Jack Kornfield

This is PART TWO of Clear Mountain's interview with Jack Kornfield. Watch PART ONE here: https://youtu.be/selbulve5z0 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:35 - Early Years: From Dartmouth to Haight-Ashbury to Peace Corps to the Thai Forests 00:05:28 - Meeting Ajahn Sumedho 00:07:26 - Meeting Ajahn Chah and Being the Second Western Monk at Wat Nong Pah Pong 00:10:00 - Life in Caves (Wat Tam Saeng Pet), Walking alms barefoot 00:12:25 - Visiting Ajahn Chah with Ram Dass and Joseph Goldstein 00:13:04 - Returning to the West and the poignant decision to disrobe 00:16:28 - The Birth of IMS: Lay Practice and Unexpected Karma 00:17:39 - Founding Spirit Rock: Sacred Land and Generous Benefactors 00:20:45 - Asian Origins of Western Teachings 00:22:15 - Modernizing the Dharma: Lay Teachers and Team Teaching 00:26:21 - Integrating the Feminine 00:27:35 - Right Effort for Westerners Moving Beyond "Cowboy Style" 00:31:20 - Inviting Asian Teachers to America: Ajahn Chah, Mahāsi Saydaw, the Dalai Lama, 00:33:50 - Teacher Conversations for Mutual Growth and Respect 00:39:40 - Ethics and Sexual Misconduct: Precepts for Teachers 00:42:11 - Psychology and the Path 00:44:15 - The "Insight Tradition" and Teacher Training and Curricula 00:49:35 - Addressing Trauma and Seeing Suffering In this session, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Jack Kornfield, a pioneering bridge between Theravāda Buddhism and Western psychology, and a key architect of the mindfulness movement currently flourishing in the United States. Jack brilliantly summarizes a life devoted to bringing the Dharma West, touching on such topics as Kornfield’s early encounters with Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho in the Thai forests, the serendipitous karmic origins of major American centers like IMS and Spirit Rock, and the deliberate evolution of Western Dharma through team teaching, female leadership, and secular teacher training. Kornfield highlights the vital "middle path" of adapting ancient monastic medicines—such as mindfulness and Metta—to address modern issues like trauma and psychological striving, while preserving the core essence of the Four Noble Truths. Jack's Biography: Jack Kornfield has been a pioneering force in bringing Theravāda Buddhism – and mindfulness more broadly – to the West. After serving in the Peace Corps in the late 1960s, Jack trained as a monk under our teachers' teacher Ajahn Chah, and - for varying lengths of time – also met and trained with such other monastic luminaries as: Mahasi Sayadaw, Ajahn Jumnien, Taungpulu Sayādaw, Ajahn Buddhadāsa, and Ajahn Maha Boowa. As a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in 1975 and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in 1987, Jack has spent decades bridging Eastern tradition with his background in clinical psychology. He is the author of several modern Spiritual classics, including: "Living Dharma" (formerly "Living Buddhist Masters", "A Path with Heart", "After the Ecstasy the Laundry", and "The Wise Heart". His most recent book is a collection of stories: "All in This Together". To learn more about Jack, visit: https://jackkornfield.com/ Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events! - Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom) - Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person) - Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online) See https://www.clearmountainm

This is PART ONE of Clear Mountain's interview with Jack Kornfield. PART TWO is scheduled to air March 4th: https://youtu.be/Bi7XYeCVOrY 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:29 - How many times did you ordain, and what were those circumstances? 00:05:39 - Jack asks the Ajahns about Clear Mountain 00:08:05 - What's the purpose of this podcast? 00:09:84 - Is Enlightenment a permanent end to greed, anger, and delusion, or is it temporary? 00:23:38 - Is Enlightenment unshakable? 00:25:34 - What changes have been made in bringing the Dharma West? 00:26:41 - Shared practice? Democritization? Feminization? Integration? 00:26:51 - Your life is your practice. 00:27:49 - Bodhisattva Vows and Engaged Buddhism? 00:28:14 - Democritization 00:31:06 - How has your personal relationship with the Buddha changed over the years? 00:36:50 - What is your one message for listeners dealing with political fear and global anxiety? 00:43:34 - What is the one thing you miss most about monastic life? 00:44:22 - What is the one thing you miss least about monastic life? 00:45:13 - Would you re-ordain for one week if Dan Harris and Sam Harris did it with you? 00:45:59 - If you rewrote your book today, who would you name as the "Modern Buddhist Masters"? 00:48:15 - Which specific teaching of the Buddha has resonated with you the most? 00:49:29 - What type "spiritual bypassing" should American Buddhists watch out for? In this interview, Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho speak with Jack Kornfield, a pioneering bridge between Theravāda Buddhism and Western psychology, and a key architect of the mindfulness movement currently flourishing in the United States. The interview touches on such topics as Kornfield’s varied ordinations in Asia, the integration of psychology into modern Buddhist practice, perspectives on enlightenment, "democratization" of the Dharma, the necessity of compassion in a suffering world, and how the essence of non-clinging transcends traditional lineage boundaries. Jack's Biography: Jack Kornfield has been a pioneering force in bringing Theravāda Buddhism – and mindfulness more broadly – to the West. After serving in the Peace Corps in the late 1960s, Jack trained as a monk under our teachers' teacher Ajahn Chah, and - for varying lengths of time – also met and trained with such other monastic luminaries as: Mahasi Sayadaw, Ajahn Jumnien, Taungpulu Sayādaw, Ajahn Buddhadāsa, and Ajahn Maha Boowa. As a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in 1975 and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in 1987, Jack has spent decades bridging Eastern tradition with his background in clinical psychology. He is the author of several modern Spiritual classics, including: "Living Dharma" (formerly "Living Buddhist Masters", "A Path with Heart", "After the Ecstasy the Laundry", and "The Wise Heart". His most recent book is a collection of stories: "All in This Together". To learn more about Jack, visit: https://jackkornfield.com/ Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events! - Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom) - Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30 - 11 am PT, Online & In-Person) - Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00 - 6 pm PT, Online) See https://www.clearmountainmonastery.org/ or visit https://linktr.ee/clear_mountain_monastery for details. Welcome!

Trechos de gravações de palestras de Jack Kornfield. Jack Kornfield (nascido em 1945), é Ph.D. em Psicologia Clínica, escritor e professor do movimento Vipassana no Budismo Theravada americano. Kornfield é descendente de judeus e tem quatro irmãos, seu pai era um cientista, o que o levou a se interessar por cura, medicina e ciência. Depois de se formar na universidade de Dartmouth College em 1967, Kornfield foi para a Tailândia, onde trabalhou em equipes de medicina tropical no vale do rio Mekong, e lá conheceu e se tornou um monge discípulo do mestre da floresta Ajahn Chah.Em 1972 Kornfield retornou aos Estados Unidos e após algum tempo fundou a Insight Meditation Society e Spirit Rock Meditation Center, os dois dos maiores centros budistas dos Estados Unidos. Jack treinou muitos dos professores de Vipassana na América e organizou e liderou reuniões para professores budistas em todo o mundo.Sendo um dos responsáveis por introduzir a atenção plena no Ocidente, Jack trabalhou para tornar o budismo acessível aos ocidentais, combinando bondade amorosa e autocompaixão com a prática da atenção plena, incorporando a sabedoria da psicologia oriental e ocidental.

In this engaging Q&A session, Jack and Trudy explore romance, impermanence, attachment, diffusing anger, manifesting your dreams using mindfulness, and more! Learn How to Thrive in Love: Buddhist Secrets to Transform Your Relationships with Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman – join now at bit.ly/ThriveInLove “If you actually become mindful, then it’s possible to choose a direction, to envision, to imagine your life in a healthy way.” – Jack Kornfield In Part 2 of this episode, Jack and Trudy dive into Q&A on: - Finding appreciation and wisdom in things “falling apart” - Accepting change, aging, impermanence - Entering the naked unknown of the wilderness, nature - The wisdom of swimming with dolphins in the ocean - Sending metta (loving kindness) to the world and those in positions of power - How to tend our romantic relationships and partnerships with mindfulness and care - Diffusing anger and learning how to communicate lovingly - Connecting from a place of vulnerability and presence - Moving past warfare, racism, violence, and blame - Learning how to communicate across differences - Noting the difference between your intention and it’s impact on others - Manifesting your dreams using mindfulness - “Attachment” in Buddhism vs Western Psychology - Working through trauma in a safe and mindful way “It’s important to love what we love; it’s only a problem when we need to let go.” – Trudy Goodman “When you step back and quiet, deeper intuitions come, along with the ability to follow your dreams more clearly, and in a way that’s mindful of your own well-being.” – Jack Kornfield This talk originally aired on the Voices of Esalen Podcast: The Voices of Esalen Podcast showcases in-depth interviews with the dynamic teachers and thinkers who are part of Esalen Institute. Hosted by Sam Stern, a former Esalen student and current staff member, the podcasts have featured engaging conversations with authors Cheryl Strayed and Michael Pollan, innovators Stan Grof and Dr. Mark Hyman, teachers Byron Katie, Mark Coleman and Jean Houston, Esalen co-founder Michael Murphy, and many more. Learn more at Esalen.org/story/podcasts About Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about about Trudy’s flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com 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. Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a years worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.

In this defining talk, Jack shares his adventurous journey to Thai meditation master Ajahn Chah, and how upon returning home, he had to learn to embody a heart of authenticity. Transform your 2025 with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online program on mindfulness, love, community, and connection. Join in anytime at bit.ly/Awakening2025 “Being with Ajahn Chah was being with a person who rested in their Buddha Nature, their own true nature. He was just himself. He was really at peace with himself. You could feel it from the energy of his presence, rooted like a great tree in the earth.” – Jack Kornfield In this episode, Jack mindfully explores: - His mystical journey to learn with Thai meditation master Ajahn Chah, - Needing to work his way down the chakras to fully live this human life - Sudden awakening versus gradual change on the spiritual path - Ramana Maharshi and liberation through facing one’s own death - How to live in your soul and dance your unique dance - What it’s like hanging out with monks covered in wild bees - Ajahn Chah’s tree-like quality of roundedness, freedom, and openness - Matching our thoughts and actions with our values - His first time experience rapture in meditation - The transformative aspects of therapy, bodywork, marriage, family - Ram Dass and the healing quality of presence - Navigating differences in our romantic relationships - Learning to acknowledge the pain and loss beneath our anger - Opening to life’s lessons of compassion, wisdom, and wakefulness - The gift of spiritual community and sharing our authenticity - Embodying the timeless eternal truth of mindfulness, intimacy, and wakefulness “To love another person just as they are is the only kind of love that makes any sense.” – Jack Kornfield “There’s an intimacy and a presence that is true about mindfulness: it’s either now or never.” – Jack Kornfield This Dharma Talk recorded on 9/14/1992 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

Opening the doorway to transformation, Jack and Dr. Hübl explore spiritual discernment, identity, “central casting,” overcoming nervous system triggers, reframing trauma, and more. Transform your 2025 with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online program beginning Jan 2025, but join anytime at bit.ly/Awakening2025 The ‘wisdom of insecurity’ is to learn that it’s okay to feel insecure—that it’s part of our human law—and to love anyway.” – Jack Kornfield In Part 2 of this episode originally airing for Dr. Hübl’s ‘Spiritual Healing Journey Summit,’ Jack and Thomas mindfully explore: - Spiritual community, idealism, disillusionment, and healing spiritual injury - Jack’s experience “pressure testing” his teacher Ajahn Chah - Trading our “blind faith” for “spiritual discernment” - Living in joy with a free heart amidst it all - Ram Dass, identity, and “central casting” - Seeing past our identities/roles to our Divine Nature while still fully honoring them - Reframing “trauma” with Buddha’s lens of suffering - Healing the nervous system and it’s triggers - Expanding our loving kindness to encompass all beings - Walking through the doorway of transformation and dissolving the cosmos into love - How to deal with our trauma and learn to live with suffering - Reaching out and healing the part of the world we can touch - The Bodhisattva vow as fostering the awakening of the heart - Opening to the “wisdom of insecurity” “Spiritual practice is to remember your true divine nature, and also your social security number, your particular role which ‘central casting’ has placed you in at this time.” – Jack Kornfield "Disillusionment is part of the spiritual path, baby. It is! You have to see with the eyes of the Buddha to see the truth of suffering and greed and hatred, and also see that it's not the end of the story, that that's not who you are." – Jack Kornfield About Thomas Hübl, PhD: Thomas Hübl, PhD, is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator who works within the complexity of systems and cultural change, integrating the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Since the early 2000s, he has led large-scale events and courses on the healing of collective trauma. He is the author of Attuned: Practicing Interdependence to Heal Our Trauma—and Our World and Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds. He has served as an advisor and guest faculty for universities and organizations, as a coach for CEOs and organizational leaders, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. For more info, books, podcast, and upcoming offerings, please visit thomashuebl.com

This episode was recorded in November 2017 featuring Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield discussing the arc of spiritual practice.

Jack and Thomas explore how ritual serves as a powerful language for opening the heart and living joyfully through life’s challenges. This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. "Ritual and symbol become a gateway back to the heart to our deep connection. When we have that in spiritual life, things open up in a different way." – Jack Kornfield In Part 1 of this episode originally airing for Dr. Hübl’s ‘Spiritual Healing Journey Summit,’ Jack and Thomas mindfully explore: How to live joyfully through difficult times Finding the wonder of “everyday grace” Reducing suffering through spiritual practice Western Psychology and Eastern Spirituality Interconnection and opening to the great web of being Relational mindfulness and communal mindfulness Ritual as a language and gateway to the heart How to talk with nature and speak for the trees The transformation of having true mentors and guides Service, activism, and navigating burnout Paying attention and listening to each other and nature "The nuclear waste of what you've been through can burn in some way that it becomes the fuel for energy and light. It gets transformed in the reactor of the heart and you have a power now." – Jack Kornfield “No amount of nanotechnology, A.I., space technology, or biotechnology is going to save us. Because the source of hatred, war, racism, conflict, exploitation, and climate disruption is in the human heart. That’s where it starts and where it grows from. Therefore, the outer developments which are becoming really remarkable have to be matched by the inner developments of humanity.” – Jack Kornfield Transform your 2025 with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online program beginning Jan 2025! Join at bit.ly/Awakening2025 About Thomas Hübl, PhD: Thomas Hübl, PhD, is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator who works within the complexity of systems and cultural change, integrating the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Since the early 2000s, he has led large-scale events and courses on the healing of collective trauma. He is the author of Attuned: Practicing Interdependence to Heal Our Trauma—and Our World and Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds. He has served as an advisor and guest faculty for universities and organizations, as a coach for CEOs and organizational leaders, and is currently a visiting scholar at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. For more info, books, podcast, and upcoming offerings, please visit thomashuebl.com

Shining a lamp in the darkness, Jack offers a heartwarming holiday story, guided meditation, angelic chant, and powerful intention setting ceremony for the New Year and beyond. Transform your 2025 with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online program beginning Jan 2025 at bit.ly/Awakening2025 “May your holidays and the turning of the seasons bring new light, great love, wisdom, and understanding into your life, to all your touch, and across this beautiful blue-green globe.” – Jack Kornfield In part 2 of this special holiday series, Jack merrily shares: A heartwarming Christmas Dharma story to relax the mind Learning the true and boundless joy of making others happy A powerful “Just Like Me” two-person guided meditation practice Transforming the world through seeing the beauty of those around us Setting the compass of your heart for our highest good and intention Creating your own New Year’s vow, and becoming a lamp in the darkness for those in need A special blessing-cord ceremony—an intention setting ritual for the turning of the seasons, the New Year, and the returning of the light The angelic, holy, chanting of the of the mantra, “Namoh” “How do we respond to this world? You sit and you sweep the garden. You have the capacity as a human being incarnating in this life—with your measure of suffering and the beauty you have—to respond in extraordinary ways.” – Jack Kornfield “I did a blessing cord ceremony 40 years ago together with Lama Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and somebody raised their hand and said to him, ‘What exactly do these protect you from?’ And he said, ‘Why yourself, of course,’ which is a main protection that human beings need.” – 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 at SpiritRock.org and join Jack’s next livestream at JackKornfield.com/events

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. This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self. “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 at SpiritRock.org. Join Jack’s next livestream at JackKornfield.com/events Transform your year with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: An Intimate Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online journey! Sign up at bit.ly/Awakening2025

Exploring how compassionate speech and mindful listening can transform our lives, Jack shares how we can navigate culture’s web of lies by using the energy of Wise Speech to truly awaken. Transform your 2025 with Jack! Join “The Year of Awakening: An Intimate Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield” a year-long online course beginning Jan 2025! Register at bit.ly/Awakening2025 “[Wise Speech] is really about compassion—it’s being aware of the power of speech, and using it to express what is conscious and what brings freedom.” – Jack Kornfield Exploring the third step of the Eightfold Path, Jack mindfully shares on: - Wise Speech / Right Speech as a factor of awakening - Compassion, non-harming, and embodying Buddha Nature - Ram Dass’s “Hopi-Hippie Be-In” and what it means to ‘speak the truth’ - Navigating culture’s and advertising’s web of lies - Speaking from your deepest truth and knowing - Buddha and using the energy of speech to awaken - What it means to truly listen to another human being - Compassionate communication and listening - Discerning your intention and motivation when talking to people - Speaking like a Buddha and treasuring our speech - The simple pleasure of talking and communication - Using your words for justice, truth, love, and wisdom - Letting go of pride and needing to be right - A “Wise Speech” guided meditation - Chanting the seed syllable “Ah” “The key to listening and speaking wisely is the intention—our intention to learn, to discover, to hear something that we haven’t understood.” – Jack Kornfield “The possibility, if we are to live an awakened life, is to foster that speech that comes from our deeper knowing.” – Jack Kornfield This Dharma Talk recorded in 1992 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

This episode was recorded in November 2017 featuring Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield discussing mindful prayer.