Dan Harris is a fidgety, skeptical journalist who had a panic attack on live national television, which led him to try something he otherwise never would have considered: meditation. He went on to write the bestselling book, 10% Happier. On this show, Dan talks with eminent meditation teachers, top scientists, and even the odd celebrity. Guests include everyone from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Brené Brown to Karamo from Queer Eye. On some episodes, Dan ventures into the deep end of the pool, covering subjects such as enlightenment and psychedelics. On other episodes, it’s science-based techniques for issues such as anxiety, productivity, and relationships. Dan's approach is seemingly modest, but secretly radical: happiness is a skill you can train, just like working your bicep in the gym. Your progress may be incremental at first, but like any good investment, it compounds over time.
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Today we’re going to nerd out about what enlightenment (or, if that word is triggering, let’s just call it “high doses of meditation”) can do to your brain — and, more practically, how we can derive these benefits even if we don’t plan to spend decades living in a cave. My guest is Rick Hanson, Ph.D., psychologist and author of the new book Neurodharma. We go into the deep end, yes, but we also get very down-to-earth, talking about how anyone, including you, can “reverse engineer enlightenment,” and have “Nirvana operationalized in your nervous system.” Quick note that this was recorded right before the pandemic, but enlightenment is evergreen.
Where to find Rick Hanson online:
Website: https://www.rickhanson.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drrhanson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rickhansonphd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickhansonphd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RickHanson
Book Mentioned:
Neurodharma by Rick Hanson: https://www.rickhanson.net/books/neurodharma
You can find meditations from our world-class teachers and more wisdom from Rick Hanson on our app. Visit tenpercent.com to download the Ten Percent Happier app and kickstart your meditation practice. Visit tenpercent.com to sign up today.
Other Resources Mentioned:
Hippocampus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocampus
U Pandita: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_Pandita
Enlightenment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism
Nirvana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(Buddhism)
Robert Thurman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Thurman
Mark Epstein: http://markepsteinmd.com/
Joseph Goldstein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goldstein_(writer)
Jhanas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism
Stephen Batchelor: https://www.stephenbatchelor.org/index.php/en/
Neurodharma Online Program: https://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/neurodharma-online-program/
More Books: https://www.rickhanson.net/books/
Being Well Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936
Additional Resources:
Ten Percent Happier Live: https://tenpercent.com/live
Coronavirus Sanity Guide: https://www.tenpercent.com/coronavirussanityguide
Free App access for Frontline Workers: https://tenpercent.com/care
Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/rick-hanson-264
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