Diagnosis Obsession - Part 2/2 (#150)
How many people are walking around right now with diagnoses for ADHD, depression, anxiety or other similar conditions that are unnecessary and useless - with dodgy diagnoses?In part 2 of The Diagnosis Obsession, we explore why diagnoses are a heuristic, why our state is primary and our diagnosis is secondary, and some do's and don'ts when it comes to diagnoses.Disclaimer: I am not qualified to dia
Diagnosis Is Big Business
There's a lot of money in medicine and pharmaceuticals, and this puts a huge survival pressure on the industry.This is not a countercultural slur, just a basic structural fact of healthcare.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 17/6 episode, The Diagnosis Obsession Part 1.
The Diagnosis Imperative
Healthcare professionals' priority is to diagnose you. That is what they are trying to do. But is it necessary? Is it functional? Is it right?And what's more - patients themselves are often biased towards obtaining a diagnosis.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 17/6 episode, The DIagnosis Imperative Part 1.
Diagnoses Are Trendy
How many people have you heard saying "I think I have autism/ADHD/anxiety/depression because of x, y or z"? I'm sure you've heard someone, because diagnoses of this kind have become trendy.We're so quick to diagnose ourselves and others with psychological illnesses.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 17/6 episode, The Diagnosis Obsession Part 1.
The Diagnosis Obsession - Part 1/2 (#149)
How many people are walking around right now with diagnoses for ADHD, depression, anxiety or other similar conditions that are unnecessary and useless - with dodgy diagnoses?In part 1 of The Diagnosis Obsession, we explore why the health system runs on diagnoses, why this biases how we understand health, and why ordinary health-system realities reveal the obvious problem.Disclaimer: I am not quali
4 Forms of Fake Inner Work
Four examples of fake inner work: talk therapy, meditation for emotional benefits, medication, diagnoses. This is a snippet from my Wednesday 10/6 episode, Real vs Fake Inner Work (#148).
The Litmus Test for Inner Work
This is how you know whether you're doing proper inner work or not. Very simple, but very powerful.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 10/6 episode, Real vs Fake Inner Work (#148).
Real v Fake Inner Work (#148)
There are effective ways of doing inner work, and there are ineffective ways. You can uncover gold, but you can also fall into traps.Here you'll learn a clear litmus test for whether you’re doing real or fake inner work, with lots of clear, grounded examples to make these principles practical.Next listen: Key Principles for Psychological Work Parts 1&2 (#144 & #147)All my episodes on Psych
Your Psyche Constructs Your World
Your psyche is constructed to such a degree that, in fact, it constructs your world too. There is no such thing as accurate perception of life.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 3/6 episode, The Key Principles of Psychological Work, Part 2 (#147).Next listen: The Key Principles of Psychological Work, Part 1 (#144) ; What is Psychology? (#143)All my episodes on Spirituality: https://player.captiva
Everything You Believe About Yourself Is a Story
Another major implication of psychological non-duality is that because our true nature is unbounded consciousness, our entire self-image is essentially a fiction.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 3/6 episode, The Key Principles of Psychological Work, Part 2 (#147).Next listen: The Key Principles of Psychological Work, Part 1 (#144) ; What is Psychology? (#143)All my episodes on Spirituality: htt
Why Your Experience is Self-Sealing
A major implication of psychological non-duality is that you cannot step outside your experience, and your entire psyche was built inside it, meaning your conception of everything is entirely your own.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 3/6 episode, The Key Principles of Psychological Work, Part 2 (#147).Next listen: The Key Principles of Psychological Work, Part 1 (#144) ; What is Psychology? (#1
Key Principles for Psychological Work, Part 2/2 (#147)
What are the key principles for doing psychological work? How do we know we are doing this work properly? How do we know we are not deceiving ourselves?In part 2 two-part mini-series we cover principles 3 and 4 for this work. This will underlie any future work we do.Next listen: What is Psychology? (#143), Key Principles for Psychological Work Part 1 (#144)All my episodes on Psychology: https://pl
How to Understand People Inside Out
We're all living in our own world. To truly comprehend others, you need to feel into the world they inhabit as you interact with them. Look closely at their true desires, needs and motivations beyond your kneejerk reactions.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 27/5 episode, We All Live In Our Own World (#146), originally published in 2024.All my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/coll
We Only Know a Tiny Slither of Life
We only experience a miniscule piece of the entire world, and this little microcosm shapes us and is reflected in our character. Not only that, we interpret the world in our own way. Put these two insights together and it's clear we all live in our own world.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 27/5 episode, We All Live In Our Own World (#146), originally published in 2024.All my Psychology episode
Your Fundamental Assumption About Humans
We typically believe there is a single objective world that we may perceive differently but ultimately is common to us all. We also believe we're all the same and have the same goals and values. But is this really true?This is a snippet from my Wednesday 27/5 episode, We All Live In Our Own World (#146), originally published in 2024.All my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collectio
We All Live In Our Own World [Repost] (#146)
You only experience a finite part of objective reality, of all positive input you could receive, of all possible human experiences,ANDyour unique psychology is so powerful that it puts a particular slant or filter on everything you experience.This in short is why we all live in our own world.This is a foundational episode of mine, originally published in July 2024.Next listen: What is Psychology?
Mundane Acts Are a Microcosm
The impressions we have of the events in our life reflect our mind. Things are not inherently one way or another - we make them so. Even down to tiny everyday acts like taking the rubbish out.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 20/5 episode, Your Psychology = Your Life (#145), originally published in 2024.All my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/9f81342e-0c6f-4b7d-ab6c-bd
The "World" is a Function of Your Psychology
Everything you experience is filtered through your psychology, and then you believe that it is as your psychology presents it. Everything you know and perceive is a reflection of your mind. In other words, life a function of your psychology.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 20/5 episode, Your Psychology = Your Life (#145) originally published in 2024.All my Psychology episodes: https://player.ca
We Are Fundamentally Confused About Our Identity
One of the core human confusions is that of identity: we believe we are something we are not, we believe we are separate from the world around us, and we believe that we live in the head somewhere.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 20/5 episode, Your Psychology = Your Life (#145), originally published in 2024.All my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/9f81342e-0c6f-4b7d-ab
Your Psychology = Your Life [Repost] (#145)
This video explains one of the fundamental truths of life: that your psychology = your life. Understand this, and your world will turn inside out.This is a foundational episode of mine, originally published in Dec 2024.Next listen: What is Psychology? (#143); The Key Principles of Psychological Work Part 1 (#144)All my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/9f81342e-0c6f-4b7d-
Why You Do Everything You Do
Every action of yours has one or two fundamental needs driving it (or a first cause, as I call it). Discovering them is critical for understanding yourself in every situation.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 13/5 episode, The Key Principles for Psychological Work Part 1 (#144).Next listen: The Key Principles for Psychological Work Part 1 (#144); What is Psychology? (#143)All my episodes on Psyc
Who You Are Is Right Before You
The principle of truth is not abstract - it has you be honest about who you are, and that is always visible, right here, right now.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 13/5 episode, The Key Principles for Psychological Work Part 1 (#144)Next listen: The Key Principles for Psychological Work Part 1 (#144) ; What is Psychology? (#143)All my episodes on Psychology: https://player.captivate.fm/collecti
The Power of Truth in Psychological Work
If psychological work is discovering why you are as you are and changing it if need be, being truthful is a central pillar in that process.If you are truthful with yourself, you can discover endlessly many aspects of your character that would otherwise remain buried.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 13/5 episode, The Key Principles of Psychological Work (#144).200-show library by category: https
Key Principles for Psychological Work, Part 1/2 (#144)
What are the key principles for doing psychological work? How do we know we are doing this work properly? How do we know we are not deceiving ourselves?In this two-part mini-series we cover the top 4 principles for this work. This will underlie any future work we do.Next listen: What is Psychology? (#143), Key Principles for Psychological Work Part 2 (#147)All my episodes on Psychology: https://pl
Self-Observation Changes Everything
My claim: all our traits and ways we are have deep, fundamental reasons behind them, and through self-observation and careful self-directed work, we can change those traits if need be.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 6/5 episode, What is Psychology? (#143)[Apologies for the mic noise!]All my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/9f81342e-0c6f-4b7d-ab6c-bd333126470eDive int
Your Mind is a Mosaic
We are as we are because of a complex mosaic of factors, and the ones we choose to emphasise over the others reveal our own psychology![Again, I apologise for the mic tapping!]This is a snippet from my Wednesday 6/5 episode, What Is Psychology? (#143)Explore all my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/9f81342e-0c6f-4b7d-ab6c-bd333126470eExplore my 200-episode podcast library
Psychology = Why You Are As You Are
My definition of psychology is: the study of why you are as you are.This is a simple but deceptive and very powerful definition, and in this snippet I explain why.[Again, I apologise for the mic tapping.]This is a snippet from my Wednesday 6/5 episode, What Is Psychology? (#143)Explore all my Psychology episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/9f81342e-0c6f-4b7d-ab6c-bd333126470eExplore my
What is Psychology? (#143)
What is psychology? Why are there so many views on how human psychology works? What are some key questions in psychological work?This is both a foundational episode for understanding all of the work I do on this podcast, and for our May and June Psychology series, where we look at many critical questions in psychological and self-development work.My definition? Psychology is the study of why you a
Spiritual Awareness is Ultimate
Absolute understanding of reality comes not through scientific theory but through direct spiritual awareness. Do not let science replace spiritual awareness.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 29/4 episode, If Science Isn't Ultimate, How Should We Use It? (#142)Philosophy category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library: ht
The Problem With Scientific Slogans
Science often gets reduced down into popular slogans that spread quickly through the culture, e.g. "You're distracted because your brain craves dopamine." What are the problems with such slogans?This is a snippet from my Wednesday 29/4 episode, If Science Isn't Ultimate, How Should We Use It? (#142)Episode category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore
Science is an Ever-Improving Approximation of Reality
Though science is conceptual and therefore fundamentally limited, we can also see it as an approximation of truth that may or may not lead us to the ground-bottom nature of reality.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 29/4 episode, If Science Isn't Ultimate, How Should We Use It? (#142)Episode category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episod
If Science Isn’t Ultimate, How Should We Use It? (#142)
After mercilessly deconstructing science this month, today we round off this series by looking at how to skillfully and pragmatically incorporate science into our lives without epistemologically drowning in it.Next listen: The Hidden Dogma in Scientific Thinking (#138) ; The Limits of Brain Science (#139) ; Science is Addicted to Explanations (#140)Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://d
What Science Misses About Experience
Science doesn't realise that what it's really trying to do is explain and describe our experience, which is primary. Here's what it misses by doing so.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 22/4 episode, What If Experience is Fundamental? (#141)Philosophy category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psycholog
Guided Exercise for Recognising Non-duality
There is nothing outside your current experience. Sounds obvious, but this is the key to spiritual awakening, and this guided exercise in non-duality will aid your recognition of it.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 29/4 episode, What If Experience is Fundamental? (#141)Philosophy category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast
What is Experience?
If we are to understand why experience is fundamental, we ought to know what the word experience means in this context!This is a snippet from my Wednesday 22/4 episode, What If Experience is Fundamental? (#141)Philosophy category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-catsNewsletter &
What If Experience Is Fundamental? (#141)
Your life is simply your current experience. That is it. This is the key point science overlooks.This episode explores the primacy of experience and how everything we think we know or understand appears within it, not the other way round.This includes all of science and all knowledge of any kind.We also do a guided exercise to help you deeply grasp what is being said here.Next listen: The Hidden D
Why Models Obscure Understanding
This is a snippet from my Wednesday 15/4 episode, Science is Addicted to Explanations. (#140)Philosophy category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-catsNewsletter & books: https://deep-psychology.com/my-links
Does Science Actually Describe Reality?
Science is very hesitant to assign reality to things; it tends to assign reality to parts rather than wholesFor example, science will say a human is really just cells, which are really just atoms, which are mostly nothing!No - the human is the human. It is irreducible. Sure, we can analyse and parse it, but the constituent elements are not the human, by definition.This is a snippet from my episode
What Models Actually Are & Their Fundamental Flaw
A model is about a phenomenon. It is not the phenomenon. By definition. Therefore, models do not actually describe phenomena, because fundamentally they cannot be described.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 15/4 episode, Science is Addicted to Explanations (#140).Philosophy category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library
Science is Addicted to Explanations (#140)
What if models were not the only way to understand reality? What if they created deep blind spots, biases and paradigm lock?We continue our April series on the philosophy of science with a look at how science is built on models and explanations, and the problems this creates.These problems extend through much of science, because it is founded on model making.Next listen: The Hidden Dogma in Scient
The Brain Is In Experience
We tend to think that our experience arises inside the brain, but in fact the opposite is true.All we know of our brain is our experience is it, and our brain is entirely contained within our experience.This is a snippet from The Limits of Brain Science: Why Correlation Isn't Explanation (#139)Episode category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 2
Your Brain Does Not Think
Our thought patterns: “my brain thinks”, “my brain goes round in loops”. These are cliches. Have you ever thought about this?No, your brain does not think. And when you think, you are not experiencing your brain.This is a snippet from my episode The Limits of Brain Science (#139)Philosophy category: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode p
Your Brain Is Not the Source of Fear
Our usual thinking is to pin the cause of the fear on the brain.So we say “we feel fear because x area of the brain activates. If it didn’t activate, we wouldn’t feel fear. It’s because of my brain”How can your brain “cause” fear? How can a squidgy lump of flesh cause fear?This is a snippet from my Wednesday 8th April episode, The Limits of Brain Science (#139).Philosophy category: https://player.
The Limits of Brain Science: Why Correlation Isn’t Explanation (#139)
This episode examines the relationship between the brain and experience, and challenges the common view that the brain explains our experience.We explore the basic fact that the brain is physical (tissue, chemistry, electrical activity) and experience is subjective (thoughts, emotions, sensations).These are two distinct types of phenomena that reliably correlate but cannot be couched in one anothe
Science’s Hidden Black Hole
Science does not truly question the idea of self. Even though neuroscience itself would say that the self is simply a result of brain activity and isn’t actually a thing, neuroscientists themselves do not live out this wisdom.Also, science confuses accumulation of knowledge with wisdom.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 1/4 episode, The Hidden Dogma in Scientific Thinking (#138).Episode category:
The Main Blind Spot in Science
Science does not pay attention to epistemology and philosophy - it focuses exclusively on calculation and application.It is also highly skeptical, but rarely of itself.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 1/4 episode, The Hidden Dogma in Scientific Thinking (#138).All my philosophy episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast li
The Echo Chamber of Science
A key and mostly overlooked issue is that science is an echo chamber.Much of science operates through repetition, imitation, and inherited frameworks rather than original insight - and this underlies scientific training too.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 1/4 episode, The Hidden Dogma in Scientific Thinking (#138).All my philosophy episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232
The Hidden Dogma In Scientific Thinking (#138)
Scientific practice contains certain philosophical assumptions. These are treated as facts and then passed on. And they are unexamined. That is, they are dogma.In episode 1 of my April series on the philosophy of science, we uncover these hidden assumptions and help you free your mind from scientism.Next listen: The Limits of Brain Science (#139) ; Science is Addicted to Explanations (#140)My phil
Why You Cannot Learn Spirituality
To engage in spiritual learning, you must believe you don't know your true nature, and then go out and try to find it. Yet, nobody can truly tell you what it is. It is a discovery you must make.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 25/3 episode, What Spiritual Teaching Can't Do (#137).Newsletter & books: https://deep-psychology.com/my-linksExplore my 200-episode archive by category: https://deep
Why Do Spiritual Teachers Teach at All?
Spiritual teaching itself is built on an illusion. Furthermore, there are several hidden reasons why spiritual teachers teach - and they are not all pretty!This is a snippet from my Wednesday 25/3 episode, What Spiritual Teaching Can't Do (#137).Newsletter & books: https://deep-psychology.com/my-linksExplore my 200-episode archive by category: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-cats
The Flaw at the Heart of Spiritual Teaching
The core flaw in spiritual teaching are the assumptions underlying it. Here is the top hidden assumption.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 25/3 episode, What Spiritual Teaching Can't Do (#137)Newsletter & books: https://deep-psychology.com/my-linksExplore my 200-episode archive by category: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-cats
Welcome to Deep Psychology Podcast - START HERE
I have hundreds of episodes, so I wanted to help you navigate them.Here are the most fundamental episodes:What is Psychology? (#143)The Power of Meditation (#1)Your Psychology = Your Life (#145)Psychospirituality (#80)Everything else comes from there.Explore my 200-episode archive by category: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-catsMy newsletter and books: https://deep-psychology.com/my-links
What Spiritual Teaching Can’t Do (#137)
There is a fundamental limit to spiritual teaching: it cannot give you recognition of your true nature, and your true nature cannot be conceptualised. This goes to the heart of spirituality.Furthermore, to teach, the teacher must defile their own true nature.Next listen: Why Meditators Stall on the Path (#136) ; Is Enlightenment the Right Word (#135)Newsletter & books: https://deep-psychology.
The Spiritual Search Ends Where You Already Are
The true meditative path is one that is grounded right here, right now.To continue on the path is to be fully here in all situations, and to never turn away from This.The extent to which you do that is the extent to which you are truly walking the path home.This episode is a snippet from my Wednesday 18/3 episode, Why Meditators Stall on the Path (#136)All my episodes on spirituality: https://play
The Hidden Escape Inside Meditation
Meditators often perpetually want to get somewhere else. In fact, this is one of the core markers of the human experience: there is always a subtle turning away from the present.This inevitably comes into meditation itself: meditators are not there to be there, but to be elsewhere.This episode is a snippet from my Wednesday 22/3 episode, Why Meditators Stall on the Path (#136)Explore all my episod
Newbie Meditators Have Unrealistic Expectations
Meditators often have wildly unrealistic expectations regarding what meditation is, what its effects are, and where it eventually leads us. This is especially prevalent among newcomers, who have often been marketed on the idea that a little meditation will immediately render you calm, peaceful and wise.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 18/3 episode, Why Meditators Stall On The Path (#136)Explore
Why Meditators Stall on the Path (#136)
From my practice and experience, three simple reasons explain why meditators stall on the path and fail to reach the deep insight taught in various guises by all spiritual traditions.Next listen: What Spiritual Teaching Can't Do (#137) ; Is Enlightenment the Right Word? (#135)Explore all my episodes on spirituality: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/d173b606-7b30-4e9b-b05b-de22c39973b4 Explor
The Power of The Word "Recognition" to Describe Awakening
Nowadays, I tend to use the word recognition to describe awakening: here's why.This is a snippet from my episode Is Enlightenment the Right Word? (#135)Explore all my episodes on spirituality: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/d173b606-7b30-4e9b-b05b-de22c39973b4 Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-catsNewsletter & books: https://deep-psychology.com/my
The Word "Enlightenment" Creates False Expectations
Enlightenment is our default word for spiritual awakening or deep spiritual insight. While it may serve and inspire certain students to engage in spiritual work, I also believe it is problematic and that better options exist.This is a short snippet from my episode on 11th March, Is Enlightenment the Right Word? (#135)Explore all my episodes on spirituality: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/d
What The Word "Enlightenment" Does Right
Despite problems, the word enlightenment does capture two real aspects of awakening: transformation and insight.This is a short snippet from my episode Is Enlightenment The Right Word? (#135)Explore all my episodes on spirituality: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/d173b606-7b30-4e9b-b05b-de22c39973b4 Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-catsNewsletter &
Is Enlightenment The Right Word? (#135)
We use the word enlightenment all the time in spirituality.But it might actually be one of the most misleading words in the entire field.It suggests a climactic transformation, a final state, something rare and special.Yet the lived experience of awakening is usually quieter, slower, and far more ordinary.Next listen: Why Meditators Stall On The Path? (#136) ; What Spiritual Teaching Can't Do (#13
The Late Stage of Meditation
Perhaps 1% or fewer practitioners reach late-stage meditation, where awakening has permanently altered one’s perception.Late stage says: “There is no centre for awakening to happen to.”This is a snippet from my episode from Wednesday 11/3, The Three Stages of Meditation (#134)Explore all my episodes on spirituality: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/d173b606-7b30-4e9b-b05b-de22c39973b4 Explor
The Middle Stage of Meditation
Mid-stage practitioners constitute perhaps 5–10% of meditators. This is the stage where awakening begins to stabilise.A core feature of this stage is that thoughts lose their unquestioned authority. They are still present, but they are no longer automatically taken as reality. Thoughts are seen as appearances rather than truths: as thoughts, nothing more, nothing less.This is a snippet from my epi
The Early Stage of Meditation
At the early stage, meditation is something you do. It is an activity during the day, set apart from life, distinct from the rest.Awakening is imagined as a future event: a breakthrough, a shift, a permanent state waiting at the end of sufficient effort.This is a snippet from my episode on Wednesday 4th March, The Three Stages of Meditation & Spiritual Insight (#134).Explore all my episodes on
The Three Stages of Meditation & Spiritual Insight (#134)
We tend to see meditation as a single spiritual practice experienced equally by all. It seems meditators sit, practice their technique, attend retreats and accumulate hours.What’s missing is the developmental dimension of meditation. This practice unfolds in recognisable developmental stages.These are not rigid categories, but shifts in identity, perception and relationship to experience. What cha
Meaningful, Meaningless & Ameaningful
Meaning, meaningnless and ameaningful are three different words. Meaning and meaninglessness imply one another.Questioning the meaning of life is not a symptom of meaninglessness. We are obsessed with meaning, and yet life could be ameaningful.This is a snippet from my episode What is the Meaning of Life? (#133)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-
The Problems In Discussing The Meaning Of Life
The question "What Is The Meaning of Life?" is fraught with difficulties and blindspots. It's so tempting to overcomplicate it, to oversimplify it, or to blindly rely on others to tell you the answer.This is a snippet from my episode What is the Meaning of Life? (#133)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-ep
Exploring Personal Meaning: Why Are You Here?
Why are you here? How does personal meaning work? What questions can we ask to get to the core of our personal meaning structure?This is a snippet from my episode What is the Meaning of Life? (#133)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psychology.com/#pod-catsNewsletter
What is The Meaning of Life? (#133)
What is the meaning of life? When we get down to it, why are we here as individuals? Why does life itself exist? What is all this for?I round off this month's theme of deep questions with the mother of all existential questions.Next listen: Does the External World Exist? (#130) ; Is the World Physical? (#131) My Philosophy Episodes: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-43
The Necessity of Self-Other Consciousness
When we deconstruct paradigms like self and other, it's tempting to dismiss it outright. But self-other consciousness serves a clear function, and without it you would be lost. We want not to lose it, but to see through it.This is a snippet from last Wednesday's episode on Do Other People Exist? (#132)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-
Self & Other As A Developmental Achievement
You have not always had a sense of self and other: you had to develop it during childhood. It is not a given, but a construct.This also means you can see beyond it and realise it is not the whole story.This is an extract from my episode on Wednesday 18th, "Do Other People Exist?" (#132)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f
The Standard Paradigm Regarding Other People
We tend to assume that other people are separate from us and have their own, independent experiences.Except these are highly questionable assumptions that we debate in this snippet from episode Do Other People Exist?(#132)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psychology.
Do Other People Exist? (#132)
We tend to assume other people are separate and independent from us. But what if this was simply a useful assumption or paradigm, not the be all end all?Do other people exist? My conclusion: well... kind of.Next listen: Is The World Physical? (#131) ; What is the Meaning of Life? (#133)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f
Deeply Questioning the Materialistic Paradigm
I propose that the materialistic paradigm is deeply flawed.While it is extremely useful and explanatory, it is underpinned by some highly questionable assumptions.In this snippet from last week's episode Is The World Physical? (#131), we address those assumptions.Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode
Why Do We Believe In Materialism?
There are very good reasons why materialism is the standard philosophical paradigm in the modern world, and here I outline them in a practical way.This is a snippet from my Wednesday 11/2 episode, Is The World Physical? (#131)Explore all my episodes on philosophy: https://player.captivate.fm/collection/41de4d4f-0232-4c5d-bb84-436add43f6f9Explore my 200-episode podcast library: https://deep-psychol
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