Perhaps the most important book yet written on meditation, the process of inner transformation, and the integration of spiritual practice into our Western way of life, A Path With Heart brings alive the possibilities of inner peace, wholeness and the achievement of happiness. Written by a teacher, psychologist and meditation master of international renown, this is a warm, inspiring and, above all, practical book. Its gentle Buddhist wisdom will guide you through the ups and downs of contemporary living, such as addiction, psychological and emotional healing, problems with relationships and the difficulties of achieving a balanced life of simplicity. (2002-02-18)
A Path With Heart
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £1.40
Trade in A Path with Heart for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £1.40, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Card, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more
|
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
In undertaking a spiritual life, we must make certain that our path is connected with our heart, according to author and Buddhist monk Jack Kornfield. Since 1974 (long before it gained popularity in the 1990's) Kornfield has been teaching Westerners how to integrate Eastern teaching into their daily lives. Through generous storytelling and unmitigated warmth, Kornfield offers this excellent guidebook on living with attentiveness, meditation and full-tilt compassion.
Part of what makes this book so accessible is Kornfield's use of everyday metaphors to describe the elusive lessons of spiritual transformation. For example, he opens with "the one seat" lesson taught to him by his esteemed teacher. Literally it means sitting in the centre of a room and not being swayed or moved by all the people and dramas happening around you. On a spiritual level it means sticking "with one practice and teacher among all of the possibilities," writes Kornfield, "inwardly it means having the determination to stick with that practice through whatever difficulties and doubts arise until you have come to true clarity and understanding." The same could be said for this "one book." Among all the spiritual self-help books, this is a classic worth sticking with and returning to--a highly approachable teacher who can only lead to greater clarity and understanding. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"A warm, inspiring and, above all, practical book" (Pride Magazine 2002-11-25)
"It's encouraging to find Westerners who've sufficiently assimilated the traditions of the East to be able to share them with others as Jack is doing. May such efforts further the peace of all beings." (His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
"This important guidebook shows in detail and with great humour and insight the way to practise the Buddha's universal teachings here in the West. Jack Kornfield is a wonderful storyteller and a great teacher." (Thich Nhat Hanh)
"Jack Kornfield is a remarkable and thoughtful teacher." (Sogyal Rinpoche)
"It's encouraging to find Westerners who've sufficiently assimilated the traditions of the East to be able to share them with others as Jack is doing. May such efforts further the peace of all beings." (His Holiness The Dalai Lama)
"This important guidebook shows in detail and with great humour and insight the way to practise the Buddha's universal teachings here in the West. Jack Kornfield is a wonderful storyteller and a great teacher." (Thich Nhat Hanh)
"Jack Kornfield is a remarkable and thoughtful teacher." (Sogyal Rinpoche)
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio Cassette
. . . let it be "A Path With Heart!" With wise and skillful words, Jack Kornfield is a master of teaching Buddhist practices including insight meditation (known as vipassanna) to Western students for over 20 years. Being a former Buddhist monk with a PHD in psychology, as well as a husband and father, he is able to communicate the practice of Buddhism in everyday life in a way that makes sense to Western minds. Kornfield embraces the stuggles and hindrances that are common to the spiritual path as well as offering timely and useful meditations for awakening, opening the heart and clear and humorous insight into basic Buddhist principles such as the 5 precepts, the Buddhist view of self (or lack thereof) and karma. With open arms and a deep understanding of the Western psyche and it's tangles, Kornfield delivers a book that is a love song, a workout and a survival manual for anyone committed to the spiritual path.
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By S. Lionheart
Format:Paperback
I was recommended to read this book many years ago but it took me a couple of years to really take notice and buy it. Then I regretted the long period of time without it! I use it regularly. There are sections on so many of the things that come up in a meditators practice - and I also have friends who find that they just look up the chapter headings and get the answers they need. Jack Kornfield is a very experienced meditator and teacher and there is a wealth of guidance and insight in this book. I tell my own students that they cannot do without it and they admit they keep in close at hand and take it on retreat with them. It applies whatever tradition you are in and there are accounts from Christians and Hindus and Buddhists and people who are just meditating and needing help. A superb book.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Rik V.
Format:Paperback
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!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By tim
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jack Kornfield is a wise man who has trained as a buddhist monk in Thailand in early adult life and then went on to train as a psychologist in USA. He has expertise in both ways of seeing the world, east and west,newtonian and quantum consciousness. He collaborates widely with Stan Grof and is an expert in non ordinary states of consciousness. These qualities are obvious in this beautifully written book. Spare concise prose. No nonsense buddhist thought. He spells out the pitfalls of new age muddled thinking. He's clear about the importance of developing ego function before transcending ego. He gives a clear account of side effects, spiritual emergencies and the vicissitudes of the path. He gives an encouraging and relaxed account of the attempts to calm the chattering mind. Above all his heart illuminates his intellect. This is an excellent book - the best I've come across by a westerner. Up there with the the tibetan book of living and dying.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Allana M.
Format:Paperback
"A Path with Heart" gives a unique Buddhist perspective to heal ourselves emotionally and psychologically. It asks us to accept emotions fully, experience them at a deep level and then to release them. The path is not one of denial but of acceptance and also letting go. Jack Kornfield's words are filled with compassion and equanimity, which are two important facets of our spiritual journey filled with both perils and promises.
This book resonated at a deeper level for me and I found the same inspiration in "Nexus: A Neo Novel" which is an experiential guide to heart-centered living. Both books offer a path of compassion, which is important in our age. We can share the wisdom of these books within our circle and help transform lives.
This book resonated at a deeper level for me and I found the same inspiration in "Nexus: A Neo Novel" which is an experiential guide to heart-centered living. Both books offer a path of compassion, which is important in our age. We can share the wisdom of these books within our circle and help transform lives.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By BP1
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A wonderful book, mindfully written. It is a concise and relevant work which is realistic both in terms of what may and what will not been seen as one walks the spiritual path. Whilst Buddhist/Zen in focus those with other views with find plenty to inspire them. The book whilst profoundly spiritual is certainly not only for those of a monastic inclination and will provide a veiw of what may be achieved by those who live outside of such an environment. It is my sincere hope that all who read this book gain as much from it as I did.
namu amida butsu...
namu amida butsu...
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 87 reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
For those suffering with chronic pain
For anyone with chronic pain, this book can help you through meditation and mindfulness. He explains clearly the meaning of the terms 'acceptance' and 'having an open heart'.
Published 9 days ago by lin27
5.0 out of 5 stars
Walk This Way
There are many people these days writing about "sprituality" ( whatever that means) and I find that the vast majority have the capacity to either bore me or trigger my... Read more
Published 2 months ago by The Grifter
4.0 out of 5 stars
A path with heart
A Path with Heart. A Path with heart is an inspiring read. I enjoy reading it for its stories and for its wisdom. Truly a path to the heart.
Published 6 months ago by Liam Blayney
4.0 out of 5 stars
straight forward honest Dhamma
This books stands out as an honest account of a Western Practitioner finding his feet on the Path of Dhamma in the early pioneering days. Read more
Published 7 months ago by journeyman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
An excellent book. To be read slowly and thoughtfully. An inspiring account of Jack Kornfield's own spiritual journey with its joys and difficulties..
Published 9 months ago by goingon being
5.0 out of 5 stars
GrowingWisdom
What this book states clearly is that the perils arising from living a spiritual life in a wrong way. Read more
Published 10 months ago by IncreasingWisdom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational book
This is an inspirational and informative book. Anyone interested in meditation for whatever reason will enjoy the easy style Jack Kornfield details the different types of... Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by Chris Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic on mindfulness meditation
There are many authors who write about the path of mindfulness meditation, but Jack conveys more than just words - he gives us a real taste for the dhamma and for the essential... Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by Peter Strong
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buddhist books etc easy to purchase
Another Buddhist book I purchased from Amazon.
My son is a buddhist and I have found that finding items he has asked for is very easy on Amazon and much better than... Read more
My son is a buddhist and I have found that finding items he has asked for is very easy on Amazon and much better than... Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2010 by B. Downs
5.0 out of 5 stars
A path with heart
A great CD.
I teach a small group meditation and the beginnings of Buddhism.
I sometimes play a small portion of these CD's (10 minutes)
to the students. Read more
I teach a small group meditation and the beginnings of Buddhism.
I sometimes play a small portion of these CD's (10 minutes)
to the students. Read more
Published on 29 July 2009 by Thomas J. Grant
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
