Guided Meditation: Six Essential Practices to Cultivate Love, Awareness, and Wisdom

by Jack Kornfield

As anyone who has tried it knows, meditation looks simple, but at times it can be difficult. The most potential you can have on your contemplative path is a trusted teacher like Jack Kornfield, who stands out as one of the most helpful and encouraging Western instructors for newcomers to the art of meditation.

With Guided Meditation , this renowned Buddhist teacher brings you six practices that will open the door to the serenity and joy of meditation, and serve as your foundation for years to come.

Offering you precise guidance through every step of these transformational practices, Kornfield introduces you

Basic sitting practice―The essential starting point for nurturing nonjudgmental spaciousness
• The heart-opening techniques of lovingkindness and forgiveness meditation to help you discover liberation from suffering
• A visualization exercise for overcoming difficulties by making direct contact with the voice of your highest wisdom
• The gratitude and joy meditation, which nourishes an innocent rejoicing in life itself
• Mind Like Sky―a practice to enter "original mind," the pure space of awareness that is consciousness itself
Since the time of the Buddha, meditation taught under the guidance of an expert has proven to be the easiest and most effective way to begin. Whether you are just starting out with meditation or have decided to reconnect with the ground of your practice, Jack Kornfield's Guided Meditation provides concise and gentle training of the heart and mind to enjoy the fruits of this centuries-old art.

Course

Apply the six guided meditation practices to cultivate love, awareness, and wisdom
• Practice each of the six guided meditation practices as a way to cultivate stillness and "knowing"
• Explore mindfulness practices related to awareness of the breath, loving kindness, forgiveness, visualization, gratitude, and the spaciousness of consciousness

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Meditation, Spirituality, Health, Audiobook, Self Help

2 pages, Audio CD

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He began his training after graduating from Dartmouth College in Asian Studies in 1967. Then he joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to the Public Health Service in northeast Thailand, which is home to several of the world’s oldest Buddhist forest monasteries. He met and studied under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. After returning to the United States, Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. He is also a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California, where he currently lives and teaches. Over the years, Jack has taught in centers and universities worldwide, led International Buddhist Teacher meetings with the Dalai Lama and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a husband, father and an activist.

His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. They include, A Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology, A Path with Heart; After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; Teachings of the Buddha; Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; Living Dharma; A Still Forest Pool; Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart; Buddha’s Little Instruction Book; The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace, Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are, and his most recent book, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I still completely suck at meditating, but I rather enjoyed trying out the guided meditations in this book. There were a couple I found particularly useful, although I'm not going to remember the terminology or details so please forgive me as I proceed to mangle both in this review.

But the meditation where you visualize Buddha (or Jesus or the Virgin Mary or Cthulhu or whoever) taking over your body to handle a difficult situation in an appropriate manner? That one was brilliant, and I can actually see using this technique while in the middle of a conflict. “Hang on, Mom, I understand that you think the 'War of Northern Aggression' was about 'states' rights,' but I need to go consult the Buddha on how to handle this one without losing my shit.” Or something like that.

And the last meditation? Where you focus on "seeing your mind" (or whatever he called it) and external sounds instead of your breathing? I actually might've almost, maybe, possibly meditated with this one?! I'm absolute rubbish at the whole “focus on your breathing” thing, but sounds I can do. For once my hound's ear flapping and sleep-whining isn't a detriment!

So, yeah, I think I'm going to go through this audiobook a couple more times and see where things go. (It's a library book, but let's face it – this is Western Michigan and meditation isn't exactly a beloved pastime. I can likely keep it for as long as I want.) Jack Kornfield-with-a-K has a last name that drives me to distraction, but he's really quite good at this whole meditation thing.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to this. I liked the length of each meditation and each different focus. I would come back to these.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Jack has a calm and peaceful voice as he guides you through six meditations. I always feel better and more grounded after listening to his meditation.

[Dodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listen to this book as an audio book. Found it useful. The book explores several different types of mediations

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the meditations contained within the book. The audio quality wasn't great, deleted a star for that reason.

[JJ]

Love the guided mediation by Jack Kornfield.
It make sense to me.

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tremendous.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is WONDERFUL to listen to. I started it over immediately after finishing. Happy Meditating 🧘🏾‍♀️

[Jordan Dossett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great audio CD as it is guided meditations. As I have noted Jack is an amazing speaker and I have had the chance to see him live and even spend time with him on a quiet 5 day retreat in New England, but this CD is a great way to become introduced to not only the author but the concept of meditation and what it can do for you.

[Fausto Betances · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Linda Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I worked my way through this book several times before my check-out period ended. I'll definitely read this author again.