Meditation and The Mind Illuminated with Matthew Immergut
New Podcast Episode
The latest podcast episode covers meditation with Matthew Immergut.
Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, Pocket Casts or YouTube.
You can also watch it on YouTube.
In this episode, I speak with Matthew Immergut, Associate Professor of Sociology and co-author of The Mind Illuminated, a detailed guide to meditation.
Matthew shares his personal journey into meditation including a transformative retreat which revealed the power of meditation. He emphasizes meditation as more than just a tool for relaxation, describing it instead as a profound exploration of consciousness.
Matthew describes meditation as a formal practice distinct from meditative activities like walking or painting. Meditation is a personal practice; the reasons to engage can vary widely. It is neither a quick fix nor a guaranteed path to perfection, and it has its own potential pitfalls too.
Matthew touches on the integration of neuroscience in The Mind Illuminated while acknowledging that the book primarily offers philosophical perspectives. He suggests beginning meditators start with short sessions, and emphasizes the importance of cultivating joy in meditation.
Finally, Matthew addresses whether meditation is universal applicabile and historic approaches to this question. For those drawn to meditation, Matthew describes it as a profoundly rewarding and evolving practice, rich with changing insights and gifts throughout one's life journey.