

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield
Be Here Now Network
The Jack Kornfield Heart Wisdom hour celebrates Jack’s ability to mash up his long established Buddhist practices with many other mystical traditions, revealing the poignancy of life’s predicaments and the path to finding freedom from self-interest, self-judgment and unhappiness.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 3, 2024 • 1h 6min
Ep. 219 – How to Meditate When You Are Freaking Out with Yung Pueblo and Dan Harris
Bestselling author, Yung Pueblo, and reporter, Dan Harris, join Jack to dive into how to love without grasping, Ram Dass's humor at his own predicament, and how to meditate when you are freaking out.Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/heartwisdom"The point of meditation practice isn't to withdraw from the world or become a monastic, but it's the possibility to live and take the activities of our life and bring them alive through loving kindness, compassion, and care for yourself and others. People sometimes think if I'm supposed to serve, I have to take care of everybody else, but the circle of compassion is only complete when it also includes yourself." – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack, Yung Pueblo, and Dan Harris dive into:Jack and Yung Pueblo's connection to create Wisdom Ventures to bring compassion and right livelihood to business How the circle of compassion is only complete when you also include yourself Ram Dass' vulnerability, and how having a sense of humor about one's own predicament and being amused at our neurotic humanness is actually what truly liberates us Meditation as an act of care and listening which allows intuition and understanding The importance of community and why meditating in groups holds a different and usually higher resonance than meditating alone Skillful ways to handle conflict and difficult situations How to love family, partners, and friends openhandedly rather than with attachment and grasping"Meditation is not a grim duty, it's meant to be an act of care. And we live in a culture that's forgotten how we can take care of ourself. And one part of that care, even though at first it feels unfamiliar, is just to be quiet for a little bit and listen. Then there are things in us that we know—intuitions and understandings that come for how to navigate our life from what really matters." – Jack KornfieldThis conversation originally aired on the Ten Percent Happier Podcast with Dan Harris. If you enjoy this, Dan Harris has a new series – Non-Negotiables in the New Year – where he interviews celebrities and dharma experts to discuss their time tested, research-backed advice to get you through the new year and beyond. Listen here!About Yung Pueblo:Diego Perez is a meditator and #1 New York Times bestselling author who is widely known on Instagram and various social media networks through his pen name, Yung Pueblo. Online he has an audience of over 3 million people. His writing focuses on the power of self-healing, creating healthy relationships, and the wisdom that comes when we truly work on knowing ourselves. Learn more at YungPueblo.comAbout Dan Harris:A skeptical journalist, Dan Harris had a panic attack on live TV that sent him on a journey that led him to try something he otherwise wouldn't have considered: meditation. He went on to write the best-selling book, 10% Happier. The show features interviews with top scientists, celebrities and experts in the field of mindfulness. And Dan's approach is seemingly modest, but secretly radical: happiness is a skill you can train, just like working your bicep in the gym. For more Dan check out podcast, Ten Percent Happier, and visit his website TenPercent.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 27, 2023 • 1h 3min
Ep. 218 – Caring for Each Other and Our World
Jack Kornfield explores navigating world conflicts with compassion and peace, emphasizing the importance of love and understanding. The podcast touches on cultivating compassion, facing collective suffering, dealing with grief and guilt, reconnecting with estranged relations, and the power of communication and vulnerability.

13 snips
Dec 19, 2023 • 54min
Ep. 217 – The Way Buddha Answered Questions
Jack Kornfield explores how the Buddha answered questions, emphasizing the relevance to modern times. He discusses the teachings of the Dharma, the reality of non-self, and living fully without attachment. He also delves into working with contradictions along the spiritual path and the importance of continuity and presence in our practice.

Dec 13, 2023 • 46min
Ep. 216 – Heart and Mind, Wholeness and Emptiness
In Jack's heartfelt final talk at Insight Meditation Society, he explores heart and mind, wholeness and emptiness, and how the only way to be free is to let go of it all."When I was first studying Buddhism and meditating, even as it got a lot deeper, it was a clearing of the mind—mind becoming more silent, fewer thoughts, starting to see with a vision of clarity how things really arise, pass, and are truly ownerless. There's a kind of coolness to that vision, just like on a hot summer day when you go into a place and the cool breeze comes, and it cools off at night. That kind of vision of openness, of spaciousness of mind, and the clarity to see, has a sweetness, a sweet kindIn this heartfelt episode, Jack mindfully explores:The significance of this session as his last Dharma Talk at Insight Meditation Society before leaving to California to found Spirit Rock Meditation Center Jack's connection as a founding teacher of IMS alongside other Be Here Now Network teachers and podcasters, Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein How sangha—spiritual community—has a way of naturally calibrating itself and the students/teachers within it The sweet coolness and spacious clarity which comes from spiritual practice Suzuki Roshi and the wisdom of 0 and 1, emptiness and wholeness A moving story of service and renewal from a Ram Dass book How the only way to be free is to let go of all of it, absolutely everything The question Jack will ask himself when his body is dying: whether I've lived fully and loved well What the Buddha said about love"The only way to be free is to let go of all of it." – Jack Kornfield"What I imagine I'll ask myself when I die is: whether I've lived fully—but even more than that—whether I've loved very well." – Jack KornfieldThis Dharma Talk from 03/18/1984 at Insight Meditation Society was originally published on DharmaSeed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 28, 2023 • 29min
Ep. 215 – Why Take Spiritual Retreat?
Illuminating the benefits of taking spiritual retreat, Jack highlights the importance of meeting our practice with great faith, great courage, and great questioning.Join Jack with Trudy Goodman, Krishna Das, Anne Lamott and more, live online from Maui in the virtual Ram Dass Legacy Retreat: Love and Renewal 11/29 - 12/3!"It's not a question of practicing and losing weight, or getting rid of our neurosis or figuring out our mother, father, husband, or wife trip; but it's really to get the bottom of the question of life itself: Who are we? What makes up our experience? And to ask that question, to come to the end of our questioning requires a kind of passion, a kind of urgency, to see, to know." – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully illuminates:The history and importance of taking spiritual retreat in Eastern traditions What it was like for Jack to take spiritual retreat with Burmese Buddhist teacher, Mahasi Sayadaw, and his Thai Buddhist teacher, Ajahn Chah Instructions for meditation and how to apply them properly to the retreat experience Moving beyond our psychological melodrama so we can gain deeper insight into the processes of mind Gurdjieff and using the fire of practice to transform our inner-world into a single whole Using our time wisely within the great mystery of this precious human birth Meeting our meditation practice with great faith, great courage, and great questioning The Diamond Sutra and how to live with a heart of light"You say that practice is difficult. This is thinking. Practice is not difficult. If you say it's difficult this means you're examining yourself too much—examining your situation, your condition, your opinion—so you say practice is difficult. But if you keep the mind that is before thinking and planning, then practice is not difficult." – Jack Kornfield quoting a Zen MasterThis Dharma Talk on 10/07/78 from Insight Meditation Society was originally published on DharmaSeed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 snips
Nov 21, 2023 • 45min
Ep. 214 – Right Attitude
Jack Kornfield explores the liberating step of Right Attitude, breaking free from automatic habits and becoming fully conscious. He discusses the three aspects of Right Attitude, working with our unique personality, adding fire to our practice, and transforming from automatic pilot to full consciousness. Jack also shares the story of Larry Brilliant and the importance of love manifesting when things get difficult. The podcast explores the significance of uniting for a common purpose and cultivating a genuine spiritual life, the importance of love in our inner life, the concept of personality and openness, and the challenges of meditation practice.

6 snips
Nov 15, 2023 • 52min
Ep. 213 – Don Juan Meets Buddha: Becoming a Spiritual Warrior
Jack Kornfield discusses the connection between Buddha's enlightenment qualities and Don Juan's teachings. Topics include qualities of a spiritual warrior, shamanism, inner-freedom, and the difference between an ordinary person and a warrior.

Nov 9, 2023 • 35min
Ep. 212 – Heart of Refuge Guided Meditation
In response to the conflicts in the world, Jack offers a harmonizing guided meditation inviting us into peace, sanctuary, and the heart of refuge.Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/heartwisdom"I breath in peace and breath out peace to all those who are amidst the troubles of this world—the conflicts, the refuges, the violence and the fear. I send you a peaceful breath. May we be peaceful together." – Jack KornfieldIn this timely episode, Jack leads a harmonizing guided meditation to help us:Find a mindful, balanced, and compassionate response to the conflicts and tragedy's happening throughout the world todayTurn our awareness to the present moment, merging mind, body, and spiritExtend our consciousness, compassion, and mindful loving awareness around the planet, it's people, and environmentsSend out peaceful healing breaths to all those who are amidst the troubles of the worldThis episode is from the Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Dharma Talk and Meditation on 10/23/2023.Learn the Dynamic Art of Guided Meditation in this Masterclass with Jack Kornfield! Sign up for the on-demand version before Nov. 15 to take part in two live Q&A sessions with Jack! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 snips
Nov 1, 2023 • 1h 1min
Ep. 211 – Heart of Refuge
Jack Kornfield offers a heart of refuge amidst global conflicts, touching on the terrors of ongoing wars, the impact of constant news media, and the importance of creating sanctuary. He explores the need for outsiders to empathize with all suffering humans, shares the story of the apology hotline, and discusses the power of forgiveness, community, and trust as forms of refuge. Embracing uncertainty and finding refuge in change are also explored.

Oct 25, 2023 • 39min
Ep. 210 – Simplicity
Jack Kornfield explores simplicity and how it unifies the mind, body, and heart. He shares Buddha's wisdom, the importance of directness and simplicity in practice, and finding a comfortable posture for meditation. The podcast also includes reflections on the mind, a thought-provoking story about faith, and releasing tensions during meditation.