Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In the fourth episode of the Philosophy of Meditation series, John Vervaeke, Rick Repetti, and guest Thomas Metzinger delve into the intricate world of meditation and mindfulness. The conversation weaves through the paradoxes of Zen Buddhism, exploring the 'Neither One Nor Many' concept and the profound realms of deep water awareness in meditation. They tackle the current crisis in American spirituality and discuss the impactful 'Awakening for the Meaning Crisis' series. The episode also sheds light on the Minimal Phenomenal Experience project and the vital role of intellectual honesty in meditation practices. Throughout the episode, they delve into complex themes such as self-deception, mortality denial, and the influence of psychedelic practices on meditation, offering a comprehensive view of the intertwining of meditation, spirituality, and intellectual discourse.
Thomas Metzinger, recently retired Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, remains celebrated for his contributions to philosophy and cognitive science. As an Adjunct Fellow at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Study, he authored significant works like "Being No One" and "The Ego Tunnel." His extensive research over 47 years in meditation intertwines analytic philosophy of mind, applied ethics, and cognitive science.
Glossary of Terms
Minimal Phenomenal Experience (MPE): The simplest form of conscious experience.
Non-Egoic Awareness: A state of consciousness where the self or ego is not the central aspect of experience.
John Vervaeke:
Website: johnvervaeke.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
Patreon: patreon.com/johnvervaeke
X: twitter.com/vervaeke_john
Facebook: facebook.com/VervaekeJohn
Rick Repetti:
Website: rickrepetti.com
Instagram: instagram.com/rickrepetti
X: twitter.com/rickrepetti
Facebook: facebook.com/philosophicalpractitioner
Thomas Metzinger:
Website:
philosophie-e.fb05.uni-mainz.de/institutes/theoretical-philosophy/thmetzinger
Join our new Patreon
patreon.com/johnvervaeke
The Vervaeke Foundation - vervaekefoundation.org
Awaken to Meaning - awakentomeaning.com
John Vervaeke YouTube
Awakening from the Meaning Crisis youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ
Books, Articles, and Publications
Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti
amazon.com/Routledge-Handbook-Philosophy-Meditation-Repetti/dp/036764746X
Being No One: The Self-Model Theory of Subjectivity - Thomas Metzinger amazon.com/Being-No-One-Self-Model-Subjectivity/dp/0262633086
The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self - Thomas Metzinger amazon.com/Ego-Tunnel-Science-Mind-Myth/dp/0465020690
The Elephant and the Blind: The Experience of Pure Consciousness: Philosophy, Science, and 500+ Experiential Reports - Thomas Metzinger amazon.com/Elephant-Blind-Experience-Consciousness-Experiential/dp/0262547104
The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy - Robert K. C. Forman amazon.com/Problem-Pure-Consciousness-Mysticism-Philosophy/dp/0195109767
Predictive processing and relevance realization: exploring convergent solutions to the frame problem. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences. Andersen, B. P., Miller, M., & Vervaeke, J. (2022)
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11097-022-09850-6
Trying Not to Try: Ancient China, Modern Science, and the Power of Spontaneity - Edward Slingerland amazon.com/Trying-Not-Try-Ancient-Spontaneity/dp/077043763X
M-Autonomy. Journal of Consciousness Studies Metzinger, Thomas (2015). blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb05philosophie/files/2013/04/Metzinger_M-Autonomy_JCS_2015.pdf
Are you sleepwalking now? What we know about mind wandering. Aeon. Metzinger, T. (2013). aeon.co/essays/are-you-sleepwalking-now-what-we-know-about-mind-wandering
The Robot's Rebellion: Finding Meaning in the Age of Darwin - Keith E. Stanovich amazon.com/Robots-Rebellion-Finding-Meaning-Darwin/dp/0226771253
Quotes
"In meditation, awareness can become non egoically aware of itself." - Thomas Metzinger
Chapters
[00:00:00] - Introduction: Overview of Meditation Topics
[00:04:40] - Awareness: Minimal Phenomenal Experience
[00:07:41] - Thomas' Insights: Consciousness Redefinition
[00:14:45] - Meditative Consciousness: Non-Duality and Perception
[00:27:02] - Meditation and Conscious Evolution
[00:42:00] - Redefining Spirituality: Meaning Crisis and Mortality
[00:57:35] - Tackling Self-Deception: Balanced Practices
[01:11:43] - Global Change: Government and AI Engagement
[01:18:09] - Conscious Practice: Honest Spiritual Approaches
In the fourth episode of the Philosophy of Meditation series, John Vervaeke, Rick Repetti, and guest Thomas Metzinger delve into the intricate world of meditation and mindfulness. The conversation weaves through the paradoxes of Zen Buddhism, exploring the 'Neither One Nor Many' concept and the profound realms of deep water awareness in meditation. They tackle the current crisis in American spirituality and discuss the impactful 'Awakening for the Meaning Crisis' series. The episode also sheds light on the Minimal Phenomenal Experience project and the vital role of intellectual honesty in meditation practices. Throughout the episode, they delve into complex themes such as self-deception, mortality denial, and the influence of psychedelic practices on meditation, offering a comprehensive view of the intertwining of meditation, spirituality, and intellectual discourse.
Thomas Metzinger, recently retired Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, remains celebrated for his contributions to philosophy and cognitive science. As an Adjunct Fellow at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Study, he authored significant works like "Being No One" and "The Ego Tunnel." His extensive research over 47 years in meditation intertwines analytic philosophy of mind, applied ethics, and cognitive science.
Glossary of Terms
Minimal Phenomenal Experience (MPE): The simplest form of conscious experience.
Non-Egoic Awareness: A state of consciousness where the self or ego is not the central aspect of experience.
John Vervaeke:
Website: johnvervaeke.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@johnvervaeke
Patreon: patreon.com/johnvervaeke
X: twitter.com/vervaeke_john
Facebook: facebook.com/VervaekeJohn
Rick Repetti:
Website: rickrepetti.com
Instagram: instagram.com/rickrepetti
X: twitter.com/rickrepetti
Facebook: facebook.com/philosophicalpractitioner
Thomas Metzinger:
Website:
philosophie-e.fb05.uni-mainz.de/institutes/theoretical-philosophy/thmetzinger
Join our new Patreon
patreon.com/johnvervaeke
The Vervaeke Foundation - vervaekefoundation.org
Awaken to Meaning - awakentomeaning.com
John Vervaeke YouTube
Awakening from the Meaning Crisis youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ
Books, Articles, and Publications
Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation - Rick Repetti
amazon.com/Routledge-Handbook-Philosophy-Meditation-Repetti/dp/036764746X
Being No One: The Self-Model Theory of Subjectivity - Thomas Metzinger amazon.com/Being-No-One-Self-Model-Subjectivity/dp/0262633086
The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self - Thomas Metzinger amazon.com/Ego-Tunnel-Science-Mind-Myth/dp/0465020690
The Elephant and the Blind: The Experience of Pure Consciousness: Philosophy, Science, and 500+ Experiential Reports - Thomas Metzinger amazon.com/Elephant-Blind-Experience-Consciousness-Experiential/dp/0262547104
The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy - Robert K. C. Forman amazon.com/Problem-Pure-Consciousness-Mysticism-Philosophy/dp/0195109767
Predictive processing and relevance realization: exploring convergent solutions to the frame problem. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences. Andersen, B. P., Miller, M., & Vervaeke, J. (2022)
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11097-022-09850-6
Trying Not to Try: Ancient China, Modern Science, and the Power of Spontaneity - Edward Slingerland amazon.com/Trying-Not-Try-Ancient-Spontaneity/dp/077043763X
M-Autonomy. Journal of Consciousness Studies Metzinger, Thomas (2015). blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb05philosophie/files/2013/04/Metzinger_M-Autonomy_JCS_2015.pdf
Are you sleepwalking now? What we know about mind wandering. Aeon. Metzinger, T. (2013). aeon.co/essays/are-you-sleepwalking-now-what-we-know-about-mind-wandering
The Robot's Rebellion: Finding Meaning in the Age of Darwin - Keith E. Stanovich amazon.com/Robots-Rebellion-Finding-Meaning-Darwin/dp/0226771253
Quotes
"In meditation, awareness can become non egoically aware of itself." - Thomas Metzinger
Chapters
[00:00:00] - Introduction: Overview of Meditation Topics
[00:04:40] - Awareness: Minimal Phenomenal Experience
[00:07:41] - Thomas' Insights: Consciousness Redefinition
[00:14:45] - Meditative Consciousness: Non-Duality and Perception
[00:27:02] - Meditation and Conscious Evolution
[00:42:00] - Redefining Spirituality: Meaning Crisis and Mortality
[00:57:35] - Tackling Self-Deception: Balanced Practices
[01:11:43] - Global Change: Government and AI Engagement
[01:18:09] - Conscious Practice: Honest Spiritual Approaches
