10 Books of Dharma Wisdom by Jack Kornfield

10 Books of Dharma Wisdom by Jack Kornfield

Jack Kornfield is one of the most celebrated Dharma teachers and prolific authors in the United States. He speaks with tenderness and writes with supreme skillfulness and flow that is a joy to read. Reading his books is a breeze in the spring air; it is just like taking a walk in the park. Jack offers innumerable gems of illuminating Buddhist wisdom that are relevant and practical for daily lives.

Here is a list of 10 books of Dharma wisdom by Jack Kornfield:

#1 – After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path

After the Ecstasy, the Laundry shows us how to translate the realization of enlightenment (“the ecstasy”) when we are faced with the day-to-day task of translating that freedom into our imperfect lives (“the laundry”) We are faced with the laundry. Through moving personal stories and traditional tales, we learn how the enlightened heart navigates the real world of family relationships, emotional pain, earning a living, sickness, loss, and death. You will learn how we prepare our hearts for awakening in the modern spiritual journey.

#2 – A Lamp in the Darkness: Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times

A Lamp in the Darkness offers guide on how we transcend suffering when life throws us a curve ball. When the path ahead is dark, how can we keep from stumbling? How do we make our way with courage and dignity? Jack shows us that “Inside each of us is an eternal light that I call ‘the One Who Knows. Awakening to this wisdom can help us fin dour way through pain and suffering with grace and tenderness.”

#3 – The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace

This is a graceful little book that collects Jack Kornfield’s years of age-old teachings, modern stories, and time-honored practices for bringing healing, peace, and compassion into our daily lives. There are numerous meditation practices for readers to discover a new way to meet life’s greatest challenges with acceptance, joy, and hope.

#4 – Teachings of the Buddha

This tiny book offers concise compendium of original Buddhist teachings from the most popular Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese sources. Among the selections are some of the earliest recorded sayings of the Buddha on the practice of freedom, passages from later Indian scriptures on the perfection of wisdom, verses from Tibetan masters on the enlightened mind, and songs in praise of meditation by Zen teachers.

#5 – Meditation for Beginners

Meditation for Beginners offers a straightforward, step-by-step method for bringing Insight Meditation into your life to calm the spirit and clear the mind for higher understanding.  Now, in this course created especially for beginners, Jack did it with humor and insight in the explanation of the Buddhist way of bringing deep spirituality into your everyday life.

#6 – The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology

In the Wise Heart, Jack explains that we have the unlimited potential for extraordinary life through the experience of awakening the loving-kindness and joy of communing with the daily experiences. It is a book that offers accessible, comprehensive, and illuminating guide to Buddhist psychology for the Western readers.

 
 
 
 
 
#7 – Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are 

Bringing Home the Dharma shows that you can find inner peace and wisdom, right where you are; you don’t need to move to an ashram or monastery. Your life, just as it is, is the perfect place to be. Jack shares his key lessons gleaned from more than forty years of committed study and meditation practices for awakening our Buddha-nature within.

#8 – A Still Forest Pool: The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah

A Still Forest Pool chronicles the teachings of the Buddhist master Achaan Chah during his years spent in meditating in a forest monastery of Thailand. It is a remarkable book that reflects his simple and powerful message as well as the quiet, joyful Buddhist practice of dhudanga, or “everyday mindfulness,” with profound insights for the West.

#9 – A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life

A Path with Heart offers powerful guide to reconciling Buddhist spirituality with the American way of life. It addresses the challenges of spiritual living in the modern world and offers guidance for bringing a sense of the sacredness to everyday experience.

#10 – Living Dharma: Teachings and Meditation Instructions from Twelve Theravada Masters

Living Dharma presents the heart of Buddhist practice as taught by 12 respected masters from Southeast Asia: Achaan Chaa, Mahasi Sayadaw, Sunlun Sayadaw, Achaan Buddhadasa, Achaan Naeb, Achaan Maha Boowa, Tuangpulu Sayadaw, Mohnyin Sayadaw, Mogok Sayadaw, U Ba Khin, Achaan Dhammadaro, and Achaan Jumnien. These practices include meditation techniques and traditional instructions for dissolving the solid sense of self, for awakening insight, for realizing Nirvana, and for cultivating compassion for all beings.