Ep. 209 – Life as a Forest Monk

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

Be Here Now Network

Kornfield, Religion & Spirituality, Religion, Jackkornfield, Buddhism, Spirituality, Jack Kornfield

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 17 October 2023

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this riveting episode, Jack shares hilarious personal stories illuminating lessons from his life as a forest monk in Thailand.

"The spirt was you just did it, and you worked with whatever came up as your practice. Living the life of a monk meant taking what came to you and working with it, whether it was difficult or easy.” – Jack Kornfield

In this riveting episode, Jack dives into:

What it was like living as a forest monk in Thailand at Ajahn Chah's forest monastery
The wisdom he learned through experiencing Ajahn Chah's four-part teachings on surrender, opening up to see clearly, working with the mind, and gaining balance/perspective
The two levels of Dharma practice: using Dharma to feel comfortable, and using Dharma to get free
Ajahn Chah's rascally yet direct interactions with students, including one with Ram Dass
Working with attachments and aversions in order to overcome them and grow spiritually
Learning how to let go and not get caught in the mind's lures, traps, and intricacies

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This episode from Insight Meditation Society on 6/7/1981 was originally published on DharmaSeed.

"Meditation practice is where you are sitting. It's not to go to some other place, or have the ideal setting, or have your coffee, or have your quiet little room. Where you are is your practice." – Jack Kornfield

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Do you ever have those moments when your brain isn't being very friendly?
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0:50.0	That's BetterHelp-h-e-l-p.com-heart-wisdom.
0:59.0	Hello, and welcome back to Heart Wisdom, Jack Cornfield's podcast here on Rom Doss's Be Here Now Network.
1:11.0	I'm Ganesh Braimiller, welcoming you to episode 209, Life as a Forest Month.
1:17.0	And this truly may be my favorite episode of Heart Wisdom that I have ever had the honor of listening to.
1:24.0	It is another vintage episode, as Jack has allowed us to go a bit deeper into the archives.
1:30.0	It takes place in 1981 at Insight Meditation Society, and it's all about Jack's life as a forest monk, with his teacher Ajahn Cha in Thailand at a forest monastery.
1:45.0	These stories that Jack shares are hilarious, they're illuminating, and honestly riveting, so I really hope that you enjoy this episode and soak up this entertaining Dharma.
1:58.0	When I do have to say, I'm proud that Jack is back with some amazing online events for you this autumn.
2:05.0	On October 20th through 22nd, Jack is taking part in his great friend Dr. Diana Hills Wise Effort Together, which is a free online gathering.
2:15.0	Jack will be doing a session with Trudy on October 20th, entitled Loving Effort, Moving with Joy and Benevolence Through the World.
2:24.0	Then on October 16th, Jack is back for his Monday Night Dharma Talk at Spirit Rock.
2:30.0	This again is an online gathering, it is pay what you can.
2:34.0	And this truly is the guru beat on the mala for the month, if you are a student of Jack.
2:42.0	He generally touches on what is going on in the world, and as we all know with everything going on in the news today, this is a crucial time for checking in with how our hearts are.
2:57.0	And then on November 4th, Jack is taking part in Loving Presence, Compassion, and A Joyful Heart.
3:04.0	This is with Trudy Goodman, and it is an online day-long retreat, and a benefit for Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
	...

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