Wise, loving, generous - absolutely indispensable - Rated 
I have been on a spiritual quest myself for about 22 years and although in all that time I have read many brilliant books from many wise teachers, what came to bother me more and more was the tendency of so many of them to cling to their own vision, their own method. While I do understand and respect that everyone is different and needs to find his or her own path (mine is zen), I also have more than sufficient experience to know that no single tradition, school, or teacher holds all the answers. So what I so admire in this book from Kornfield is his all-inclusive attitude. Ken Wilber may talk about integral spirituality, but Kornfield is the one who really does it, and with such tremendous wisdom and skill as well! He is able to integrate so many different perspectives on spirituality, and yet at the same time is so grounded in experience that nearly everyone should be able to find something of use here. This is a great teacher, and a wonderful book!
A Heart with Path - Rated
As much as any book can 'have it', this book 'has it'.
Simply....one of the best books ever written about the spiritual journey.
Unrivalled modern classic - Rated
Don't let the simple, flowing language fool you, this work is a true hardcore manual on Buddhism and meditation.At all times eloquent and unobtrusively adept, the words are spacious and accomodating drawing the reader closer to the Dharma, in it's purest sense.
The best book Ive ever read!! - Rated
Ive read a lot of books on spirituality and BUddhism. However Id say this is the best book Ive ever read in this subject. Id describe it as a Bible for Buddhism/ meditators. His words seem to me like pure wisdom. Jack's words and style of writing are very soothing and just simply words of Dhamma. Words of truth. I think this is a book that should deafantly be read!!!!
A book to have for years - Rated
Other reviewers have described the content of this book; my personal response is that i have had this book for years and still find i'm growing into it. It's wonderfully apt, written by someone who has seen a lot. It seems to anticipate the joys, dilemmas and potential pitfalls of a spiritual life - mine, at least. It cannot be described as an introductory 'how to' book on meditation. But the lucid and highly intelligent commentary on what life its like when you're engaged in spiritual practice is just wonderful. It's also important to mention the book's ecumenism; although it is written from a buddhist standpoint, the examples, and the people described are christian, sufi, hindu. I find this liberating, along with the book's rigorous insistence that immersion in eastern philosophy can be as much of an attempt to escape reality as anything else. This last aspect is one of the most valuable; perhaps it's kornfield's background as a psychologist, or perhaps it's just that he's a shrewd meditator, but he has a clear and compassionate eye for the pain caused by delusion, and how our personal problems masquerade as spiritual issues. He shows how we need to understand our own lives and issues to practice spiritually; then he demolishes the distinction, showing that these two were never separate. My response is gratitude. Thanks, Jack.
|
