After the Ecstasy, the Laundry

by Jack Kornfield

Paperback, 2000

Status

Available

Collection

Buddhist (Yellow)

Publication

Rider (2000), 336 pages

Description

When does enlightenment come? At the end of the spiritual journey? Or the beginning? On After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, Jack Kornfield - author of the modern classic on American Buddhism, A Path with Heart - brings into focus the truth about satori, the awakened state of consciousness, and enlightenment practices today. "Perfect enlightenment" appears in many texts, Kornfield begins. But how is it viewed among Western teachers and practitioners? To find out, Kornfield talked to more than 100 Zen masters, rabbis, nuns, lamas, monks, and senior meditation students from all walks of life. The result is this extraordinary look at the hard work we all must do - the laundry - no matter how often we experience ecstatic states of consciousness through meditation and other disciplines. Sweeping in scope, and warmly told by one of American Buddhism's most trusted voices, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry is a work of both deep inspiration and daily instruction that cuts through the confusion about what enlightenment really is, who it comes to, and how it continues to inform and guide our spiritual lives. An original audio adaptation of Jack Kornfield's book, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry. Course objectives: Assess how to embrace the joys and sorrows of everyday life after experiencing a transcendent spiritual awakening - Integrate inner knowledge with outer expression and experience - Analyze how to embrace spiritual practice as an invitation to the truth - Plan to embrace our human feelings without judgment - Describe how to recognize the Buddha in each other and create community.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member jen.e.moore

I was hoping for something a little more practical; this was inspiring, but for every "oh, you don't have to travel to India to be enlightened," there were five stories about people traveling to India to be enlightened.

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LibraryThing member JamesBlake

A remarkable book, the fruit of many interviews and conversations with a host of spritual teachers and advanced practitioners, Buddhist and non-Buddhist. Jack Kornfield uses these encounters to draw lessons about the reality of living a dedicated spiritual life. He includes an honest and balanced

discussion of instances of bad behaviour by teachers - the 'dirty laundry'.

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LibraryThing member etsmith

The title alone is worth the price of this book. Kornfield's Buddhism is rooted in the Theravada tradition of Southeast Asia where he lived as a monk in monasteries during a lengthy spiritual training period. On his return to the US, he became one of the great teachers of Buddhism in the West.

Kornfield tackles the problem of living a spiritual life in the modern world where work, family and life pressures often take precedence. The "ecstasy" is the deep spiritual life that his students desire. The "laundry" represents the mundane demands of daily living. How can the sacred and the profane be reconciled for those of us unable to drop everything to pursue a spiritual life?

As always, Kornfield provides readers with compelling teachings about experiencing life in the present, living with compassion, and developing a satisfying spiritual life. I found the book compelling and reread it several times. Do not look for Buddhist doctrine here. This is more like a practical manual than a religious tract.

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LibraryThing member juniperSun

Live in the moment. Don't expect perfection.
Years after reading this, all I need to do is think of the title to feel more hopeful about my life, calmer and accepting. For a few years I had selected quotes from it hanging on my kitchen wall.

LibraryThing member jenniebooks

Penetrating beautiful teachings

LibraryThing member EHMeeting

Life after awakening

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