What is a human being? | Dr. Jay Garfield

Dr. Jay Garfield is an academic philosopher with a specialization in Buddhist philosophy. He has an extensive background in studying philosophy of mind, cognitive science, epistemology, metaphysics, Buddhist philosophy, etc. He has written, translated, and edited over 30 books. In this conversation we explore what it means to be a human, how to know ourselves better, and how we can develop a greater understanding of our place in this universe. Outline: 0:00 - Introduction 21:10 - Origin of Jay's interest in the Self 27:08 - What is the self? 31:54 - Ethical Implications of personhood? 41:20 - Nagarjuna & Emptiness 52:36 - How to better understand these topics 58:06 - Is Enlightenment mystical? 1:03:00 - Supernatural Powers 1:04:23 - Reincarnation & Past Lives 1:14:41 - Greatest Wisdom More by Jay Garfield: Website: https://jaygarfield.org Books (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jay-L.-Garfield/author/B001IQXMHI?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1783883960&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=12bf4678-9d0b-4cad-b5fc-1f27574c7ca4 I’m starting a podcast to create a space that allows for me to express my wonder, and to do that which I love most, that is: engage in conversations, with others, and share a collective wonder. This was the very first episode of the 'Into Wonder' podcast. Thank you for being here. "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science… It was the experience of mystery -- even if mixed with fear -- that engendered religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, our perceptions of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty, which only in their most primitive forms are accessible to our minds: it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute true religiosity. In this sense, and only this sense, I am a deeply religious man..." - Albert Einstein