Inside Slow With Insight Meditation Pioneer & Vipassana Meditation teacher Jack Kornfield
Being slow is an inside job. Taking the time to be compassionate and humane with yourself and the world can take some practice. In our culture of fast living, comparing, snap decisions, clicking, tapping, changing, judging and tweeting, there are some guideposts for simply being. And here's a guy who has some thoughts on the subject.
"Even the most exalted states and most exceptional spiritual accomplishments are unimportant if we cannot be happy in the most basic and ordinary ways, if we cannot touch one another and the life we have been given with our hearts."
Jack Kornfield
Jack Cornfield Spirit Rock Meditation Retreat
After moving back to Los Angeles from Marin County, the land of gorgeous nature and Spirit Rock a northern California retreat center which Kornfield is a founding teacher, I was reminded that it is possible to carry a slower compassionate mindful attitude even in Los Angeles. I used to go to Spirit Rock on Monday nights and listen to Jack and meditate in the open pastoral setting of Woodacre. The combo of nature, the retreat and the whole package of place added to the slowness, and my ability to be still. I just learned Los Angeles has a gem where freeway saturated city dwellers can learn some tools and practice with others at InsightLA an insight meditation organization in Santa Monica founded by Trudy Goodman who just brought Jack to our sunny climate for a few hours of discussion about compassion, awareness, the joys, sorrows and wonders of being here last weekend. It was a full house and Angelenos are eager to be present, helpful, mindful and live more compassionate lives. And we have a resource here.
One of the best places you can go for vacation is a peaceful place in your thoughts. Summer is almost here so take it easy and read some books. These will certainly inspire:
Start Where You Are - Pema Chodron
The Art of Forgiveness, Loving Kindness and Peace - Jack Kornfield
The Wise Heart- Jack Kornfield
Loving Kindness, The Revolutionary Art of Happiness- Sharon Salzberg
The Miracle of Mindfulness- Thich Nhat Hanh
Additional resources in Los Angeles for the disenfranchised or curious meditator: It's a big city with a big heart, you just need a roadmap.
Agape - Michael Bernard Beckwith is the force and the teacher and founder of this spiritual center. Check out his services on Wednesday nights in Culver City. Take a class and learn more about unconditional love, one world, service, mediation and catch a revelation or two. It's a soulful experience that's loud and clear.
Vedic Meditation Teacher Will Dalton
Don't let his Aussie good looks fool you. Will is a wonderful mediation practitioner with a simple ancient Vedic technique he teaches out of his West Hollywood home. You will be initiated into a tradition that is heartfelt and timeless. You are asked to commit to practicing everyday. His course is four days and you will learn how to practice meditation anywhere.
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