#684: Jack Kornfield — How to Reduce Anxiety and Polish the Lens of Consciousness

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Jul 28, 2023

Jack Kornfield, a renowned Buddhist monk and meditation teacher, shares his wisdom on navigating anxiety and cultivating compassion. He highlights the power of loving-kindness meditation and breathwork in transforming our relationship with anxiety. Kornfield discusses the importance of community and storytelling in personal growth, urging listeners to embrace vulnerability. He offers practical techniques to find peace within and emphasizes that anxiety is a common human experience, inviting a kinder mindset towards ourselves. His insights encourage emotional healing and connection.

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ANECDOTE

Stan Grof and Holotropic Breathwork

Stan Grof, a psychiatrist, conducted LSD research and developed holotropic breathwork.
These practices facilitated profound experiences, ranging from bliss to reliving traumas, demonstrating the vastness of the human psyche.

INSIGHT

Yogic Swoons and Consciousness

Yogic swoons describe leaving ordinary consciousness and entering states like the void or emptiness.
These experiences can shift perspective, highlighting the dreamlike nature of our constructed world.

INSIGHT

Nature of Consciousness

We are not our bodies, emotions, or thoughts, but rather the consciousness experiencing them.
Recognizing this allows freedom and wisdom to navigate life's experiences with a sense of detachment and amusement.

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Encyclopedia of World Religions

Revised Edition

Gregory D. Alles

Robert S. Ellwood

This encyclopedia provides detailed information on various religions, including their history, teachings, and practices. It includes entries on major religions like Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, as well as smaller religious traditions and theoretical aspects of religious studies.

No Time Like the Present

Jack Kornfield

In 'No Time Like the Present', Jack Kornfield offers practical tools and inspiring stories to help readers find freedom from fear, love, and happiness right where they are. The book is divided into four segments: Freedom of Spirit, Obstacles to Freedom, Realizing Freedom, and Living Freedom, providing a comprehensive path to inner peace and joy.

Buddha's Little Instruction Book

Jack Kornfield

The Cosmic Game

explorations of the frontiers of human consciousness

Stanislav Grof

The Cosmic Game synthesizes Stanislav Grof's extensive research on non-ordinary states of consciousness, drawing from psychedelic therapy, Holotropic Breathwork, literature, and ancient mystical sources. It explores the deepest questions about existence, suggesting a profound connection between the individual psyche and the universal creative principle. The book aligns with great spiritual traditions, offering insights into the interconnectedness of all existence.

The art of forgiveness, lovingkindness, and peace

Jack Kornfield

This book by Jack Kornfield offers age-old teachings and modern stories to help readers bring healing, peace, and compassion into their daily lives. It emphasizes the transformative power of forgiveness and loving-kindness, providing practical meditations to meet life's challenges with acceptance and hope. The book is suitable for readers at various levels of spiritual awareness, offering a path to personal growth and inner peace.

When the Impossible Happens

Adventures in Non-ordinary Realities

Stanislav Grof

In this book, Stan Grof shares his experiences and insights from decades of exploring non-ordinary states of consciousness, including experiments with psychedelics, Holotropic Breathwork, and encounters with phenomena like synchronicity and near-death experiences. The book offers a profound exploration of human potential and the nature of reality.

The wise heart

Jack Kornfield

In 'The Wise Heart', Jack Kornfield provides a profound exploration of Buddhist psychology, emphasizing the importance of compassion, forgiveness, and mindfulness. The book offers practical guidance on embracing impermanence, letting go of attachments, and cultivating a wise and open heart. Through inspiring stories and personal experiences, Kornfield shows how these teachings can lead to greater resilience, joy, and fulfillment in life.

A Brief for the Defense

Jack Gilbert

World as lover, world as self

Joanna Macy

Buddha's Little Instruction Book

Jack Kornfield

Flunking the Course

Ram Dass

The Power of Animal Spirits

Joseph Campbell

Be Here Now

Ram Dass

Be Here Now is a seminal book on spirituality, yoga, and meditation written by Ram Dass. The book is divided into four sections: 'Journey', which details Ram Dass's transformation from a Harvard psychologist to a spiritual seeker; 'From Bindu to Ojas', a core section that includes spiritual themes and inspirational quotes; 'Cookbook for a Sacred Life', a manual for conscious living with practical advice on meditation, yoga, and diet; and 'Painted Cakes (Do Not Satisfy Hunger)', a list of recommended books for further spiritual exploration. The book emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment, shedding ego and material attachments, and finding unity with the divine through unconditional love and mindfulness[2][4][5].

After the Ecstasy, the Laundry

Jack Kornfield

I Am That

Nisargadatta Maharaj

This book preserves Maharaj's dialogues with followers from around the world who sought his guidance in destroying false identities. His sole concern was with human suffering and the ending of suffering. Maharaj taught that the mind must recognize and penetrate its own state of being, breaking the mind's false identification with the ego, and knowing that 'You are already That'. His discussions are direct, provocative, and profoundly simple, aiming to guide individuals to an understanding of their true nature and the timelessness of being[1][3][4].

A Path With Heart

A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life

Jack Kornfield

This book is a definitive guide to the practice of traditional mindfulness in America, particularly within the context of American Buddhism. It covers a wide range of topics including the fundamentals of spiritual practice, the stages of insight, dealing with personal issues such as abuse and self-loathing, and the role of psychotherapy in spiritual growth. Kornfield uses personal stories, practical techniques, and guided meditations to help readers navigate the complexities of spiritual life and achieve inner peace, wholeness, and understanding. The book is designed to be a universal guide for anyone seeking to deepen their spiritual practice and live an authentic life[2][3][5].

The paleo solution

The Original Human Diet

Robb Wolf

In 'The Paleo Solution,' Robb Wolf combines cutting-edge research from genetics, biochemistry, and anthropology to advocate for a return to the ancestral diet. The book proposes that modern humans should eat in a way that mimics the dietary habits of our Paleolithic ancestors, focusing on whole, unprocessed foods such as meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, while avoiding grains, legumes, dairy products, and refined sugars. Wolf provides practical advice, meal plans, and real-life success stories to help readers transition to a Paleo lifestyle, which can lead to significant health improvements including better blood sugar control, lower cholesterol levels, reduced inflammation, and improved weight management.