Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

Ep. 281 – The Paradox of Practice: When to Sit, When to Serve


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Exploring the spiritual paradox of individual and universal responsibility, Jack helps us find balance between meditation and service in our daily lives.

This Dharma Talk from 12/7/1992 at Insight Meditation Society was originally published on Dharmaseed.

In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores:

  • The paradox of individual and universal responsibility
  • What's the better spiritual practice—meditation or service?
  • What exactly is individual, and what is the universe?
  • Joanna Macy's painful yet healing trip to Chernobyl
  • Becoming stewards of each other, the earth, and the future
  • Distinguishing between freedom and it's near enemies
  • Near enemies as fostering separation; freedom as interdependence
  • How to respond to suffering authentically and helpfully
  • Creating change blossoming from the human heart
  • The radical act of "doing nothing and facing yourself"
  • Dealing with the homelessness problem, warfare, environmental destruction
  • Balancing "Don't just do something, sit there," and "Don't just sit there, there isn't time."
  • Choosing between inner practice and outward service
  • Following a true path with heart in this lifetime
  • Vimala Thakar, Ajahn Chah, and Maha Ghosananda as beacons of peace
  • The power of helping feed the hungry
  • Navigating the up and down, inner and outer, cycles of spiritual life

"Every act counts. Each one of us has the power to affect the world." – Jack Kornfield


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