Description

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A clear and personal presentation of the central teachings and practices of insight meditation from renowned authors Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein.

The path of insight meditation is a journey of understanding our bodies, our minds, and our lives—of seeing clearly the true nature of experience. Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, cofounders of the Insight Meditation Society, join forces to present this accessible and easily readable guide to developing the openness and compassion that are at the heart of this spiritual practice. For those already treading the path, as well as those just starting out, this book will be a welcome companion along the way. Useful exercises are presented alongside the teachings to help readers deepen their understanding of the subjects. Among the topics covered are:

• The hindrances to meditation—ranging from doubt and fear to painful knees—and skillful means of overcoming them
• How compassion can arise in response to the suffering we see in our own lives and in the world
• How to integrate a life of responsible action and service with a meditative life based on nonattachment

About the Author

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Joseph Goldstein began exploring meditation as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. Following extended meditation retreats with various teachers in India and Burma, including the renowned Buddhist meditation master Anagarika Sri Munindra, he cofounded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. He has taught numerous meditation classes, workshops, and retreats in America and abroad over the last eight years and is one of the founders and primary teachers of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. He is also the author of The Experience of Insight, Insight Meditation, One Dharma and coauthor of Seeking the Heart of Wisdom.


Jack Kornfield is one of the key teachers to have brought Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He is the cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. His books include After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace; Meditation for Beginners; and The Wise Heart.

Praise For…

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“A skillful blend of pragmatic instruction, psychological insight, and perennial wisdom.” 
—Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence

“A thorough, illuminating, and practical overview of insight meditation. . . . This classic text is a rich source of Buddhist wisdom and practice.”
—Spirituality & Health

“For those who are already treading the path as well as those who are just setting out, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom will be a welcome companion along the way.”
—The Middle Way

“It succeeds excellently. Brilliantly, one would say, were it not that the simplicity and total unpretentiousness of the authors are so far removed from any striving for brilliance or effect. Goldstein and Kornfield are totally concerned with one thing only: to convey as straightforwardly as possible the essence of the Buddha's message.”
—Buddhist Studies Review