A Practical Guide on Finding Inner Peace | Jack Kornfield | Knowledge Project Podcast 156

Author and Buddhist practitioner Jack Kornfield discusses how to suppress self-doubt, find inner calm, deal with conflict and stress in your life, and handle harmful outside influences in healthy, constructive ways.

Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma, and has taught meditation internationally since 1974. He co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Mass., and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, Calif., and his books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.

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00:00 - Intro
00:28 - Jack’s experiences as a monk
06:50 - How can we deal with our emotions?
13:22 - On dealing with the stories we tell ourselves
15:58 - Practical solutions to dealing with those stories
21:55 - On feeling undeserving of positive feelings
24:12 - What is self-compassion?
27:09 - On emotions and feelings
31:40 - On maintaining inner peace
34:50 - How to create the habit of a reflexive pause
44:03 - Being at war with ourselves
52:26 - On perspective taking
57:50 - On rituals
1:02:03 - What is intention?
01:10:05 - How striving helps and hurts us
01:16:11 - How thoughts influence behavior
01:19:10 - Why nature influences our thoughts?
01:25:23 - On deflecting compliments
01:29:39 - Judgement vs. discernment
01:30:59 - Should we struggle alone? Or with others?
01:39:21 - Difference between compassion and empathy

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Like the mentor you’ve always dreamed of having, The Knowledge Project shares timely yet timeless lessons for work and life. Past guests include Naval Ravikant, Daniel Kahneman, Jim Collins, Angela Duckworth, Seth Godin, Melanie Mitchell, & Esther Perel.

[keitheddie]

It is 4 43 in the morning. I am a n impatient 72 year old woman, still listening to this soothing man… what a peaceful wise mam from my generation.

[bibipersaud]

OMG! The story about Shay! Now I know why my teacher Mr Elliot used to take me home for lunch daily! His wife would put a plate at the table and serve me. So embarrassed shy worthless.
I was mortified, hid everywhere and cry cause I could not understand kindness compassion etc. Coming from an abusive home I guess he must have sensed how sad & unhappy I was. Different times!!!! I was 8 and literally walked 7 miles to school daily but dreaded going home. I'm 74 yrs old retired RN and thought of his kindness ever day. So grateful for the angels that we meet in our journey.

[Sparkle]

"How you live depends on what seeds you water." Brilliant 🥰

[SantaCruzHappy]

What a fabulous interview! Jack Kornfield was my introduction to Buddhism back in 2003. Both he and Tara Brach are my favorite insight meditation teachers. I love the presence of both Shane and Jack.... THANK YOU!

[Sparkle]

I so appreciate the gentle, calm voice of the interviewer. He is the perfect pairing for main course Jack Kornfield.

[dolly_llamas_tea]

My finger accidentally clicked this video and I’m so grateful it did. So many wonderful gems in this video. Thank you, I needed this more than you will ever know. Thank you!

[marymannis]

This man intones authenticity - he comes from a place of human experience, not theory.
The Crux of the matter is that true suffering does confer a visceral wisdom that is essential for self awareness - which also seems to be the key to understanding the other - the more I understand myself the more I see myself everywhere, in everyone, and in every facet of life, beyond all we previously understood, and collapsing the boundaries between our experience of The sacred, and the profane.
Reflecting upon Life is hard - and holy.

[rxbiicz]

I listen to many people, such as Jack, in many YT videos and, despite my reservations about YT, for various reasons, i am so very grateful that these teachers are brought to us by wonderful folks like Shane. These vids are free (ok...some adverts), beautiful, thought-provoking snapshots, and I'm amazed at how many of these wonderful people are on our wee planet. At our highest, we humans are nothing short of sublime (IMHO). If we can learn to work with our shadow sides we can be even better. Big hugs to all of you xx

[dondamond]

Truly helpful. In my own suffering and grief, allowing it and then directing metta toward myself is a gift from listening. I got exactly what I needed. Does anyone realize that these videos appear as pockets of consciousness, giving us what we need in this moment? Wow

[LoesungFeuer]

Love how the universe always lets me find the information i need right at the moment.
"Im afraid of suffering and want to run away from it" is exactly the thought i had the last days. And now this person begins this video with "I hope you arent afraid to suffer" and damn i instantly knew what it was about

[coal.sparks]

"Who you are is not your body. You rent it from Hertz." The humour that comes along with Jack's wisdom makes it so much more potent for me. :) Thank you for this interview.

[maryannestevens]

Great interview!❤️I agree with Jack. Shane is an amazing interviewer. He lets Jack speak, is vulnerable, genuine and asked excellent questions.❤️

[ritamarozke]

Thank you youtube, to let me discover Jack Kornfield and some other people who effected my life deeply

[alexedgar]

I have read and reread every book of jack's I could find. A profound teacher who has changed my life. 🙏🙏🙏

[FretnesButke]

Wow, what a guy! The story of the candles and rocks knocked me out.🕯️ When he talked about his driving habits, I couldn't help but think of an old George Carlin quote, "Did you ever notice how those that drive slower than you are idiots, and those who drive faster are maniacs?".

[adamk]

Lack of inner peace was costly for me and my body last year. So I'm glad Jack shared his insights.

[om]

Somehow I realise that the seeds of what I need to know is there already in my life experience.... I've been waiting to hear this talk for so long & I heard its teaching many years ago but being young I didn't quite grasp its meaning. Now being much older every word spoken here means so much now. Being a 'mindful witness' is exactly what I need to be. And now 'practice & more practice' of loving compassion for others & self, & minding the watering of 'seeds'.

[yogalife]

Naval Ravikant praised Farnam street and I had to check these blogs and videos which lead me here. This channel is my all time favorite for any interview that I wish to watch. Apart from that, there are time stamps if I wish to return and relisten.
I get emails with BOOSTER SHOTS of wisdom.. This kind of service to humanity by these podcasters surely makes me feel that I am born in an era that is Thank you. 🎉❤

[monirehaboutalebi]

Great lessons, Thank you dear host, love from Iran 🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷

[janetpattison]

Awesome interview. A family member went to India, to join a Buddhist monastery. For over 40years I’ve chanted the old word for God, HU. My dreams changed immediately, and I’ve never looked back. The HU opened the doors to love, protection, past life recall, and much more. HU - God on YT. for love. ❤❤❤❤❤ It’s the only reason we’re here.