In this cozy holiday special, Jack sheds seasonal tidings on how to rediscover the secret beauty within you and share your special gifts with the world.
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“What you most deeply long for is who you are, is coming back to your own heart, to your own beauty, your own wellbeing that you were born with, to that secret beauty.” – Jack Kornfield
In part 1 of this special holiday video series, Jack merrily explores:
- The spiritual meaning of the Winter Solstice, the turning of the seasons, and the holidays
- How Jack’s teacher Ajahn Chah reacted when a Christmas Tree was put up in the Monastery
- Reconnecting with the great mystery of the world and with each other
- How to deal with your family with compassion, equanimity, and peace
- Seeing the secret beauty behind the eyes of everyone you meet
- Moving past the body of fear, the small sense of self
- The paradox of spiritual practice: you’re perfect and there’s room for improvement
- Rediscovering the love and secret beauty within you
- Cultivating dignity, presence, generosity, clarity, integrity, meaning, compassion, trust
- Bringing the mind and body together in the present
- Loving awareness and entering the wisdom stream
- Manifesting love and understanding into this world
- A Hawaiian story on how to bring your special gift
- Ram Dass, Mother Teresa, service, and allowing yourself to be taken care of
- Moving past fear politics and becoming a force of connection and love
“To meditate, more than anything, is an invitation to remember, to quiet ourselves, to touch back in to this truth, this reality beyond the busyness, fears, and confusion we have because we’re human.” – Jack Kornfield
“Meditation and spiritual practice is not meant to be a grim duty, it’s meant to be a rediscovery of the love and secret beauty that’s within you.” – Jack Kornfield
This episode was originally recorded for the Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation Livestream on 12/14/15. Learn more about Spirit Rock’s offerings here. Join Jack’s next livestream 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.
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
Feature image via Chechotkin