Quote

To understand ourselves and our life is the point of insight meditation: to understand and to be free.

Jack Kornfield

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Jack Kornfield
Age: 79
Born: 1945
Born: July 16
Author
Psychologist
Writer
the United States of America
Insight
Meditation
Point
Free
Understand
Life

More quotes by Jack Kornfield

Image
At the end of our life our questions are simple: Did I live fully? Did I love well?
Jack Kornfield
Image
The present moment is really all that we have. The only place you can really love another person is in the present. Love in the past is a memory. Love in the future is a fantasy. To be really alive, love - or any other experience - must take place in the present.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Acceptance does not mean inaction. We may need to respond, strongly at times...From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. Unconscious reactions create problems. Considered responses bring peace. With a peaceful heart whatever happens can be met with wisdom...Peace is not weak it is unshakable.
Jack Kornfield
Image
In any moment we can learn to let go of hatred and fear. We can rest in peace, love, and forgiveness. It is never too late. Yet to sustain love we need to develop practices that cultivate and strengthen the natural compassion within us.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Peace requires us to surrender our illusions of control.
Jack Kornfield
Image
To live in this precious animal body on this earth is as great a part of spiritual life as anything else.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Two qualities are at the root of all meditation development: right effort and right aim—arousing effort to aim the mind toward the object.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Compassion is our deepest nature. It arises from our interconnection with all things.
Jack Kornfield
Image
There are several different kinds of painful feelings that we might experience, and learning to distinguish and relate to these feelings of discomfort or pain is an important part of meditation practice, because it is one of the very first things that we open to as our practice develops.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Equanimity arises when we accept the way things are.
Jack Kornfield
Image
The work of your heart, the work of taking time, to listen, to help, is also your gift to the whole of the world
Jack Kornfield
Image
If we are engaged in actions that cause pain and conflict to ourselves and others, it is impossible for the mind to become settled, collected, and focused in meditation it is impossible for the heart to open.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Meet this transient world with neither grasping nor fear, trust the unfolding of life, and you will attain true serenity.
Jack Kornfield
Image
For most of us, generosity is a quality that must be developed. We have to respect that it will grow gradually otherwise our spirituality can become idealistic and imitative, acting out the image of generosity before it has become genuine.
Jack Kornfield
Image
What is truly a part of our spiritual path is that which brings us alive. If gardening brings us alive, that is part of our path, if it is music, if it is conversation...we must follow what brings us alive.
Jack Kornfield
Image
It is hard to imagine a world without forgiveness. Without forgiveness life would be unbearable. Without forgiveness our lives are chained, forced to carry the sufferings of the past and repeat them with no release.
Jack Kornfield
Image
A factor that greatly supports the opening of energy in practice is exercise and care of the physical body.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Expressing gratitude to our benefactors is a natural form of love. In fact, some people find loving kindness for themselves so hard, they begin their practice with a benefactor. This too is fine. The rule in loving kindness practice is to follow the way that most easily opens your heart.
Jack Kornfield
Image
The way I treat my body is not disconnected from the way I treat my family or the commitment I have to peace on our earth.
Jack Kornfield
Image
Even Socrates, who lived a very frugal and simple life, loved to go to the market. When his students asked about this, he replied, I love to go and see all the things I am happy without.
Jack Kornfield