Ep. 313 – Winter’s Sacred Pause: Standing Still in a Turning World
Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield
Be Here Now Network
4.7 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 31 December 2025
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As we fully enter the winter season, Jack reflects on the ancient meaning of solstice—the standing still—and what becomes possible when we allow ourselves to pause. In a world shaped by speed, grief, and uncertainty, he invites us into stillness as a sacred act.
Jack’s new book is out now!: All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World
“To be able to come together and not do anything is an extraordinary thing in our culture and our time.” –Jack Kornfield
In this episode, Jack explores:
- The sacred meaning of the winter solstice
- Stillness as a spiritual practice
- Impermanence and the uncertainty of human life
- Holding grief and beauty at the same time
- Birth, death, and remembering what truly matters
“Imagine this is your last day. Who would you call? What would you say? And why are you waiting?” –Jack Kornfield, reflecting on a teaching from Stephen Levine
This Dharma Talk originally took place in Dec 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation. Stay up to date with Jack’s upcoming livestreams and events here.
About Jack Kornfield:
Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.
Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.
Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Many people come to meditation looking for relief from the stress of everyday life. |
| 0:07.3 | But Buddhist practice invites us to meet our experience directly, even the parts we'd rather avoid. |
| 0:15.3 | On Tuesday, January 6th, join renowned Buddhist teachers, Ethan Nichtern, and Roshi Joan Halifax, for a free, live, |
| 0:24.4 | online discussion on how engaged Buddhism can help us navigate upheaval with a clearer mind, |
| 0:31.2 | more emotional resilience, and the capacity to engage without burning out. |
| 0:36.8 | They'll also discuss the Dharma Moon's year-long Buddhist |
| 0:39.6 | studies course beginning January 26, which offers an immersive study of meditation, Buddhist philosophy, |
| 0:48.7 | psychology, and the foundations of socially engaged Dharma. |
| 0:57.3 | Visit Dharmamoon.com backslash engaged. |
| 1:01.4 | That's Dharmamoon.com backslash engaged. For more info and to reserve your spot |
| 1:04.4 | for the free online event on January 6th. |
| 1:25.3 | To be able to come together and not do anything is an extraordinary thing in our culture and our time, says Jack Cornfield in episode 313 of the |
| 1:31.8 | Heart Wisdom podcast, Winter's Sacred Pause, Standing Still in a Turning World. This episode was |
| 1:40.1 | recently recorded for Jack's Monday Night Darmatok and guided meditation for Spirit |
| 1:47.1 | Rock Meditation Center in December. |
| 1:50.0 | And it's all about what becomes possible for us when we listen in to the wisdom of this winter |
| 1:57.8 | season, of the still point of the solstice, and these months of quietude and |
| 2:05.0 | darkness, which invite us into inner work and reflection before the spring begins to bloom. |
| 2:12.5 | Jack shares wisdom from Stephen Levine. Imagine this is your last day. Who would you call? What would you say? |
| 2:20.3 | And why are you waiting? These reflections are great to permeate and fertilize the soil of who we want to |
| 2:29.1 | become in this new year and upcoming season. And as we reflect on what truly matters to us, |
| 2:36.0 | I invite you to pick up a copy of Jack's new book, |
... |
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