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The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions
- Narrated by: Jay L. Garfield
- Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins
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The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions
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Publisher's Summary
What is the meaning of life?
It's a question every thoughtful person has pondered at one time or another. Indeed, it may be the biggest question of all - at once profound and universal, but also deeply personal.
We want to understand the world in which we live, but we also want to understand how to make our own lives as meaningful as possible; to know not only why we're living, but that we're doing it with intention, purpose, and ethical commitment. But how, exactly, do we find that meaning, and develop that commitment? How can we grasp why we are here? Or how we should proceed? And to whom, exactly, we should listen as we shape the path we will walk? This comprehensive 36-lecture series from a much-honored scholar is an invigorating way to begin or continue your pursuit of these questions, and it requires no previous background in philosophical or religious thought.
It offers a rigorous and wide-ranging exploration of what various spiritual, religious, and philosophical traditions from both the East and West have contributed to this profound line of questioning, sharing insights from sources that include ancient Indian texts, such as:
- The Bhagavad-Gita
- Foundational Chinese texts like the Daodejing and the Chuang Tzu
- Classical Western texts, such as Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics and Marcus Aurelius's Meditations
- Modern philosophers and writers like David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Leo Tolstoy
- The unique perspectives offered by Native Americans, in this case, the Lakota Sioux medicine man and writer, John Lame Deer
- More recent and contemporary philosophers, such as Mohandas Gandhi and the Dalai Lama
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- Dragoon Rushier
- 12-02-23
broad but not complicated
thw course touched a surprisingly large number of cultures and philosophers while managing to simplify their ideas such that a person not trained in philosophy could comprehend them. the narrator and professor Jay Garfield was affable and one wishes one were in the classroom with him. I'm glad I picked this course up! a good foundation to what hopefully will be a much deeper pursuit
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- Hari Prasad AS
- 16-01-23
Excellent lectures
I'm fortunate to listen this lecture series on 'meaning of life'. it helped me to get an abstract view of majority of religious texts, their interpretations and teachings. Very well prepared and delivered. A 'must listen' for all those, who're interested in this line of thinking.
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- Dr. Somesh Gupta
- 05-10-22
Life-changing experience
I read/listen a lot of books. This was among the best. It helped me to understand what we expect from life and what we give back to this universe. The message is clear and loud. Incorporate compassion and lead a natural life, not a life governed by consumer culture, desires and greed. I have to remember that I am not the center of the universe. Rather my existence is going to vanish in a blink of an eye, in astronomical terms. So there has to be a sense of urgency. We live meaningfully, in a disciplined manner to liberate us from consumerism, greed and desires.
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- Abhishek
- 19-02-24
Thought provoking and Enjoyable at the same time
This book shows many Philosophies from Bhagavad Geeta to Modernity. Some of the text really resonates with the life we are living or should live when you hear them for first time.
I would recommend this book to everyone be it Religious or Aethist because you will find something which will help you.
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- J
- 29-12-19
Absolutely Amazing! Must listen!
Superb Narration! Deep meaning in every chapter. So much to learn from each culture. Miraculously the essence of teachings from each culture despite its contradictions sounds like same. It will definitely take the listener closer to the answers one is looking for. It broadens the perspective. Highly recommended.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Subram
- 10-12-20
Very very interesting book
Thanks to professor Jay for writing such an amazing book.. the amount of hard work and research he invested in this book is extremely difficult for anyone. His narration shows his devotion and professionalism to this amazing book.. it is a must read for those who are searching for a meaning of life..
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- Shreker
- 19-07-22
Very insightful. Concise & Masterfully narrated.
One of the best books I have ever listened. Captures very well all the different thoughts on this topic concisely. Very insightful, and superb narration.
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- Meena Shukla
- 30-03-22
Enlightening
Took me a couple of months to finish it. It was wonderful getting to know the thoughts of great minds in the history and quenched a little of my thirst to understand the meaning of life. One thing to note however, is that the historical perspectives that we are reading/listening now are interpretations by people who came after the pioneers. That can mean we aren't getting to know what they truly thought but at least are closer to the real thing.
Everyone should take this course and similar lectures should be a part of mandatory coursework in schools.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Gowtami
- 17-08-22
Amazing collection
It’s a great feed for one who is searching for how to find the purpose of life
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- Brijesh
- 26-06-23
A great listen
The way the lectures were organised and covered various perspectives, was quite enjoyable. Definitely recommended and I would love to re-do it at a later point.
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