How To Get Out Of Your Head: Joseph Goldstein and Sam Harris on Nirvana, Non-Clinging, Non-Duality, and the Best Way to Meditate

The podcast explores the nuances of non-duality in meditation, particularly the distinctions between Vipassana and Dzogchen traditions. Sam Harris and Joseph Goldstein debate whether non-dual awareness, the recognition that the sense of self is an illusion, can be directly accessed or requires gradual cultivation through dualistic mindfulness practices. Goldstein argues for the latter, emphasizing the importance of steady mindfulness in achieving stable non-dual insight, while Harris advocates for the direct recognition of selflessness. The discussion covers various interpretations of non-duality, including the relationship between samsara and nirvana, and the role of clinging as a source of suffering. The speakers also touch on practical implications, such as using the passive voice to undermine the subject-object dichotomy.