Jack Kornfield, a leading figure in meditation and mindfulness since 1974, shares wisdom on reclaiming our humanity amid isolation. He discusses the importance of cultivating compassion and connection, even during grief. Kornfield distinguishes empathy from compassion, addresses compassion fatigue, and emphasizes being present in the moment. He also explores how to navigate injustice without perpetuating negativity and the profound insight that while pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Each topic reveals essential tools for living fully and mindfully.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Power Outage and Peace
During a talk with Pema Chödrön, a power outage caused upset among the audience.
Kornfield and Chödrön used this moment to discuss finding inner peace amidst difficulties.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Collective Compassion
A young woman at the event shared her grief about her partner's suicide.
Kornfield and Chödrön led the audience in an act of compassion, showing the woman she wasn't alone.
insights INSIGHT
Suicide and Renewal
People considering suicide often confuse the need for change in their lives with the need for their physical death.
They want something in their life to end, not their existence.
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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 lamp in the darkness
Jack Kornfield
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.
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry
Jack Kornfield
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me
Richard Farina
We met with one of the premier thinkers and teachers of our time, Jack Kornfield, to discuss how we can reclaim our humanity in isolated times, and find an inner state of well-being in the face of our greatest hardships. His sage perspectives on difficult questions were immediately centering and comforting. We touched on advice for living - cultivating compassion, awe and wonder; distinguishing empathy from compassion; navigating compassion fatigue; and finding it even for those we might not like. We explored how building our ability to be deeply aware of our present moment expands our capacity and health. Down regulating our emotions and centering is a skill that has helped even the most type-A's among us be more effective. We discussed how to respond when we witness injustice without contributing to the atmosphere that created the injustice in the first place. We covered what it means that "pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional," and so much more. Each and every turn in the conversation revealed a new nugget of wisdom for living fully, happily and peacefully. It was an hour beautifully shared. Join us.
Grey Matter with Michael Krasny 
