Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield 2c215

Exploring the ancient Zen teaching of the Great Way, Jack guides us toward freedom from attachment, clarity beyond preferences, and the liberating joy of letting go. “The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When attachment and hatred are both absent, everything becomes clear and undisguised. Make the smallest distinction; however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. If you wish to see the truth, then hold no opinion for or against anything.” – Third Zen Ancestor In this episode, Jack mindfully explores: Finding freedom from attachment by learning to let go Can we meditate society’s problems away? What does it mean to seek wisdom, comion, freedom? The Third Patriarch of Zen Finding the Great Way and seeing the truth Moving past our opinions and preferences How our desires blind us and manufacture our reality Suffering, impermanence, grasping, and not relying on reality The path to liberation from our grasping and fears The joy of letting go of our attachments and relaxing into what is Training ourselves to have an obedient mind of the Buddha Is there appropriate or wise attachment? Clarifying the full spectrum of attachment How to get out addiction and the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts Dealing with attachment to our isolation, our separateness Commitment as a healthy devoted attachment   Seeking a Wise Relationship to ourselves, others, and the world The slippery slope of pleasure, into desire, into habit, into need Wise attachment vs unwise attachment The full spectrum of attachment and love “Go where you wish—cave, monastery, India, Tibet, do what you like—your mind goes with you, that’s the problem.” – Jack Kornfield This episode recorded on 03/08/1993 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.  About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community , The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. “Often we think attachment is only to other people and things, but often what we are attached to is our own isolation, our own separateness.” – Jack Kornfield See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack and Ocean continue their deep conversation, exploring how to create positive change in the world without losing our spiritual center and loving essence.  Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. “Neither meditation nor activism has to be a grim duty. These are invitations to open the heart and be present for everything. In activism you stand up because you care and you love, and then you bring your best to it.” – Jack Kornfield In this episode, Jack and Ocean mindfully explore: Activism and creating positive change in the world How to save the world without losing yourself Acting beautifully without attachment to the fruits How not not to let the immense suffering of the world get to us Wes Nisker, Gary Snyder, and saving the world because you love it Acting in this world with peace, love, courage, and nobility Honoring our emotions, grief, and fears, but not letting them control us Becoming what you want the world to be His Holiness the Dalai Lama and meeting our lives with honesty and joy Fighting for freedom and justice, but having fun doing it Making activism fun, joyful, and beautiful Emphasizing the positives acts in the world Life changing wisdom from the Buddha Holding it all in the great heart of comion Adding your voice, love, energy, and comion If your grief is big, hold it from something bigger This episode was originally recorded for the Food Revolution Network in November of 2024.  Discover Your Buddha Nature with Jack Kornfield, an online journey for reclaiming our dignity, comion, and generosity, beginning June 2. “It says in the Bhagavad Gita, the essence is to act beautifully without attachment to the fruits of the actions. What it means is, you don’t get to determine how it turns out, but you do get to plant your seeds of goodness. And as Thoreau says, ‘Convince me you have a seed there, and I’m prepared to expect miracles.’ You get to plant the seeds, and eventually, in their own time, they bear fruit. That’s not your job. Your job is to make a beautiful garden, to plant beautiful things, and to tend them.” – Jack Kornfield About Ocean Robbins: Ocean Robbins is an American entrepreneur and author, best known for his role as the co-founder of Food Revolution Network, Inc. This California-based company is dedicated to advocating for a whole foods, plant-based diet. Check out Ocean’s book, 31-Day Food Revolution, to learn more about healing the body and transforming the world. You can keep up with Ocean on his website, HERE. About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community , The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. “If we don’t look, if we don’t acknowledge the children who are hungry, if we don’t acknowledge not just Ukraine and Gaza, but Sudan, and the Congo, and Myanmar, and the Rohingas—if we turn our gaze away in denial, we can’t make a difference. Our heart has to be big enough and our dignity strong enough that we’re willing to see it. And then some of us are called to do that work in the way that we can.” – Jack Kornfield See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack is interviewed by Ocean Robbins to explore the big spiritual questions—why there is suffering, how to navigate duality, making the ordinary holy, and cultivating a loving witness. Discover Your Buddha Nature with Jack Kornfield, an online journey for reclaiming our dignity, comion, and generosity, beginning June 2. “It’s important to not use spiritual practice to set up an ideal or judge yourself. Sometimes you need to shut down, and then you open again. So the spiritual path is really about being with both the calm ocean and the storm.” – Jack Kornfield In this episode, Jack and Ocean mindfully explore: What first got Jack into mindfulness and meditation Life as beautiful, and an ocean of tears Suffering, Buddhism, and the end of suffering Why is there suffering in the world? Navigating the reality of duality—form and emptiness, life and death The recycling nature of the universe How to make the ordinary holy Meeting our lives with presence A simple way to explain “The Witness” The magic of consciousness A calming and deep guided meditation  Holding fear and grief in comion Not getting caught in reactions and anger Acting the nobility of heart and your original dignity  This episode was originally recorded for the Food Revolution Network in November of 2024.  “Life is extraordinarily beautiful, and it’s an ocean of tears. You can’t have birth without death, you can’t have light without dark, you can’t have beginnings without endings. We live in a universe constructed of opposites. That’s just the game of form, of duality. You can’t have form without the emptiness from which it comes.” – Jack Kornfield About Ocean Robbins: Ocean Robbins is an American entrepreneur and author, best known for his role as the co-founder of Food Revolution Network, Inc. This California-based company is dedicated to advocating for a whole foods, plant-based diet. Check out Ocean’s book, 31-Day Food Revolution, to learn more about healing the body and transforming the world. You can keep up with Ocean on his website, HERE. About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community , The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. “We live in a universe that’s recycling itself—the ultimate recycling of birth and death, form and rebirth. For us as human beings, the question is not why or how. The Buddha didn’t actually answer those questions. He said those are questions that don’t tend to have understanding. He said, what I’m interested in is how to navigate the universe as it is, in a way that brings love, well-being, and freedom to all who want to awaken to this.” – Jack Kornfield  See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this guided breath meditation, Jack Kornfield invites listeners into a space of ease, trust, and ardent gratitude for our bodies, hearts, and minds.  Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. Learn to cultivate dignity, comion, and generosity in Discovering Your Buddha Nature with Jack Kornfield, an online journey beginning June 2.  This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack leads listeners through: The true purpose of meditation and returning from the outer world to our inner selves  Softening the body and releasing any physical and emotional tension Grounding ourselves as we sense the weight of our body being fully ed by the earth  Receiving whatever thoughts and emotions arise during meditation with comion and openness Noticing how the body breathes itself, relaxing into each breath, and inviting a sense of ease and trust  Feeling the rise and fall of our bellies with each inhale and exhale Bowing inwardly to our life-sustaining breath and thanking it for keeping us alive Expanding the field of mindful loving awareness to the entire body, heart, and mind  Finding the parts of our body that are storing buried difficulties  Considering the energy of the mind and how occupied it is most of the time Welcoming a sense of peace and presence with a quieter mind and a tender heart  Resting in ‘the awareness that notices’ and de-identifying with the breath and body "This is your life breath. It breathes you together with all living things. It breathes you with everyone in the room, the ocean of air in the trees. As if to make an inward bow, you can say thank you to your breath for keeping you alive so steadily." – Jack Kornfield  This meditation was originally recorded for the InsightLA Sunday livestream on April 20, 2025. “Notice that you are not your breath and body. You are not your feelings and thoughts. But, who you are is the awareness that has been kindly witnessing. You are the loving awareness itself.” – Jack Kornfield  About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. "The goal of meditation is not to get to somewhere else, to get from here to there, but to come from there to here. To be present, awake, kind, alive." – Jack Kornfield See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this time of global uncertainty, Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman call us to rise with fierce comion and become Bodhisattvas of the Great Turning. Jack's Free New Course, Stand Up For Comion: A Free Course and Resource for Navigating Uncertain Times.  “You become the imaginal cells in these times. Things fall apart, but in you is the understanding that comion is big enough to hold all of this, that the heart is big enough to hold all this, that the Dharma is big enough to shine through empires, changes, crisis, and beauty. That’s what we have—the Bodhisattva can carry on liberating beings from suffering, however long it takes.” – Jack Kornfield In this episode, Jack and Trudy mindfully explore: How you can pick all the flowers, but you can’t stop the spring Navigating fear politics and the cultural media machine Letting go of fear, blame, shame, and ending systemic division Using this time of “The Great Turning” as an opportunity to create a more loving world Ajahn Chah and living the truth of uncertainty How to face the big problems of the world with even bigger love Meeting the world through the Bodhisattva Vows How loving people and feeding people connects with enlightenment The path and practices of loving awareness and comion Inclining the heart towards kindness and generosity How caterpillars change to butterflies through Imaginal Cells The world-changing power of true community Learning how to respond mindfully to any trigger or circumstance Becoming a make-weight of hope to tip the scales of humanity to love and balance The spiritual wisdom of over and Easter Letting go of tension and flowing into relaxation The Pagan Goddess of Dawn Community as the antidote for loneliness Crying, letting the tears come, and seeing what happens How to interact with people who are highly anxious or avoidant Saying hello to the people around you “Tears feel endless, bottomless, when they don’t have a chance to fall. When they get to fall, they fall and fall, but they stop because tears too are impermanent, they cannot fall forever. It’s really like this with all the intense emotions we are afraid will flood and drown us in some way.” – Trudy Goodman "What we're experiencing, Joanna Macy calls, The Great Turning. It's the breakdown of the exploitive late-stage capitalist model where we get as much as we can, and the harbinger of the possibility of interdependence. When it breaks down, that turning says, ‘We will use this time to turn this world into something better, to care for one another. The possibility starts with us." – Jack Kornfield  This episode was originally recorded for the InsightLA Sunday livestream on April 20, 2025. Photo via Wirestock About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exploring how to let go of victim consciousness and awaken inner resilience, Jack shares how to rest in awareness and live from the trusting heart. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. Jack's New Free Course, Stand Up For Comion: A Free Course and Resource for Navigating Uncertain Times.  In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: Liberation, resilience, and the Trusting Heart The physical nature of time within the infinite nature of awareness Change, aging, and the weirdness of looking in the mirror Meditation and working with the drama that arises ing who we truly are, no matter how lost we get Moving past victim consciousness, shame, and blame Dropping our negative stories and starting to live with nobility How we are so much more than our suffering How to stop being loyal to our stories about ourselves and the world Navigating these "latter day degenerate times with cherry blossoms everywhere” The goal of practice as keeping our beginners mind Letting go of fear and opening to adventure Not confusing no-self with low-self esteem "No self, no problem" The strength, aliveness, and fullness of true emptiness The Dharma of a zoo in a hurricane The Trusting Heart as natural as the Tao, as resilient as water, and as forgiving as the earth The resiliency, comion, and intuition of the Witness Recognizing how good you're actually doing "When we become still, when we're not trying to be something, when we're in the moments of the trusting heart—what's left is not imitation or artificial, it is as natural as the Tao, as resilient and flexible as water, and as forgiving as the earth." – Jack Kornfield  This Dharma Talk was recorded at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and originally published on DharmaSeed. “Is this who you really are—the victim, the abandoned one, the lonely one? Is that really who you are" – Jack Kornfield See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who are we really? Jack Kornfield peels back the veil on our identity roles to uncover the deeper truth that we really are.  Jack's New Free Course, Stand Up For Comion: A Free Course and Resource for Navigating Uncertain Times.  In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: Opening to a new vast, gracious, and spacious perspective on life Stepping out of your ordinary habits and roles to see something in a new way How to navigate the reality that death is stalking us Meditation as a practice of letting things go The spirituality of the nature of change and the present moment Ram Dass and the mystery of identity, change, and awareness Seeing past our roles to the deeper reality of who we are Looking into the mystery of: Who I Am? Touching the secret beauty you were born with Jack's experience communicating with Koko the Gorilla Seeing past the illusion of separateness and the small self Meditation as a sacred space of non-consumption ing and healing through listening and letting go Seeing the entire arc of life with the eyes of the Divine Overcoming the forces of greed, hatred, and fear Untangling the places that cause suffering and confusion Opening to the birthright of your freedom Living the pattern of mystery that is this life Recognizing the total interconnection of all of life "Part of what makes meditation so extraordinary is that to simply sit and not try to make anything happen, or get anywhere, or do something—is to step out of our identity and our roles in the small sense of self." – Jack Kornfield  This Dharma Talk was recorded at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and originally published on DharmaSeed. “Meditation offers us a sacred space of non-consumption. There's nothing to do, no grade, no accomplishment, nothing you have to become. It is the sacred space to listen and , and touch the freedom of heart or spirit that is possible in any circumstance." – Jack Kornfield About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a years worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exploring how to stay buoyant and balanced on life's great ocean of change, Jack sets our spiritual com for letting go into what is. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. Jack's New Free Course, Stand Up For Comion: A Free Course and Resource for Navigating Uncertain Times.  "What we're asked to do here is a very deep thing, which isn't to change ourselves, but to give ourselves to our life, to practice with continuity and care, bowing, opening. It's really like being in labor, if you've ever had a child or been there for childbirth, it's a birth of your life, a birth of yourself, over and over, letting go to what is." – Jack Kornfield In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: The Tibetan story of Avalokitesvara, Green Tara, and White Tara The spiritual wisdom of a duck resting on the ocean Floating softly on life's constant ocean of change Experiencing ourselves as an always flowing river of life Bowing to the truth of impermanence Selflessness, emptiness, and openness Seeing through the dreamlike mirage of 'who you think you are' Letting go into the ever-changing process of life Honoring the truth of what's here and now Suffering, opening your heart, and connecting to all beings Awakening the great heart of comion Ram Dass and the gift of service Meeting death with curiosity, play, and wisdom Rebirthing ourselves over and over again Giving ourselves over sincerely to our life, letting go into what is Awakening the great wisdom and heart of the Buddha in every circumstance How surrender leads directly to freedom This Dharma Talk recorded on 1/3/93 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed. “The more we pay attention, the more we sense ourselves as a river of life." – Jack Kornfield Interested in learning more on this topic? Check out our most recent Here and Now episode for Ram Dass’ perspective on the ocean of change.  About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a years worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield. Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack invites us to stop fighting what is and begin bowing to it—awakening the timeless wisdom and comionate heart of a Buddha, right here and now, in the midst of our joys, sorrows, and the suffering of the world. This Dharma Talk recorded on 1/3/93 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed. This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack gives perspectives on: Evaluating our spiritual practice Joanna Macy and healing the environment The rollercoaster ride of meditation Awakening right here and right now The transformative power of bowing to it all The Buddhas of all the universes Suffering and the truth of Nirvana, timeless delight Facing the reality of the human realm—joy and sorrow, birth and death Looking at the difficulties facing the planet today—war, famine, racism, greed, environmental concerns Stop fighting what is true; the end of denial Bowing to suffering, attachment, and change Insight—seeing things just as they are "We awaken the wisdom and the great, comionate heart of a Buddha right where we are. Where else could it be?" – Jack Kornfield See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leading a guided meditation helping us witness the play of our human existence from the loving awareness that we truly are, Jack invites us to uncover true freedom as our birthright. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode, Jack delves into: The true purpose of meditation and spiritual practice Coming fully into the reality of the present moment Becoming mindful loving awareness itself Witness the play of our human experience Uncovering true freedom as your innate birthright Experiencing the present moment as loving awareness Responding to the world with mindful loving courage “Come into this present moment with mindful loving awareness, notice the play of our human experience, and discover we can take our seat with a comionate and gracious heart with a freedom that is your birthright.” – Jack Kornfield This recording is from Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Monday Night Talk and Meditation on 3/3/25.  See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode was recorded on 3/03/25 as a part of Spirit Rock’s Monday Night Dharma Talk Series “You are the imaginal cells. You are the ones who are called to hold the vision of a wise society where people respect each other, where we care for the vulnerable, where we understand the universal teaching, ‘Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed.’ This is you.'” – Jack Kornfield In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: Staying centered amidst life’s struggles Stopping blame and “right and wrong Navigating Late-Stage Capitalism in the 21st Century The Great Turning as an opportunity to reset our lives as human beings The Great Turning as a birth process—messy, painful, dangerous, and beautiful ing your fearlessness amidst politics and news media Becoming “imaginal cells” of the butterfly Trusting the constant renewal of life and nature Black Elk, Gary Snyder, and the power of loving the earth Meditation and sitting with heartbreak Dissolving guilt, fear, and doomscrolling Carrying your light with nobility, respect, and dignity Trusting the big picture, the vast cosmic view ing who you are and living from it The possibility of a new underground railroad Recognizing that we are the imaginal cells of the world Learn the Dynamic Art of Interactive Guided Meditation with Jack Kornfield in this online masterclass beginning April 7! “Here we are, 21st century, late-stage capitalism, which has gotten to the place where there’s further extremes of rich and poor for exploitation. We’re at the time what Joanna Macy calls the Great Turning—the great opportunity really for us to reset our lives as human beings.” – Jack Kornfield See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack reveals how awakening your Soul Force—your inner strength, wisdom, and comion—allows you to heal the world by offering your unique gift with courage and love. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: Uncovering your unique gift and bringing it to the world Simple reflections of love amidst the reality of death How the sword is always beaten by the spirit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "Soul Force" The power of facing our fear of death Becoming a Spiritual Warrior of comion Cultivating the confidence to face any challenge Speaking up for what matters to your heart The cause of evil and how to stop it at it's root The cause of abuse and how to stop it at it's root Learning how to respond to the suffering of the world Discovering freedom in yourself and the world around Cultivating the ability to face ourselves, our pains and sorrows Facing the truth of birth and death The revolutionary act of connecting with nature Connecting with the truth of the world Bearing witness and finding your heart's unique response Entering the world with freedom and love How each and every action counts A charming and funny Q&A section Chanting the mantra, "Ah" "Each of us has our own unique gift to bring when it's the right time. It can't be an imitation. You can't do it like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, or whoever you might ire—it has to be your way." – Jack Kornfield This Dharma Talk from 12/7/1992 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on Dharmaseed. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exploring the spiritual paradox of individual and universal responsibility, Jack helps us find balance between meditation and service in our daily lives. This Dharma Talk from 12/7/1992 at Insight Meditation Society was originally published on Dharmaseed. In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: The paradox of individual and universal responsibility What's the better spiritual practice—meditation or service? What exactly is individual, and what is the universe? Joanna Macy's painful yet healing trip to Chernobyl Becoming stewards of each other, the earth, and the future Distinguishing between freedom and it's near enemies Near enemies as fostering separation; freedom as interdependence How to respond to suffering authentically and helpfully Creating change blossoming from the human heart The radical act of "doing nothing and facing yourself" Dealing with the homelessness problem, warfare, environmental destruction Balancing "Don't just do something, sit there," and "Don't just sit there, there isn't time." Choosing between inner practice and outward service Following a true path with heart in this lifetime Vimala Thakar, Ajahn Chah, and Maha Ghosananda as beacons of peace The power of helping feed the hungry Navigating the up and down, inner and outer, cycles of spiritual life "Every act counts. Each one of us has the power to affect the world." – Jack Kornfield See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fostering the mind-body-heart connection, Jack shares how the healing breath reawakens the body and reconnects us with life. This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: Using breath to live wisely and simply in this complex human existence Good spiritual community as an island of peace and sanity Seeing past negative fear politics and news media A Charm to Use Against the Language of Politics The Buddha on mindfulness of your life breath Noting the subtle nuances of the breath in meditation "Buddha in the palm of your hand" technique Training the restless puppy of the mind Using breath to reconnect body, heart, and mind Short and simple guided breath practices What the Cross and the Circle represent Directing your breath to feel and open emotional wounds and dis-ease Reawakening your body, and reconnecting with life, through breathing "Most of the destruction that modern society has caused in the world is the result of the mind being disconnected from the heart and the body." – Jack Kornfield This Dharma Talk originally taking place on 11/2/1992 at Insight Meditation Society was originally published on DharmaSeed. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Standing up for comion in this powerful new Dharma Talk, Jack offers a steady spiritual rudder for navigating turbulent politics with the heart of a Bodhisattva. This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self “It’s a time to get quiet and that you’re here for a beautiful purpose, oh Bodhisattvas. What better thing to do with your life?” – Jack Kornfield In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores: Navigating this world's maelstrom of change from a deep spiritual rudder Returning from his trip to Asia; landing in Los Angeles on fire Samsara and the nature of uncertainty Creating a wise society based on mutual care Trading our personal and cultural anxiety for imagination and hope Alison Luterman's heart-opening poem, Praise the Broken Promise of America Using the Dharma to move past Liberal versus Conservative How to help the vulnerable in the world ing your best values as things change Grounding yourself, steadying your heart, and remaining hopeful Bringing peace to this world, developing metta, and ing what's good Taking the long view, living with integrity, virtue, and imagination ing together with your community to stand up for comion Being hopeful and helpful through difficult times Living like a Bodhisattva—offering , comion, loving kindness “Take the long view—your intention, heart, and mind in all the cycles of birth and death. That deep intention of wisdom creates what’s possible for a wise society. It becomes a rudder through difficult times.” – Jack Kornfield “When a society treats its with respect, cares for the weak and vulnerable among them and tends the natural world around… it can be expected to prosper and not decline.” – Mahāparinibbāna Sutta This Dharma Talk was originally recorded for the Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Talk and Meditation on 2/10/25. Learn the Dynamic Art of Interactive Guided Meditation with Jack Kornfield in this online masterclass beginning April 7! See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“A powerful way of practicing metta is to invite in the feeling of love without specific words or images. You become a beacon of kindness. Then whatever arises as you sit—thoughts, people, images, concerns—will be held in that kindness.” – Jack Kornfield This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack offers listeners instruction on: Metta and invoking the spirit of love within ourselves  Holding all that arises during meditation with kindness Letting our body have a sense of care and well being  Allowing ourselves to soften, relax, and rest easily Feeling completely ed by the earth below us  Opening our hearts and minds via the metta sutta of loving-kindness Suffusing the whole world with unobstructed, sublime love “The ideal as you practice is to find your own way, to find what most naturally resonates with yourself as a gateway to open the heart.” – Jack Kornfield This episode was originally recorded for the Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation Livestream for Feb 2025. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this engaging Q&A session, Jack and Trudy explore romance, impermanence, attachment, diffusing anger, manifesting your dreams using mindfulness, and more! Learn How to Thrive in Love: Buddhist Secrets to Transform Your Relationships with Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman – ! “If you actually become mindful, then it’s possible to choose a direction, to envision, to imagine your life in a healthy way.” – Jack Kornfield In Part 2 of this episode, Jack and Trudy dive into Q&A on: Finding appreciation and wisdom in things “falling apart” Accepting change, aging, impermanence Entering the naked unknown of the wilderness, nature The wisdom of swimming with dolphins in the ocean Sending metta (loving kindness) to the world and those in positions of power How to tend our romantic relationships and partnerships with mindfulness and care Diffusing anger and learning how to communicate lovingly Connecting from a place of vulnerability and presence Moving past warfare, racism, violence, and blame Learning how to communicate across differences Noting the difference between your intention and it’s impact on others Manifesting your dreams using mindfulness “Attachment” in Buddhism vs Western Psychology Working through trauma in a safe and mindful way “It’s important to love what we love; it’s only a problem when we need to let go.” – Trudy Goodman “When you step back and quiet, deeper intuitions come, along with the ability to follow your dreams more clearly, and in a way that’s mindful of your own well-being.” – Jack Kornfield This talk originally aired on the Voices of Esalen Podcast: The Voices of Esalen Podcast showcases in-depth interviews with the dynamic teachers and thinkers who are part of Esalen Institute. Hosted by Sam Stern, a former Esalen student and current staff member, the podcasts have featured engaging conversations with authors Cheryl Strayed and Michael Pollan, innovators Stan Grof and Dr. Mark Hyman, teachers Byron Katie, Mark Coleman and Jean Houston, Esalen co-founder Michael Murphy, and many more. Learn more at Esalen.org/story/podcasts About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Viana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about about Trudy’s flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a years worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and g up for his email teachings. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman forces in an exploration of Buddha’s eternal wisdom: ‘hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed.’ This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. “We start to sense that who we are is not just limited by the events of the world, but that we’re connected to something vast, mysterious, and greater.” – Jack Kornfield In Part 1 of this episode, Jack and Trudy mindfully explore: Loving Awareness and mindful response Seeing the world with the eyes of a Buddha Opening to that world with the heart of a Buddha How the art of meditation is actually the art of love The story of Maha Ghosananda, the Gandhi of Cambodia Buddha’s eternal wisdom: Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed Facing climate change, racism, warfare, refugees, injustice, and trauma Dealing with our cultural anxiety, and saving ourselves from despair Becoming the calm person on the boat who can show the way for all Becoming a Bodhisattva, setting the com of your heart for comion Standing up for what matters, and tending the world with beauty Shifting our practice from unconsciousness to loving awareness Suffusing mindfulness practice with tenderness and comion How we are all the same size when facing the vulnerability of our mortality The Heart Sutra mantra: Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha Finding wisdom and comfort in “falling apart” “Spiritually, we are all the same size, because we all are facing the vulnerability of our mortality.” – Trudy Goodman “In community, in family, in our lives, in joy and sorrow, in birth and death—we’re, given the responsibility to hold ourselves in a web of love.” – Jack Kornfield Learn How to Thrive in Love: Buddhist Secrets to Transform Your Relationships with Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman beginning Feb 17 – anytime! About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Viana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about about Trudy's flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com This talk originally aired on the Voices of Esalen Podcast: The Voices of Esalen Podcast showcases in-depth interviews with the dynamic teachers and thinkers who are part of Esalen Institute. Hosted by Sam Stern, a former Esalen student and current staff member, the podcasts have featured engaging conversations with authors Cheryl Strayed and Michael Pollan, innovators Stan Grof and Dr. Mark Hyman, teachers Byron Katie, Mark Coleman and Jean Houston, Esalen co-founder Michael Murphy, and many more. Learn more at Esalen.org/story/podcasts About Jack Kornfield: Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as. a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses and programs diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation, Relationships, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Learn about these and Jack's flowing stream of Dharma offerings at JackKornfield.com See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love is in the air, as Jack explores the nature of desire, relationships, and spiritual ion—offering wisdom on stabilizing the heart, navigating distractions, and awakening to the timeless and sacred. Learn How to Thrive in Love: Buddhist Secrets to Transform Your Relationships with Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman beginning Feb 17 – anytime! “If you know what it’s like to really fall in love with someone, then you can begin to sense what it means to bring the full presence of attention to your life.” – Jack Kornfield In this episode, Jack mindfully explores: The Buddha on mindfulness and awareness Stabilizing the heart, mind, and body in the present Overcoming distractions and difficult moods Being aware of desires arising and ing Chanda – spiritual ion, the desire for awakening The connection between power, insecurity, and fear How to stop feeding the hungry heart in unskillful ways The difference between desire and love Relationship, marriage, and staying in love A moving love story from Thich Nhat Hanh Reclaiming our humanity and animal nature Reawakening mystery, gratitude, awe Touching that which is timeless and sacred Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of infinite comion Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and living your fullness Noticing what tempts you away during meditation “What direction do our personal desires take us? It’s good to study them. As my teacher Ajahn Chah said, ‘It may be a very fast car, but you ought to look at what road you’re going down and which way it’s headed.'” – Jack Kornfield “Perhaps what we most deeply desire is immensely simple—to reclaim our humanity, our animal nature that Jung talked about, the wondrous senses, the sense of the spirit of awe, the ing, the reawakening of that sense of gratitude and mystery for life.” – Jack Kornfield This Dharma Talk recorded on 9/28/1992 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rekindling the ancient art of listening, Jack shares how we can transform our lives through nourishing inner stillness and simplifying the mind. This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. “The Divine waits for us to taste the food and not just read the menu.” – Jack Kornfield In this episode, Jack mindfully explores: Reclaiming the ancient Art of Listening Meditating like the Buddha in nature How your breath reflects your life Meditation, attention, and overcoming restlessness The ways we keep ourselves busy How to trust your human instincts Reclaiming an intimacy with your senses Noticing when we’re listening and when we’re not Honoring others through your attention Cultivating the humility of ‘Don’t Know Mind’ The mystery of life, death, love, consciousness Nourishing inner stillness and simplifying your mind Letting go into the unfolding present moment The rather bizarre situation of having a human body Our connection to nature, earth, the elements, and all of being Finding the meditative space of no going forward, backward, or standing still “To meditate is to , reclaim, reawaken the ancient art of listening.” – Jack Kornfield “When the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree on his night of enlightenment, it wasn’t to do, get, or make something, but to listen inwardly with all of his senses to the nature of this world that we are born into for a time.” – Jack Kornfield This Dharma Talk recorded on 9/21/1992 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.