An Invitation to Explore the Deeper Dimensions of the Spiritual JourneyIt might happen suddenly, like a flash of lightning. Or gradually, like raindrops filling a jar. Our universal and awakened nature, the Buddha taught, can emerge in calm or in crisis. And then, as our path deepens, we must learn to embody our vision as we navigate the unexpected turns of the mystery.
When we asked Jack Kornfield for the most helpful advanced teachings from his audio archives, he chose these eight essential sessions. With
Awakening Is Real, here are just a few of the dimensions of the spiritual journey that you will explore in depth:
The archetypal stages of awakening common to all transformative paths, and how to overcome its greatest challenges and obstaclesHow the universal virtues of the warrior--such as courage, sacrifice, strength, and impeccability--are as valuable for freeing ourselves as kindness and compassionProfound insights hidden within well-known teaching stories including The Mahaparanirvana (the Buddha's last sermon) and The Journey of Nachiketa "The Elephant's Footprint"--Why the Buddha considered mindfulness of our own mortality and death to be the core practice that accelerates and deepens all others
Into the Quiet Forest of Presence, Compassion, and InterconnectednessThese sessions, while taught and recorded among advanced students, are anything but academic. Instead, you'll find here the playful, candid, and direct sharing of wisdom usually heard only by those fully committed to their life's evolution--an opportunity to discover within yourself what Jack Kornfield's own teacher Ajahn Chah called "the still, clear forest pool that sees the nature of all things."
SESSIONS INCLUDE:
The Sacred JourneyThe Way of the WarriorInitiationThe Journey of NachiketaHow Shall We Live?Difficulties as Part of the PathLiving with a Mindfulness of DeathLetting Go: Buddha's Last Sermon
Jack Kornfield, PhD, trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma, and India and has been teaching meditation internationally since 1974. He is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practices to the West. He co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts and founded the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre California. He holds a PhD in clinical psychology and has taught in centers and universities worldwide. Jack has led International Buddhist Teacher meetings with the Dalai Lama, worked with many of the great teachers of our time, and is a father and activist. He is co-creator of the Awareness Training Institute and has written more than a dozen books, including Meditation for Beginners; A Path With Heart; After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; and more.
