Jack Kornfield delves into the simplicity of goodness and virtue in a talk spanning Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Amma-ji, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Napoleon, and Rumi.
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“I believe within us, within the human heart and human consciousness, is an innate love of honesty and a joy in virtue, straightforwardness, and the simplicity of goodness.” – Jack Kornfield
In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:
- Buddhism, virtue, and the Five Precepts
- Ahimsa – the blessing of non-harming
- The chilling note Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche wrote when he escaped Tibet
- Taking a fearless moral inventory
- Honesty and the simplicity of goodness
- What Buddha learned in his past lives
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and standing up for truth
- Adi-Sila – spontaneous or innate virtue, the shining of the just heart
- The Tibetan Buddhist perspective on reincarnation
- Jack’s meeting with “hugging saint,” Amma-ji, archetype of the Divine Mother
- Finding your Buddha Nature, Tao, and Dharma
- Rumi’s brilliant poem about ducks
- Interdependence and connectedness
- Deep philosophical questions and contemplations from Jack
- Napoleon, the sword, and the spirit
“Meditation or spiritual life asks us to look at our actions and pay attention to how we actually live.” – Jack Kornfield
“We’re all in it together, we’re all connected, we all support one another.” – Jack Kornfield
This Dharma Talk recorded on 6/1/1990 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.
Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of new dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.
Listen to more from Jack:
Tune into Ep. 109 of Heart Wisdom: This Too Shall Pass
Learn about Living with a Peaceful Heart in Ep. 91 of Heart Wisdom
Check out Ep. 90 of Heart Wisdom to learn about Healing Through Loving Awareness
Listen to more Stories That Open the Mind, Mend the Heart and Lead to Joy with Jack Kornfield in Ep.92 of Heart Wisdom
Tune into Ep. 102 of Heart Wisdom: The Wisdom of the One Who Knows
Check out Ep. 1 of Heart Wisdom to gain wisdom on Impermanence
Photo via fizkes