Ep. 310 - Sometimes You Need a Story More Than Food, All In This Together Series Pt. 1

Celebrating the release of his new book of his favorite stories, All In This Together, Jack shares why ‘sometimes we need a story more than food.’ 

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

“Light the candle, make a sacred space, and talk about what it means to hold this life in compassion. And then invite people to tell the stories that they need for the healing of their own heart. That’s why ‘sometimes you need a story more than food’ (Barry Lopez)—sometimes to hear it, sometimes to tell it.” – Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:

• The art of awakening through stories 
• Barry Lopez and why ‘sometimes you need a story more than food’
• Stories that release the weight from our souls and unburden our hearts
• Lighting candles, making sacred space, and sharing stories together
• Overcoming the world’s conflict through the lens of stories
• The story of Terry Dobson and the compassion of Aikido 
• The spiritual art of listening to stories—feeling the resonance and feeling into who you would be
• What can we learn from stories?
• Stories like storehouses—the true intelligence of a good story
• Ram Dass, the Dalai Lama, and inhabiting the difficulties of life with humor, honesty, and love
• How to hold conflict and that which causes suffering with compassion
• Delivering your special cargo, your beautiful gifts to this world

“A really good story is something to mine, something to inhabit.” – Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk originally took place in April 2019 for Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation. 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 copi