Shadi's Background
Shadi describes his work as a political scientist and his introduction to Waking Up.
Using Waking Up as a Believer
A practicing Muslim, Shadi brackets themes he regards as conflicting with his faith.
Experiencing vs. Intellectualizing
On the spiritual path, is experiencing better than intellectualizing?
Being Mindful of Anxiety
How do we make anxiety an object of awareness?
Recognizing the Next Appearance
Is it useful to resist certain unhealthy states, or should we accept them without judgment?
Negative Emotions
When are negative emotions useful—and for how long?
Looking For Your Head
What is the core insight behind Douglas Harding’s method, and are there alternative approaches?
Dealing With Fidgetiness
How do you deal with the urge to move during meditation?
Waking Up and Religion
Is Waking Up compatible with theistic religious belief?
Outro
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Member Questions: Shadi Hamid
Sam speaks with author, political scientist, and researcher Shadi Hamid. They discuss intellectual vs. experiential understandings of meditation; Shadi’s experience with Transcendental Meditation and his decision to give it up; how Shadi engages with Waking Up as a practicing Muslim; how to relate to negative emotions; strategies for reframing feelings of resistance; pros and cons of Douglas Harding’s technique of looking for one’s head; working with fidgetiness; Waking Up’s compatibility with theistic religions; and other topics.
to listen to all 10 sessions in this series.
Artwork by Jason Chatfield