Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
John Vervaeke and Seth Dellinger delve into the intricacies of embodiment and wisdom. Dellinger, a specialist in the Feldenkrais Method, shares his expertise on how this somatic practice fosters personal growth and awareness. The conversation covers a range of topics, including the challenges of teaching embodiment in virtual environments and the transformative nature of mindfulness practices. Dellinger shares information about his upcoming workshop, where he integrates various embodiment practices to help individuals explore and enhance their personal and relational development. This episode is rich in discussions about the non-propositional nature of embodiment, the integration of perception, action, and orientation in wisdom practices, and the concept of wordless wisdom. Dellinger and Vervaeke's dialogue extends beyond physical practices to include psychological, philosophical, and personal development perspectives, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the significance of embodiment in our lives. This conversation is not only informative but also transformative, providing insights into how somatic practices like the Feldenkrais Method can significantly impact personal and relational growth.
Glossary of Terms
Feldenkrais Method: A somatic educational system designed by Moshé Feldenkrais, aimed at improving human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement.
D.I.M.E. Practice: An acronym for Dialogical, Imaginal, Mindful, and Embodied Practices, a holistic approach to personal development.
Ecology of Practices: A concept introduced by John Vervaeke referring to a network of practices that enhance cognitive capacities.
Jhana Practice: A meditation technique in Buddhism focusing on developing concentration and mindfulness.
John Vervaeke
Website: johnvervaeke.com
Patreon: patreon.com/johnvervaeke
Facebook: facebook.com/VervaekeJohn
X: twitter.com/vervaeke_john
YouTube: youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
Seth Dellinger
Website: sethdellinger.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@movewithseth
Email: sethbdellinger@gmail.com
Resources and References
The Vervaeke Foundation: vervaekefoundation.org
Awaken to Meaning: awakentomeaning.com
John Vervaeke YouTube
Awakening from the Meaning Crisis
Books, Articles, and Publications
What is Orientation?: A Philosophical Investigation - Werner Stegmaier
The Circling Institute
Workshops
Coming Home to Your Body (12/16/2023): awakentomeaning.com/join-practice
Grounded Connections: sethdellinger.com/about
Try out the Presence Mantra:
https://mailchi.mp/38989dc1a62b/5-foundations-of-presence
Quotes
"I am a teacher of the healing arts... a wisdom practice disguised as a movement practice." - Seth Dellinger
"Our bodies are just a way of accessing our entire lives, our entire being." - Seth Dellinger
"What I'm trying to teach you is how to become your own teacher." - Seth Dellinger on the Feldenkrais Method
"Understanding through movement can lead to a transformative worldview." - John Vervaeke
"Embodiment is not just about the physical; it's about transforming our entire way of being." - John Vervaeke
Timestamped Highlights
[00:00:00] - Introduction by John Vervaeke and introduction of Seth Dellinger.
[00:01:00] - Seth Dellinger discusses his approach to teaching the healing arts and the Feldenkrais Method.
[00:01:40] - Seth talks about his connection with the Circling Institute and the D.I.M.E. (Dialogical, Imaginal, Mindful, and Embodied) practice.
[00:04:20] - Seth discusses his way of processing John Vervaeke's work through embodiment.
[00:06:40] - Conversation about Moshe Feldenkrais' influence on Seth's teachings.
[00:09:00] - Seth shares his insights on the importance of becoming your own teacher.
[00:11:20] - Introduction of Seth's 'Grounded Connection' program.
[00:18:00] - Discussion on integrating practice into everyday life.
[00:22:20] - Exploration of orientation and anxiety in the context of embodiment.
[00:31:00] Seth introduces the concept of ‘wordless wisdom’
[00:36:03] - Conversation about the fallibility of human perception and its impact on daily life.
[00:42:20] - Delving deeper into the concept of 'wordless wisdom' and its application in everyday interactions.
[00:53:40] - The significance of embodiment practices in transforming life experiences.
[00:56:00] - Dellinger discusses his upcoming workshop, "Coming Home to Your Body," which combines Feldenkrais practice with discussions on bodily wisdom and its everyday applications.
[01:02:00] - Seth connects improved perception and action with wisdom, emphasizing embodiment and the transformative power of revisiting past experiences.
[01:09:20] - Concluding thoughts on the conversation and its impact on Seth Dellinger's work and practices.
John Vervaeke and Seth Dellinger delve into the intricacies of embodiment and wisdom. Dellinger, a specialist in the Feldenkrais Method, shares his expertise on how this somatic practice fosters personal growth and awareness. The conversation covers a range of topics, including the challenges of teaching embodiment in virtual environments and the transformative nature of mindfulness practices. Dellinger shares information about his upcoming workshop, where he integrates various embodiment practices to help individuals explore and enhance their personal and relational development. This episode is rich in discussions about the non-propositional nature of embodiment, the integration of perception, action, and orientation in wisdom practices, and the concept of wordless wisdom. Dellinger and Vervaeke's dialogue extends beyond physical practices to include psychological, philosophical, and personal development perspectives, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the significance of embodiment in our lives. This conversation is not only informative but also transformative, providing insights into how somatic practices like the Feldenkrais Method can significantly impact personal and relational growth.
Glossary of Terms
Feldenkrais Method: A somatic educational system designed by Moshé Feldenkrais, aimed at improving human functioning by increasing self-awareness through movement.
D.I.M.E. Practice: An acronym for Dialogical, Imaginal, Mindful, and Embodied Practices, a holistic approach to personal development.
Ecology of Practices: A concept introduced by John Vervaeke referring to a network of practices that enhance cognitive capacities.
Jhana Practice: A meditation technique in Buddhism focusing on developing concentration and mindfulness.
John Vervaeke
Website: johnvervaeke.com
Patreon: patreon.com/johnvervaeke
Facebook: facebook.com/VervaekeJohn
X: twitter.com/vervaeke_john
YouTube: youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
Seth Dellinger
Website: sethdellinger.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@movewithseth
Email: sethbdellinger@gmail.com
Resources and References
The Vervaeke Foundation: vervaekefoundation.org
Awaken to Meaning: awakentomeaning.com
John Vervaeke YouTube
Awakening from the Meaning Crisis
Books, Articles, and Publications
What is Orientation?: A Philosophical Investigation - Werner Stegmaier
The Circling Institute
Workshops
Coming Home to Your Body (12/16/2023): awakentomeaning.com/join-practice
Grounded Connections: sethdellinger.com/about
Try out the Presence Mantra:
https://mailchi.mp/38989dc1a62b/5-foundations-of-presence
Quotes
"I am a teacher of the healing arts... a wisdom practice disguised as a movement practice." - Seth Dellinger
"Our bodies are just a way of accessing our entire lives, our entire being." - Seth Dellinger
"What I'm trying to teach you is how to become your own teacher." - Seth Dellinger on the Feldenkrais Method
"Understanding through movement can lead to a transformative worldview." - John Vervaeke
"Embodiment is not just about the physical; it's about transforming our entire way of being." - John Vervaeke
Timestamped Highlights
[00:00:00] - Introduction by John Vervaeke and introduction of Seth Dellinger.
[00:01:00] - Seth Dellinger discusses his approach to teaching the healing arts and the Feldenkrais Method.
[00:01:40] - Seth talks about his connection with the Circling Institute and the D.I.M.E. (Dialogical, Imaginal, Mindful, and Embodied) practice.
[00:04:20] - Seth discusses his way of processing John Vervaeke's work through embodiment.
[00:06:40] - Conversation about Moshe Feldenkrais' influence on Seth's teachings.
[00:09:00] - Seth shares his insights on the importance of becoming your own teacher.
[00:11:20] - Introduction of Seth's 'Grounded Connection' program.
[00:18:00] - Discussion on integrating practice into everyday life.
[00:22:20] - Exploration of orientation and anxiety in the context of embodiment.
[00:31:00] Seth introduces the concept of ‘wordless wisdom’
[00:36:03] - Conversation about the fallibility of human perception and its impact on daily life.
[00:42:20] - Delving deeper into the concept of 'wordless wisdom' and its application in everyday interactions.
[00:53:40] - The significance of embodiment practices in transforming life experiences.
[00:56:00] - Dellinger discusses his upcoming workshop, "Coming Home to Your Body," which combines Feldenkrais practice with discussions on bodily wisdom and its everyday applications.
[01:02:00] - Seth connects improved perception and action with wisdom, emphasizing embodiment and the transformative power of revisiting past experiences.
[01:09:20] - Concluding thoughts on the conversation and its impact on Seth Dellinger's work and practices.










![Exploring the Mind: John Vervaeke on Relevance Realization and Consciousness
In Episode 3 of the Active Inference Insights series, host Darius Parvizi-Wayne welcomes John Vervaeke for an insightful discussion bridging cognitive science and philosophy. The episode delves into topics like relevance realization, evolutionary processes in cognition, and understanding cultural variations in self-modeling. Verveke articulates the dynamic nature of cognition and its relationship with the environment, challenging traditional views on consciousness and the subjective-objective divide. Listeners will better understand how computational models and philosophical frameworks can synergistically enhance our comprehension of the mind and its processes. This episode is a thought-provoking journey that connects cognitive science theories with philosophical inquiries, offering listeners nuanced perspectives on the complexity of human cognition and its implications for meaning in life.
Glossary of Terms
4E Cognitive Science: A view of cognition as embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended.
Relevance Realization: The ability to focus on salient information in a complex environment.
Predictive Processing: A framework in cognitive science that describes how the brain makes predictions about incoming sensory information.
Opponent Processing: A concept in biology where two subsystems work in opposition to regulate functions like arousal.
Resources and References:
Darius Parvizi
X: https://twitter.com/dparviziwayne
Active Inference Institute: https://www.activeinference.org/
Active Inference Insights: https://www.youtube.com/@ActiveInference
John Vervaeke
Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VervaekeJohn/
X: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
The Vervaeke Foundation: https://vervaekefoundation.org/
Awaken to Meaning
John Vervaeke YouTube
Awakening from the Meaning Crisis
After Socrates
The Crossroads of Predictive Processing and Relevance Realization | Leiden Symposium
Timestamped Highlights
[00:00:00] - Darius Parvizi Wayne introduces the episode and guest John Verveke, highlighting Johns expertise in psychology, cognitive science, and Buddhist philosophy.
[00:06:17] - John Verveke discusses the evolution of cognitive functions and the role of evolution in shaping cognition.
[00:11:40] - Explanation of the autonomic nervous system, detailing how its two subsystems with opposite biases work together to regulate bodily functions.
[00:14:43] - The conversation delves into the nature of problem-solving, exploring how organisms predict and prepare for future states.
[00:22:23] - The concept of hyperbolic discounting in cognition is examined, analyzing its impact on decision-making and goal pursuit.
[00:26:20] - Discussion on the role of affordances in predictive processing, exploring how environments offer action possibilities to organisms.
[00:31:34] - Conversation on the analogy between relevance realization and evolutionary processes, highlighting the dynamic nature of cognitive adaptation.
[00:38:00] - The existential imperative is clarified in the context of the free energy principle, exploring its implications in cognitive science.
[00:53:00] - Consciousness and the subject-object distinction are addressed, challenging traditional cognitive models and exploring interrelational perspectives.
[00:56:35] - Cultural and historical influences on cognitive processes are explored, examining how these factors shape our understanding of cognition.
[00:57:13] - John Verveke discusses the hermeneutics of suspicion in cognitive science, questioning the distinction between appearance and reality.
[01:04:49] - The role of perception and its function in cognitive processes are discussed, emphasizing the interconnectedness of perception and cognition.
[01:11:19] - The concepts of ontological and phenomenal self-modeling are delved into, discussing how these models influence cognitive processes.
[01:14:00] - Self-modeling and its cultural variations are discussed, highlighting the diversity in conceptualizing the self across different cultures.
[01:18:16] - Agency and selfhood in cognitive processes are examined, focusing on how these concepts enhance predictive agency in the world.
[01:22:01] - Exploration of self-modeling under flow states and their impact on cognitive processes.
[01:35:54] - Analysis of arousal in the context of meta motivational theory, discussing how arousal is framed differently based on goals and motivations.
[01:38:04] - Discussion of the intersection of philosophical concepts and computational models in cognitive science, emphasizing the importance of integrating these approaches to enhance understanding without oversimplifying complex phenomena.
[01:46:26] - Overview of a talk integrating predictive processing and relevance realization theory, offering insights into their combined impact on cognitive science. Exploring the Mind: John Vervaeke on Relevance Realization and Consciousness](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ev5LWNXzET4/mqdefault.jpg)