What is a Good Life? #128 - The Cosmic Force of Questions with Shai Tubali

On the 128th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Shai Tubali, Ph.D. Shai is a philosopher, author, and teacher whose work bridges mysticism and academic philosophy. He explores how expanded states of consciousness can transform individual lives and influence our collective future.Shai holds a doctorate in the philosophy of religion and his academic publications include The Transformative Philosophical Dialogue (Springer, 2023) and Cosmos and Camus: Science Fiction Film and the Absurd. As the author of numerous books on inner transformation, his writings have reached readers in 14 languages. He has also developed several original, meditation-based methods for psychological transformation, including the medically researched Expansion Method.In this conversation, we explore profound questions about the nature of existence, the power of inquiry, and the tension between knowing and not knowing. Shai reflects on his journey of self-discovery, the absurdity of life, and the importance of embracing both reflective self-consciousness and the interconnectedness of all beings.This episode emphasises the significance of living an examined life, where questions lead to deeper insights and a more profound understanding of what it means to be human.For more of Shai's work, check out the following:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaitubali/Website: https://shaitubali.com/Books: https://shaitubali.com/books/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShaiTubali/featuredFor more from Mark McCartney:Newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/Website: https://www.mmcleadership.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcmccartney00:00 The energy and tension of the question03:00 What is it to be human?05:15 The aliveness of not knowing09:20 Being a distant observer of life16:30 Embracing life fully from nowhere21:30 Exploring absurdity, meaning & transcendence 32:55 The beginning of a spiritual path38:20 Longing for reality43:55 The interplay of absurdity and transcendence 50:53 The existential suffering of personalised existence55:45 The grand feeling of universality through science59:00 Summary of the conversation1:02:00 What is a good life for Shai?Keywords: Meaning of Life Interviews | meaning of life conversations | exploring life | big life questions | meaning of life discussions | creating a meaningful life​