Opening the Heart and Community Practice

Celebrating the release of All In This Together, Jack shares stories and leads a guided meditation inviting us into the fear dispelling and protective practice of loving kindness.

Jack’s new book is out now: All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World

Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.

“Loving kindness protects us from our fears that come up. When you go into the jungle, watch the news, or whatever wild thing you do, loving kindness is a basis to tend and care for your own heart.” –Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack shares stories and leads a guided meditation on:

• Coming together to quiet the mind and open the heart
• Jack shares background on his new book of stories, All InThis Together
• The healing importance of forgiveness in a conflicted world
• A Buddhist story on how loving kindness (metta) protects us from our fears
• Looking at our relationship to technology in the world
• The life-changing blessings of metta practice
• Holding the tainted glory of your humanity in loving kindness
• The transformative power of metta
• Student reflections on the practice
• Having compassion for our struggles
• Noticing our progress on the path

"Sometimes it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." –Guillaume Apollinaire

This Dharma Talk originally took place in Nov 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation celebrating Jack’s All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here.

About Jack Kornfield:

Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.

Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack’s entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.

“The practice is to hold the tainted glory of your humanity in loving kindness, all of it, all the difficult, beautiful, amazing, and horrifying parts we have as humans.” –Jack Kornfield

Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.

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