Jack invites us to stop fighting what is and begin bowing to it—awakening the timeless wisdom and compassionate 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.
“We awaken the wisdom and the great, compassionate heart of a Buddha right where we are. Where else could it be?” – Jack Kornfield
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
“The more we fight with what’s true, the more we suffer.” – Jack Kornfield
Photo by Sharad Sreenivas on Unsplash
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 Pass to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a years worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.