What Is the Mind? #6 [rebroadcast]

What Is the Mind? #6 [rebroadcast]

Author: Scott Snibbe February 10, 2026 Duration: 19:53

If the mind is our thoughts, then what is it that observes those thoughts? 

What are we without thoughts? 

Do we ever truly see an object, or only its mental reconstruction? 

Though we are all convinced that we have one, science has no agreed definition for consciousness or mind. Even subjectively, the mind is elusive, difficult to pin to any specific mental experience.

Episode 6. What Is the Mind?

Themes:

  • Body-mind duality
  • Interdependence
  • Consciousness
  • Noticing your thoughts
  • How to be present
  • The mind's 4 mental factors
  • Psychology

Watch this episode on our YouTube channel

This Earth Day, I’ll be sitting down with one of the most inspiring voices on climate and the future—author Kim Stanley Robinson—for a live online conversation hosted by UC Berkeley’s School of Journalism.

We’ll explore how his work offers real hope in the face of the climate crisis—a chance to imagine not just what could go wrong—but what could go right.

It’s free, April 22nd at 5:30pm Pacific. Sign up here to watch on Zoom.

If you’d like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.

🙏 Help us stay ad-free

📲 Follow us on socials 


In a world that often equates busyness with purpose, How to Train a Happy Mind offers a different path. Host Scott Snibbe guides conversations that explore a secular, practical approach to well-being, drawing from a rich tapestry of sources including modern psychology, science, and contemplative traditions. This isn't just about sitting quietly; it's an active training of our innate capacities for intelligence and emotional resilience. Listeners will find a podcast dedicated to actionable techniques that move beyond basic mindfulness, engaging our imagination and compassion to reshape our inner experience and outward relationships. Each episode, often featuring insightful guests, breaks down complex ideas into accessible practices aimed at building genuine, lasting happiness from the inside out. The discussions naturally weave through themes of mental fitness, spiritual inquiry, and physical health, reflecting a holistic view of what it means to live meaningfully. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful workshop for the mind, where abstract concepts become tools you can use in your daily life to foster personal peace and contribute to a kinder world. Scott’s grounded perspective helps demystify meditation, presenting it as a trainable skill for modern life challenges, making the pursuit of a happy mind both a practical and profound journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 322

How to Train a Happy Mind
Podcast Episodes
Embracing Impermanence #9 [rebroadcast] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
We cling to things as if they won’t change, but change is the nature of reality. When we embrace impermanence, we prepare ourselves for big changes, and are able to let go of our fear and anxiety to become more fully pre…
Guided Death and Rebirth Meditation with Laurie Anderson #107 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:13
Laurie Anderson leads a meditation on death and rebirth, guiding you through the Buddhist understanding of death, the bardo, and a joyous rebirth. These tracks come from Songs from the Bardo, an album inspired by the Tib…
Ten Million Percent Happier - Interview with Scott Snibbe #105 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:25
Scott Snibbe becomes the interviewee in this week's episode as Ven. Fabienne Pradelle speaks with him about finding meaning and spirituality through art and creativity, love without attachment, misconceptions about Buddh…
Guided Meditation on the Mind #7 [rebroadcast] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
This guided meditation takes us through different ways of observing the mind, first examining its ever-present parts: perception, feeling, will, and awareness. Then we explore the nature of subjective reality itself by a…
What Is the Mind? #6 [rebroadcast] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:53
If the mind is our thoughts, then what is it that observes those thoughts? What are we without thoughts? Do we ever truly see an object, or only its mental reconstruction? Though we are all convinced that we have one, sc…
Dr. Thupten Jinpa on Buddhism, Science, Compassion, and Climate #104 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:04
Dr. Thupten Jinpa on the intersection of science, Buddhism, and critical thinking; how Buddhist principles can help us solve the climate crisis; and how to lead fulfilling lives at home with our families and relationship…
From What If to What Next — Rob Hopkins' Climate Optimism #103 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:28
Rob Hopkins, climate activist, co-founder of the Transition Network and host of the podcast series From What If to What Next talks about an engaged, passionate form of Buddhism that actively works for positive change in…