Soul Food: Stories to Nourish the Spirit and the Heart – Timeless Wise Tales and Moral Lessons from World Traditions

by Jack Kornfield

Jack Kornfield and Christina Feldman serve up a delicious banquet of wise tales from the world's greatest spiritual traditions in the pages of this delightful collection. A feast filled with timeless moral and spiritual lessons, these lively tales and

Genres: Philosophy, Buddhism, Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

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

[Beth]

Collected stories from different traditions ranging from Buddhist to Christian to Sufi to Native American and more; overall a worthwhile read, if a somewhat uneven one.

[Maria Panova]

Интересни истории - повечето от тях затрогващи и мъдри, други - донякъде елементарни и в голяма степен неясни. Но в крайна сметка, изпълват човешката душа с доброта, четат се лесно, увлекателни са. Истории от различни религии- будизъм, християнство ,софизъм..... но общото между тях е, че извисяват човешкия дух. Много ми хареса, че е вмъкната приказката на Оскар Уайлд - ЩАСТЛИВИЯ ПРИНЦ. Наистина, историите, описани в книгата са истинска храна за душата!

[Nadine in California]

Read for a Buddhist book group. Strangely, the individual stories didn't appeal to me at all, but the brief introductions to the many mini-sections were thought-provoking. They are unsigned, but I imagine they were written by the editors, Jack Kornfield and Christina Feldman. I think I do better with sustained explorations of Buddhist thought and practice.

[Abby Franks]

Beautiful stories from various religious groups without the dogma or deities attached. I thoroughly enjoyed almost every story and the introduction to each chapter. Definitely a book I'll read again and again. It's like a devotional for agnostics.

[Phyllis]

stories, not for me

[Cath Kaleskova]

Like another comment said, I literally had to drag myself to finish this book. The stories are not relevant and they often end abruptly and without carrying much sense.

[Gabriella Reads S]

Love love love this book, I open to a random page every-time and just read.

[Jordan Dossett]

Sometimes in life you meet people who you don't understand or know their value. I was invited to speak at a small conference up in New England and went without knowing much about the people or the conference. The woman who had invited me heard me speak some years earlier at the Nonprofit Technology Conference and really wanted to bring me to her group. So off I went. She had learned just before I went about my Multiple Sclerosis and was really blown away but all that I do with MS. I usually take this all with a silent grin or dismissal. But none the less on the night before I left she took me to dinner and gave me a copy of this book. At first I was unsure what to make of the book not realizing it was ALSO by Jack Kornfield and as I continued to read the book I was moved and found peace in so many of the offerings.

[Yudhit]

I'd rather read a non-fiction biography and took lesson learned from actual figures to feed my soul, than to read tales after tales... its just not for this era.

Nevertheless I stubbornly try to finish all the stories cause I believe every book has it advantages, and yes I did find some, the native american stories were good but overall.... lets put it this way, I have to drag myself to be able to read every story.. and it certainly won't get into my bookshelf.

[Brooke Gilley]

When ever I need a little pick me up I read this book. It has some pretty amazing stories. I am reading it for the third time.

[Naomi]

The wisdom stories in this treasury continue to teach me in new ways; it is one of the most frequently turned to texts in my library.

[Ruth Hamilton]

I read one of these stories daily and always enjoy a spiritual lift.

[Gudrun Mouw]

I loved the multi-cultural, multi-dimensional stories told with the intention of teaching wisdom!

[Henriette]

Read the German edition - Geschichten, die der Seele gut tun.