At the heart of all Buddhist wisdom lies one astonishing a way out of suffering and into a more deeply fulfilling life is not a myth, but a reality available to you the moment you open your eyes through the power of skillful inquiry. For generations, this fact has been proven again and again by those who have learned and tested for themselves what the Buddha taught. Now, with Buddhism for Beginners, celebrated teacher and author Jack Kornfield invites you to experience for yourself the gifts of this vast spiritual tradition. Created specifically to address the questions and needs of first-time students, this full-length retreat on audio offers an ideal way to learn Buddhism's essential principles and insights. Join this gifted speaker, as he guides you Buddhism's cornerstone teachings, including the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path to inner freedom, the meaning and varieties of karma, the Ten Perfections for opening the heart, the inner tools of samadhi and prajna (concentration and insight), the Four Great Immeasurables, the Buddha's last great teaching, and many other topics • The principles of meditation practice, covering such fundamentals as clarifying awareness and focusing your mind; overcoming distractions and other inner obstacles; using heart-centered practices to sprout the seeds of compassion and loving-kindness, and more • Wisdom stories, poetry, teaching parables, and inspiring true accounts distilled from Buddhism's many historical branches, plus invaluable advice gleaned from Kornfield's own years of experience as a student and a teacher The ancient Buddhist scripture The Path to Purification poses this The world is entangled in a knot. Who can untangle the tangle? According to the Buddha, the answer you can, by learning to see things clearly and simply, as they actually are. Now, with Jack Kornfield's Buddhism for Beginners, you will find the tools and teachings you need to begin this great inner adventure of self-discovery and freedom.
Author
Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He began his training after graduating from Dartmouth College in Asian Studies in 1967. Then he joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to the Public Health Service in northeast Thailand, which is home to several of the world’s oldest Buddhist forest monasteries. He met and studied under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. After returning to the United States, Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. He is also a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California, where he currently lives and teaches. Over the years, Jack has taught in centers and universities worldwide, led International Buddhist Teacher meetings with the Dalai Lama and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a husband, father and an activist. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. They include, A Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology, A Path with Heart; After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; Teachings of the Buddha; Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; Living Dharma; A Still Forest Pool; Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart; Buddha’s Little Instruction Book; The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace, Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are, and his most recent book, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are.
