5min chapter

#601: Jack Kornfield — How to Overcome Apathy and Find Beautiful Purpose

The Tim Ferriss Show

notes

CHAPTER

The Indefence of Joy

The book of joy is a dialogue between archbishop desmond toto and the dalama about joy. In buddhist tradition, we have these practices where you cultivate joy. meditation is not to be a grim duty, but rather more an act of adventure. And one of the parts of that practice is imagining your happiest day as a child. May i see it in others.

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Jack Kornfield (@JackKornfield) trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma. 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. Over the years, Jack has taught worldwide, led international Buddhist teacher meetings, and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a PhD in clinical psychology and is a grandfather, husband, and activist. Some of his current projects include MMTCP, a worldwide mindfulness teacher training; Cloud Sangha, a site offering access to expert mindfulness teachers online; and a positive impact Wisdom Ventures fund.

His books have been translated into 22 languages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies. They include The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology; A Path with Heart; After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; Teachings of the Buddha; The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace; Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are; and his most recent book, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are.

Please enjoy!

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[07:15] Apathy and polarization

[08:44] Truth beneath anger

[22:40] Ajahn Chah and contractor-ese

[26:25] Retuning the tone of rage

[33:24] Coping with trauma-induced hypervigilance

[41:01] Making group therapeutic models work

[47:15] In any effort to make the world better, put on your oxygen mask first

[53:19] How can an aspiring Bodhisattva cut through widespread disengagement and apathy?

[1:03:57] Thich Nhat Hanh and death

[1:15:06] Out-of-body experiences

[1:19:40] “A Brief for the Defense”

[1:27:12] A guided meditation for recapturing the adventure and joy of childhood