Rating: 
Summary: a path with heart for RECOVERY
Review: this book was my daily guide for recovery from a life of addiction. a meeting of the minds between the author, and treatment research, could cure a lot of suffering in contemporary society
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Summary: a Kwan Yin Society 5-star book....
Review: This could very well be the best book on spirituality a person could buy or give to a friend. Jack Kornfield is simply wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: A Challenging Work
Review: This extraordinary work is on of the most challenging I've ever read. Kornfield addresses our issues and responsibilities as mental and spiritual beings, and provides expert advice on how to develop wisdom, grow through pain and how to arrive at spiritual maturity. He calls the reader out, suggesting that each of us need "name our demons," that each must calm our warring heart and spirit. Here in between the covers of this book is the great possibility to deep healing for the sincere seeking of self-truth and self-knowledge. Kornfield is clearly one who has done deep and honest spiritual work, and I appreciate how he pulled together the wisdom and relevant advice sprinkled on every page, and every chapter of this most challenging work.
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Summary: An indispensible reference book for serious students.
Review: This is a marvellous book. Any serious student of Buddhism should have this book on their shelves. I expect to re-read it more than once. It is comprehensive and well constructed with no padding or repetition. This is the book I have been looking for. Stays focussed on the needs of a western reader and omits the exotica. This is a 'no frills' reference book.
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Summary: Where, when , why and how
Review: This is THE book in my library--dog eared, highlighted and repeatedly taken from the shelf again and again. J. Kornfield manages what few do in the many books about Buddhism, spirituality, healing and happiness. Here is a book that speaks to your heart, rings true again and again, brings it all together and then shows a concise way to bring about change. Its all here, the precepts of healing and the heart of teachings in Buddhism, but this time its in language that is accessible with a tone the truly embodies the words compassion and lovingkindeness. A must read for fellow journey-ers.
Rating:
Summary: "Be Here Now" for the 90s
Review: Twenty years ago, when I was a college student, I got turned on to spirituality largely by reading Ram Dass' "Be Here Now." Kornfield's book could do the same thing for thousands of people today (to the consternation of apologists for other religions!). A Path with Heart is pretty much my favorite book on spirituality. It contains both useful practical advice on living a spiritual life and amazing esoteric descriptions of super-normal states. Numerous pages contain "gems" that speak directly to my personal struggles and experiences. And Kornfield has a great sense of humor with deep compassion. One of the things that attracts me to Buddhism is its relative lack of superstition and dogmatism. The essential teaching is practical, down-to-earth, and perfectly acceptable to a scientifically minded person. Still, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation, and Kornfield describes some pretty far out experiences involving, for example, reincarnation, angelic beings, and psychic powers. Kornfield is a wonderful writer, and I hear that he is such a good teacher that one has to enter a lottery to get the chance to go to one of his retreats. He seems to be a charismatic, highly advanced being (though, who am I to judge?). But he would be the first to warn against starry-eyed adulation of him. An oft-repeated theme throughout the book -- and the topic of one whole chapter -- was the need to beware of unhealthy, exploitative relationships with teachers. Every spiritual seeker has one or more fallings-out with a teacher, he says. These fallings-out can be painful and damaging, but we must learn to learn from such events. Many people get the impression that Buddhism is an austere, impersonal, ascetic religion, with little of the bhakti (devotion) found in many Christian and Hindu faiths. This book challenges that perception. Indeed, it's amazing how loving Buddhists can be, considering that they tend not to believe in God! One thing that impresses me is his apparently complete lack of cynicism and pessimism. Kornfield has only good things to say about every major religion. In fact, another theme of the book is that Buddhism too should not be treated as a dogmatic teaching that we should grasp on to. Rather, it is a tool to be used to get where we want to go. Teachings and paths should be left behind when no longer needed, like a boat used to cross a river. (I'm reminded of Kornfield's story about a retreat in which two of his students, a married couple, were struggling hard to relax into meditation. Kornfield advised them to stop being so serious and to make love. They started to show up in the meditation hall smiling.) I'm still not completely convinced that a spiritual seeker can get by without faith and trust in some sort of divine being or essence. But this books goes a long way to showing how an atheist can have faith and hope. If you're on a spiritual path, or even if you're just curious and open-minded, read this book. (I feel like I'm writing an ad.)
Rating:
Summary: "Be Here Now" for the 90s
Review: Twenty years ago, when I was a college student, I got turned on to spirituality largely by reading Ram Dass' "Be Here Now." Kornfield's book could do the same thing for thousands of people today (to the consternation of apologists for other religions!). A Path with Heart is pretty much my favorite book on spirituality. It contains both useful practical advice on living a spiritual life and amazing esoteric descriptions of super-normal states. Numerous pages contain "gems" that speak directly to my personal struggles and experiences. And Kornfield has a great sense of humor with deep compassion. One of the things that attracts me to Buddhism is its relative lack of superstition and dogmatism. The essential teaching is practical, down-to-earth, and perfectly acceptable to a scientifically minded person. Still, many Buddhists believe in reincarnation, and Kornfield describes some pretty far out experiences involving, for example, reincarnation, angelic beings, and psychic powers. Kornfield is a wonderful writer, and I hear that he is such a good teacher that one has to enter a lottery to get the chance to go to one of his retreats. He seems to be a charismatic, highly advanced being (though, who am I to judge?). But he would be the first to warn against starry-eyed adulation of him. An oft-repeated theme throughout the book -- and the topic of one whole chapter -- was the need to beware of unhealthy, exploitative relationships with teachers. Every spiritual seeker has one or more fallings-out with a teacher, he says. These fallings-out can be painful and damaging, but we must learn to learn from such events. Many people get the impression that Buddhism is an austere, impersonal, ascetic religion, with little of the bhakti (devotion) found in many Christian and Hindu faiths. This book challenges that perception. Indeed, it's amazing how loving Buddhists can be, considering that they tend not to believe in God! One thing that impresses me is his apparently complete lack of cynicism and pessimism. Kornfield has only good things to say about every major religion. In fact, another theme of the book is that Buddhism too should not be treated as a dogmatic teaching that we should grasp on to. Rather, it is a tool to be used to get where we want to go. Teachings and paths should be left behind when no longer needed, like a boat used to cross a river. (I'm reminded of Kornfield's story about a retreat in which two of his students, a married couple, were struggling hard to relax into meditation. Kornfield advised them to stop being so serious and to make love. They started to show up in the meditation hall smiling.) I'm still not completely convinced that a spiritual seeker can get by without faith and trust in some sort of divine being or essence. But this books goes a long way to showing how an atheist can have faith and hope. If you're on a spiritual path, or even if you're just curious and open-minded, read this book. (I feel like I'm writing an ad.)
Rating:
Summary: A classic, and rightfully so!
Review: What would American Buddhism have done without Jack Kornfield? It wouldn't have come so far so fast, that's for sure. In A Path With Heart, Kornfield once again proves he is the master of gentle spiritual learning. It is a book for every person who wants to become enlightened, or even "just" a better person!
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Summary: My favorite book ever!
Review: When I read this book, i can feel jack kornfield's heart in every page illuminating the spiritual journey which is found in each moment. He is a gifted writer and has a voice which gently shares his wonderful insights and humanity. If you are interested in the Theravada tradition and the spiritual path in general, read this book! It will not outline the Buddha's teaching in a linear way but his words embody the precepts and path.I reread this book like fiction. It is an indispensable guide!
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Summary: Finally some answers that I can relate to!
Review: When your on a spiritual path you can do all the meditations, yoga, talk to metaphysical teachers and your personal life just doesn't up and become that of the Dahli Lama and you almost become blinded by so much mystical teachings. You become confused on why things aren't just falling into place you end up becoming and practicing your spirituality separate from just living your life. I finally feel like I've found a book on how to incorporate and let these experiences merge. And not only that after you've read it, it a reference, when your feeling "boredom" or "loneliness", etc., just turn to that page and read it again. I've read books by Deepak Chorpra and other seemingly more popular "self-help" teachers, but somehow his words make sense to me. Wonderful, I wish everyone would read it!
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