Why Inner Life Practices? - Global Philosophy | Episode 2605 | Closer To Truth

The video discusses the mind in relation to consciousness, philosophy of mind, and how various religious practices aim to shape or understand it.

Explored as a system of belief about God and the supernatural, religion's inner life practices like contemplation and meditation are central to understanding consciousness.

The subjective awareness that the speaker has long sought to understand via neuroscience, philosophy of mind, and the experiential insights from inner life practices.

One of the fields pursued to understand consciousness, contrasting with experiential or global philosophy approaches.

A field of study used to explore consciousness, contrasted with more experiential or global philosophy of religion.

Pursued to understand religion, with a focus on global, non-Western, and experiential approaches beyond analytic philosophy.

Mentioned as an example of a tradition that uses evening and morning prayers to provide structure for spiritual practice.

Discussed in terms of its contemplative and meditative practices as a 'cognitive technology' and its worldview, particularly the concept of 'no self' and experiencing 'otherness'.

A Buddhist meditation technique focused on calming the mind and achieving a state of stillness, like a calm lake, as a first step before gaining insight.

A Buddhist meditation technique that means 'insight', which follows samatha. It uses a still, clear mind like a mirror to reflect things as they truly are.

The ultimate goal in Buddhism, described as seeing things as they really are, facilitated by the practice of Vipassana meditation.

Its inner life practices are compared to Buddhism's, featuring devotional practices, meditation inspired by the Yoga Sutras, and non-dual contemplation via mental techniques.

The deity form of God used in devotional meditation practices within Hinduism, involving visualization of a luminous form and repetition of a mantra.

A mantra associated with Krishna, used in Hindu devotional practices for focus and devotion, to be repeated mentally.

The Sanskrit term for non-dual meditation in Hinduism, which involves inquiry into the self ('Who am I?') to realize one is pure subject, the witness consciousness.

The fundamental energy believed in Taoism to constitute everything, influencing the connection between the body, emotions, and mind in embodied practices.

A Chinese philosophy discussed in terms of its embodied practices and focus on the body's influence on emotions and mind, with some emphasis on emptying the mind and animal movements for longevity.

Ancient Chinese thinkers discussed regarding their emphasis on ritual and music as ways to shape emotions and as a model for social organization.

Its core practice of prayer is discussed as a fundamental act of gratitude and reorientation, performed five times daily, coupled with Quranic recitation.

The first chapter of the Quran, which is recited in every Islamic prayer and shifts from the third person to the first person, emphasizing the relationship with God.

A silent prayer spoken directly to God, which culminates each of the three daily Jewish prayer services, involving praise and requests.

Its practices of ritual and prayer are described as occupying a large portion of a practicing Jew's day, with three required daily prayers and adherence to 613 commandments.

A central biblical declaration in Jewish morning prayers, from Deuteronomy, stating: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord is your God, the Lord is one.'

A multicultural philosopher of mind and religion and author of Wonderstruck, who discusses how contemplative traditions help create openness for experiences and likens religion to a cognitive technology.

Author of 'The Varieties of Religious Experience', who argued that mystical experience is the basis of religion and pushes individuals beyond self-centeredness.

A Buddhist nun and philosopher of religion with a doctorate from Yale, who teaches Buddhist practices and explains the concepts of samatha and vipassana.

A monk of the Ramakrishna order and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of New York, who outlines three contemplative practices in Hinduism: devotional, Yoga Sutra, and non-dual meditation.

An expert in ancient Chinese philosophy and editor of the journal Philosophy East and West, who discusses embodied practices in Taoism and Confucianism.

A distinguished Islamic teacher who explains the importance of prayer in Islam as a form of gratitude and reorientation, detailing the five daily prayers and their structure.

A rabbi and philosophy teacher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who discusses the central role of ritual and prayer in Judaism, including the Shema and Amidah prayers.

The host of Closer to Truth, who embarks on a journey to explore inner life practices in global religious traditions to find fresh insights into consciousness and religion.

A book authored by Helen De Cruz, mentioned as part of her introduction as a philosopher of mind and religion.

A notable work by William James that is cited for its argument that mystical experiences form the basis of religion.

The source for a non-theistic contemplative practice in Hinduism, which focuses on calming the mind and focusing attention to reveal witness consciousness.

A Taoist text mentioned for its description of 'sitting and forgetting' as a practice.

The Islamic scripture, which is recited along with prayer and serves as a reminder of life's fragility and temporal nature.

The foundational text of Judaism, revealed by God to the Jewish people, containing 613 commandments (mitzvot).

The monastic order to which Swami Sarvapriyananda belongs, which is associated with the Vedanta Society of New York.

The program hosting this discussion on global philosophy and inner life practices, with Robert Lawrence Kuhn as host.

Mentioned in relation to ancient Chinese practices, particularly animal movements described in the Zhuangzi, often associated with health and longevity rather than meditative insight.