Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

How do we hold life’s unbearable beauty and ocean of tears? Exploring the education of the heart, Jack Kornfield shares Buddhist wisdom for meeting troubled times with steadiness, compassion, and courage.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield explores:

• Holding the beauty and suffering of the world together
• Why technological progress needs an accompanying education of the heart
• Joanna Macy’s Great Turning and the shift toward interconnection
• Ajahn Chah’s unexpected guidance on understanding anger
• Becoming a calm and centered presence during a crisis
• Supporting Bill Ford through the 2008 financial meltdown
• The Four Noble Truths and the possibility of inner freedom
• Beginning loving-kindness where the heart opens naturally
• Moving beyond self-judgment into mindful loving awareness
• Finding sacred connection in ordinary encounters
• Love, compassion, shared joy, and spacious awareness
• Remaining present through illness, grief, and loss
• The Dalai Lama’s determination to preserve his happiness
• Mindfulness when the past is painful and the future uncertain
• The Bodhisattva path and writing a personal vow of care

“The outer technology of the world has to be matched by an inner technology of the heart.” –Jack Kornfield

This episode was originally recorded at Stanford University for The Ho Center for Buddhist Studies’ T.T. & W.F. Chao “Buddhism and Contemporary Society Series”

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield, PhD, trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India, and Burma. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practice to the West, has taught internationally since 1974, and is the author of 16 books which have sold 2 million copies. Stay connected with Jack and explore his latest offerings at http://jackkornfield.com/. Sign up for hisfree weekly email teachings, explore his transformational online courses, access his complete course library through the All Access Pass, or join his monthly livestreams and online community. Jack’s latest book, All In This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World is out now!

“The Bodhisattva says, ‘my road, my life, my energy is all committed to alleviating suffering and the well-being of whoever I meet, whatever I see.’” –Jack Kornfield

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Exploring love as a spiritual practice, Jack Kornfield shares how Ram Dass grew into a living field of love and how we can cultivate that same loving awareness within ourselves.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield explores:

• Ram Dass becoming the loving presence people always imagined him to be
• Krishna Das, Maharaj-ji, and the power of seeing others with the eyes of love
• Why love is not merely something that happens to us
• Cultivating lovingkindness through intentional spiritual practice
• Sharon Salzberg’s discovery that metta practice was transforming her heart
• Practicing lovingkindness for strangers in everyday life
• Seeing the original innocence and Buddha nature within others
• The Dalai Lama’s teaching on befriending the enemy
• How love transforms into compassion, joy, and equanimity
• Impermanence and the preciousness of what we love
• Moving beyond judgment into loving awareness
• Embracing the body, heart, and mind with kindness
• Listening for what is asking for love

“Ram Dass became love. He wasn’t just a teacher anymore. Whoever you were and whatever was brought to him, he would sit in a field of love and see you with the eyes of love.” –Jack Kornfield

This episode was originally recorded as part of Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman’s course, How to Thrive in Love: Buddhist Secrets to Transform Your Relationships. Learn more and join!

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield, PhD trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India, and Burma. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practice to the West, has taught internationally since 1974, and is the author of 16 books which have sold 2 million copies. Stay connected with Jack and explore his latest offerings at http://jackkornfield.com/. Sign up for hisfree weekly email teachings, explore his transformational online courses, access his complete course library through the All Access Pass, or join his monthly livestreams and online community. Jack’s latest book, All In This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World is out now!

“The good news is you don’t run out of love. When you offer and share it, it actually grows. How cool is that?” –Jack Kornfield

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Through a humbling story of Sri Nisargadatta and a guided meditation on loving awareness, Jack shows how love can become large enough to hold the full mystery of our human experience.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield explores:

• Eclipses, the mystery of the cosmos, and the Music of the Spheres
• Finding balance as an ongoing dance rather than a destination
• Why love does not require us to eliminate fear
• A humbling encounter with Sri Nisargadatta and the wisdom of remaining a student
• Resilience as a love large enough to hold our imperfect humanity
• Moving beyond servant leadership to become a servant of love
• Uncovering what your heart is asking you to serve
• Remembering the wisdom and compassion already living within us
• Resting in the spaciousness of loving awareness

“What does the heart ask you to serve?” –Jack Kornfield

This episode was originally recorded as part of Jack’s yearlong program,Living the Dharma in a Troubled World, with monthly livestream Q&As and themed lessons. Learn more andjoin!

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield, PhD trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India, and Burma. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practice to the West, has taught internationally since 1974, and is the author of 16 books which have sold 2 million copies. Stay connected with Jack and explore his latest offerings at http://jackkornfield.com/. Sign up for hisfree weekly email teachings, explore his transformational online courses, access his complete course library through the All Access Pass, or join his monthly livestreams and online community. Jack’s latest book, All In This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World is out now!

“That’s part of what brings resilience: not the ideal of how we’re supposed to be, but the fact that love can be big enough to hold it all.” –Jack Kornfield

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Jack Kornfield and Sylvia Boorstein explore how loving awareness helps us meet each moment as a friend, soften into aging and impermanence, and rediscover connection through simple acts of generosity and love.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• Meeting each moment fully and as a friend by relaxing the body, quieting reactivity, and bringing kindness to whatever arises
• Sylvia’s honest and humorous reflections on aging, mortality, losing independence, and adapting to life in a senior living community
• Transforming crankiness and loneliness
• How small acts of generosity—sharing figs, holding a stranger’s hand, or simply noticing another person—can transform crankiness, fear, and loneliness
• Bringing mindfulness and loving-kindness together, staying amazed by life’s impermanence, and recognizing love as our deepest response to being alive

This episode was originally recorded for a special Spirit Rock Monday Night Meditation and Talk in July 2026 celebrating Sylvia Boorstein’s 90th Birthday. Watch the next one at http://spiritrock.org/

About Sylvia Boorstein:

Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has taught Dharma and mindfulness since 1985. A psychologist, author, and gifted storyteller, she makes Buddhist teachings accessible by emphasizing that everyday life is mindfulness practice. Her work integrates meditation, kindness, engaged citizenship, and social activism. Learn more about Sylvia at SylviaBoorstein.com.

“May I meet this moment fully means: Here I am. I’m awake. What’s going on? And may I meet it as a friend means: May I meet it with my body relaxed, my mind relaxed, and be able to really see what’s happening—not pushing it away. May I meet this moment fully. May I meet it as a friend” –Sylvia Boorstein

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield, PhD trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India, and Burma. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practice to the West, has taught internationally since 1974, and is the author of 16 books which have sold 2 million copies. Stay connected with Jack and explore his latest offerings at http://jackkornfield.com/. Sign up for hisfree weekly email teachings, explore his transformational online courses, access his complete course library through the All Access Pass, or join his monthly livestreams and online community. Jack’s latest book, All In This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World is out now!

“Incarnation has praise and blaming, gain and loss, pleasure and pain, light and dark—and it’s always changing. Then the heart becomes at ease and says, ‘Oh, here we are. Isn’t this amazing?’ The deepest response to it is to love it, because it’s what we’ve got.” –Jack Kornfield

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Celebrating Sylvia Boorstein’s 90th birthday, Jack and Sylvia reflect on 49 years of friendship, meditation, and Dharma practice—and how awakening ultimately expresses itself through kindness, connection, and a willingness to stay amazed.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• Sylvia’s journey through the Buddhist teachings of impermanence, suffering, and selflessness, and how intellectual understanding gradually becomes lived realization
• Jack and Sylvia’s 49 years of friendship, from her early meditation and kundalini experiences to their travels, teaching, and shared life in the Dharma
• How decades of mindfulness and metta practice made Sylvia not only kinder, but happier and more responsive to the needs of others
• Meeting ourselves and one another with loving awareness, remembering our interconnectedness, and staying amazed by the mystery of being alive

This episode was originally recorded for a special Spirit Rock Monday Night Meditation and Talk in July 2026 celebrating Sylvia Boorstein’s 90th Birthday. Watch the next one at http://spiritrock.org/

About Sylvia Boorstein:

Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has taught Dharma and mindfulness since 1985. A psychologist, author, and gifted storyteller, she makes Buddhist teachings accessible by emphasizing that everyday life is mindfulness practice. Her work integrates meditation, kindness, engaged citizenship, and social activism. Learn more about Sylvia at SylviaBoorstein.com“We remind each other of our freedom and our possibility. We are so deeply interwoven in the energy field of consciousness itself, and when you know it, whatever you do becomes benevolent in some really deep way.”

"The shortest way to say what happened to me in 49 years is: I became kind. Seymour said, ‘No, you were always kind.’ And I said, ‘Well, then I became kinder.’ And the big surprise for me after all this time is that I’m also happier.” – Sylvia Boorstein

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield, PhD trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India, and Burma. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practice to the West, has taught internationally since 1974, and is the author of 16 books which have sold 2 million copies.

Stay connected with Jack and explore his latest offerings at http://jackkornfield.com/. Sign up for hisfree weekly email teachings, explore his transformational online courses, access his complete course library through the All Access Pass, or join his monthly livestreams and online community. Jack’s latest book, All In This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World is out now!

“We remind each other of our freedom and our possibility. We are so deeply interwoven in the energy field of consciousness itself, and when you know it, whatever you do becomes benevolent in some really deep way.” –Jack Kornfield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Exploring the gifts hidden within our most difficult emotions, Jack Kornfield shares how anger, judgment, and despair can be transformed into compassion, courage, and selfless service.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• The path of selfless service
• A meditation on kindness and loving awareness
• Meeting anger without judgment or fear
• The care and passion hidden beneath anger
• Moving from despair toward imagination and possibility
• Activism rooted in stillness, wellbeing, and love
• Moral beauty and compassionate courage
• Transforming judgment into tenderness and metta

“Do you know why you’re so angry? Because you care. Because you care that much. And when you start to tune into the fact that you do care, that’s the fuel.” –Jack Kornfield

This teaching was originally recorded during a live session for Jack's Living the Dharma in a Troubled World yearlong program. Join these monthly livestream Q&A sessions here. As a special offer for Heart Wisdom listeners, use code Dharma10 or Dharma10p (payment plan) at checkout for 10% off this program.

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 Societyin 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 year's 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 http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

“We’re learning how to be free as human beings—not to skip over being human, but actually to have a big enough heart to say, ‘Yes, this is part of our legacy.’” –Jack Kornfield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reflecting on Spirit Rock's new stupa, Jack Kornfield shares how sacred places help us remember the timeless awareness, compassion, and freedom at the heart of our being.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• The meaning and purpose of Buddhist Stupas
• Sacred symbols and spiritual remembrance
• Consciousness beyond the personal self
• Community, lineage, and blessing
• Bringing practice into the world
• Lovingkindness as a way of life

This teaching was originally recorded during the blessing of Spirit Rock's new stupa and the celebration of Jack Kornfield's 80th birthday. The full event was produced by Spirit Rock and has been adapted for Heart Wisdom. For information about visiting Spirit Rock or attending an in-person or online retreat, please visit http://www.spiritrock.org/.

“You are not this body or these feelings. They come and go. Who you are is so much bigger than this. In fact, who you are is awareness, consciousness itself. When you start to realize that, it becomes the gateway to freedom, to liberation, and tremendous joy in the middle of it all.” –Jack Kornfield

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 Societyin 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 year's 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 http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

“You quiet the mind and open the heart. Then you get up and sweep the garden of the world.” –Jack Kornfield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Celebrating Spirit Rock's new stupa and 40 years of practice, Jack Kornfield reflects on spiritual community, resilience in times of suffering, and the timeless wisdom that helps us meet life with an awakened heart.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield explores:

• Spiritual community as a refuge in difficult times
• Compassion and resilience amid global suffering
• Remembering our fundamental goodness
• The transformative power of meditation practice
• Kindness as the fruit of a lifetime of practice
• Discovering awareness as our natural state

This teaching was originally recorded during the blessing of Spirit Rock's new stupa and the celebration of Jack Kornfield's 80th birthday. The full event was produced by Spirit Rock and has been adapted for Heart Wisdom. For information about visiting Spirit Rock or attending an in-person or online retreat, please visit http://www.spiritrock.org/.

“The land, the practices, and the community—these are the things that help us remember who we really are.” –Jack Kornfield

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 Societyin 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 year's 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 http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

“Who you are is magnificent. Part of our practice and our gathering is honoring that truth and affirming your basic goodness and beauty, saying: this is who you are, and you can live this in the world.” –Jack Kornfield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Through powerful storytelling, Jack Kornfield turns toward the deeper invitation of the spiritual path: to listen with the heart and respond to life with courage, compassion, and presence.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield explores:

• The power of deep listening and compassion
• Courage as a force for transformation
• Expanding our sense of “family” to include all beings
• Living with love in times of uncertainty
• Small actions creating meaningful change

This episode was originally filmed for the April 2026 Spirit Rock Meditation CenterMonday Night Talk and Guided Meditation.

“So you listen, you add your voice and heart with your humanity, with your care, with your sensitivity. We're all going through it—suffering, pleasure, joy, all of it. Keep your heart strong. You can do this.” –Jack Kornfield

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 Societyin 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 year's 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 http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

“You have been training for this—to meet the world with compassion.” –Jack Kornfield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Beginning with reflections on global crises and personal difficulty, Jack reminds us that while suffering is inevitable, how we respond is what shapes our lives.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield explores:

• Responding to difficulty without becoming overwhelmed
• Living in the present moment instead of fear-based thinking
• The power of intention and deep listening
• Becoming an “island of peace” in chaotic times
• Trusting uncertainty and the mystery of life

This episode was originally filmed for the April 2026 Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Talk and Guided Meditation.

“In difficulty, the mind goes into survival—trying to protect and fix. Thank it, let it soften, and return to the present. As Ram Dass reminds us—you can be here now.” –Jack Kornfield

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 Societyin 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 year's 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 http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

“The question is not whether there’s suffering, because there is, and some of it's really terrible. And it does want us to pay attention. But then the question is, how do we respond?” –Jack Kornfield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second half of this powerful wartime talk, Jack Kornfield guides us through the practice of lovingkindness and explores what it means to stay open-hearted in the face of exhaustion, grief, and overwhelm.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield chats about:

• Lovingkindness (metta) as a practice of resilience
• Overcoming despair by using our inner resources
• Working with emotional exhaustion and compassion fatigue
• The wisdom of allowing emptiness instead of fixing it
• The power of presence in shaping the future
• Becoming a force of peace in the world

“When we live in the present moment, we can be strong and loving no matter what. We don't get lost in our fear. The practice of living in the present with mindful, loving awareness is a doorway to your freedom, to your well being.” –Jack Kornfield

The episode was originally filmed for Mantra Ukraine, you can learn more about them on Instagram

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 Societyin 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 year's 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 http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

“You don't have to rush your compassion. Just be where you are and hold even the emptiness with great kindness.” –Jack Kornfield

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this deeply moving talk offered to those living through war in Ukraine, Jack Kornfield reminds us that even in the most difficult conditions, the human heart has the capacity to remain open, compassionate, and free.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• Creating inner peace in the midst of external conflict
• The practice of self-compassion in times of overwhelm
• How to work with suffering without internalizing it
• Reconnecting with inner resources like nature, community, and intention
• The teaching that “hatred never ends by hatred”

“Even though there is war around us, it is possible to create an island of peace in the middle of it all—and not let the war take over our hearts.” –Jack Kornfield

The episode was originally filmed for Mantra Ukraine, you can learn more about them on Instagram

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“If the suffering of the world has now taken over your body, it’s in the wrong place. You need to leave it outside and not carry it inside your heart.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this powerful dialogue, Jack Kornfield responds to questions from the community about some of the deepest challenges of the human heart.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• Caring for aging parents with compassion
• Transforming rage into compassionate action
• Grieving without hardening the heart
• Meeting illness and death with presence
• Sangha as a refuge in difficult time

“We need each other. Sangha is the company of the wise. In these times we need to stand up for the truth and speak up together. That’s part of sangha—to be together in the innate dignity of humanity and say, ‘Yes, this is what matters.’” –Jack Kornfield

This episode was first recorded on Feb 23, 2026 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Talk and Meditation

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“The idea from the Buddha’s teachings is that when we’re together and committed to compassion, liberation, a free heart, and a care for one-another, amazing things are possible.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this illuminating talk, Jack explores the heart of freedom through the lens of his friendship with Ram Dass, reflecting on how to cultivate a heart that can meet it all with loving awareness.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• Ram Dass and the liberation of the heart
• The Dharma teaching of letting go
• Freedom from attachment to preferences
• Compassion in difficult times
• The wisdom of Buddhist teachings in modern life

“There was something so liberating about Ram Dass because he wasn't attached to who he was—he was playing with it.” –Jack Kornfield

This episode was first recorded on Feb 23, 2026 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Talk and Meditation

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“The great way is not difficult for those who are not attached to their preferences.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this deeply grounding guided meditation, Jack Kornfield invites us to rest in mindful loving awareness and gratitude for the miracle of being alive.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:

• Guided meditation on mindful loving awareness
• Gratitude for breath, body, heart, and mind
• Opening to the field of awareness beyond thoughts
• The healing power of compassion toward ourselves
• Recognizing the interconnectedness of all life

“Who you are is bigger than the mind, bigger than the emotions, bigger than the changing sensations of the body. You're the field of awareness itself, consciousness that was born into this body.” –Jack Kornfield

This episode was first recorded on Feb 23, 2026 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Talk and Meditation

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“In this very moment, feel the space that gratitude opens, that kindness opens.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Celebrating the release of All In This Together, Jack shares stories and leads a guided meditation inviting us into the fear dispelling and protective practice of loving kindness.

Jack’s new book is out now:All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

“Loving kindness protects us from our fears that come up. When you go into the jungle, watch the news, or whatever wild thing you do, loving kindness is a basis to tend and care for your own heart.” –Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack shares stories and leads a guided meditation on:

• Coming together to quiet the mind and open the heart
• Jack shares background on his new book of stories, All InThis Together
• The healing importance of forgiveness in a conflicted world
• A Buddhist story on how loving kindness (metta) protects us from our fears
• Looking at our relationship to technology in the world
• The life-changing blessings of metta practice
• Holding the tainted glory of your humanity in loving kindness
• The transformative power of metta
• Student reflections on the practice
• Having compassion for our struggles
• Noticing our progress on the path

"Sometimes it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." –Guillaume Apollinaire

This Dharma Talk originally took place in Nov 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation celebrating Jack’s All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here.

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“The practice is to hold the tainted glory of your humanity in loving kindness, all of it, all the difficult, beautiful, amazing, and horrifying parts we have as humans.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Celebrating the release of All In This Together, Jack reflects on learning to bow to life’s mystery—and how doing so opens a path to liberation, love, and inner peace.

Jack’s new book is out now:All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

https://youtu.be/c9lBoai7ZTY

“There’s something so mysterious about how things unfold. We live in something so huge and magnificent, but we get into small mind about how it should be, but we honestly don’t know so much.” –Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:

• More healing stories on love and respect
• Sharon Salzberg’s travel advice from Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
• The stories of how both Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Society came to be
• Bowing to the mystery of how everything unfolds
• Thich Nhat Hanh’s wisdom from a tree
• How weird, wild, and mysterious it is to be human
• The invitation to liberation this life offers
• How to stay calm driving in intense traffic
• Working with intention and letting others off the hook
• When people are behaving badly, letting go and focusing on your own heart
• Dealing with existential angst
• The music of humanity, of being human
• Working through anger and righteousness
• Holding your complicated life in kindness and compassion
• Becoming a lighthouse for others

“There’s something in the stories we tell. We come together for the Dharma, and it’s really the truth of love and mystery.” –Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk originally took place in Nov 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation celebrating Jack’s All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here.

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“You can’t know the intention of someone else. There’s only one person whose intention you can really know. Guess whose that is? So, intention is really for yourself.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Honoring the release of All In This Together, Jack reflects on how stories awaken compassion, heal division, and call us back to meeting one another with respect.

Jack’s new book is out now!:All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

“We have the opportunity to reach out and mend the fabric of life... Action that actually undoes anxiety is making even the tiniest difference to others.” –Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:

• Jack’s recent trip with Trudy to India to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• What the Dalai Lama said about A.I. and compassion
• Having a wise relationship with A.I. and technology
• Varanasi and facing the reality of death at the burning ghats
• Stories as a medicine for the soul
• The transformative story of Ram Dass, Maharajji, and the glance of mercy
• Being fully worthy of love
• Learning how to connect with genuineness, kindness, and respect
• Archetypal and universal teachings
• Buddha’s last meal
• Intention as the root of karma
• Overcoming conflict with respect and good intention

“Even making the tiniest difference to others begins to change the direction of your life and the circumstance of the world around you.” –Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk originally took place in Nov 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk andGuided Meditation celebrating Jack’s All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here.

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“Stories are medicine.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In honor of All In This Together, Jack, Anne Lamott, and Tami Simon continue their heart-opening conversation on story, tenderness, and remembering who you are

Jack’s new book is out now!:All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

In this episode, Jack, Anne, and Tami mindfully explore:

• Anne Lamott’s 12-Step cruise ship seminar wisdom
• How to tell or write a heart-opening story
• Getting to the emotional center of it all
• Remembering who you really are
• Illuminating our common humanity
• Laughter as carbonated holiness and sacred ground
• What’s between the telling and the listening
• How to trade our exhaustion for peace and rest
• Micro-dosing love and understanding
• The healing power of true romantic, soul-mate love
• Being loved just as you are
• Stories on hope
• Operating from the heart cave
• Jack’s recent visit with His Holiness the Dalai Lama
• Stories of conflict resolution

This conversation originally took place in Nov 2025 for Sounds True’s celebration of Jack’s All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack’s upcoming livestreams and events here.

About Anne Lamott:

Anne Lamott is the New York Times best-selling author of many books, including collections of essays, novels, and long-form non-fiction, including the classic writing manual Bird by Bird and child-rearing memoir Operating Instructions. In addition to being a novelist and nonfiction writer, Lamott is also a progressive political activist, public speaker, and writing teacher. Keep up with Anne on Instagram.

“Laughter is carbonated holiness, and when we’re laughing together we’re on sacred ground.” –Anne Lamott

About Tami Simon:

Tami Simon is the founder of Sounds True, a multimedia company that has produced over 3,000 titles and been nominated twice for the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing companies. Tami also hosts the popular Sounds True podcast, Insights at the Edge, with more than 15 million downloads. Tami has been instrumental in the creation of the Inner MBA Program: a nine-month interactive program featuring esteemed CEOs and conscious business and mindfulness leaders created by Sounds True, LinkedIn and Wisdom 2.0.

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 Societyin 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 year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“I want to tell stories that soften your heart, make you weep or laugh, help you remember who you are, and illuminate our common humanity.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack opens with reflections on the cosmic dance of life before guiding listeners into a meditation on stillness, breath, and embodied presence. Drawing on ancient imagery and gentle instruction, he invites us to take our seat in the still point of the turning world.

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

Jack’s new book is out now!:All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World

In this episode, Jack explores:

• The meaning of solstice as a sacred pause
• Taking your seat in stillness
• The breath as a living, shared process
• Becoming the loving witness
• Finding harmony with the rhythms of life

This Dharma Talk originally took place in Dec 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation. Stay up to date with Jack’s upcoming livestreams and events here.

“You are being breathed. The earth is breathing you, and the ocean of air is dancing with your body.”–Jack Kornfield

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 Societyin 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 year's 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 http://jackkornfield.com/ and signing up for his email teachings.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.