Ep. 301 – The Dharma of Poetry: Rumi, Beauty, Music, and the Art of Awakening

Exploring poetry, beauty, and art, Jack helps his dear listeners appreciate the harmonious dichotomy of all life experiences.

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“Poetry and beauty are not a denial of the sorrows of the world, but a grace somehow that holds and understands them—the irony and the mixture of love and terror that make up life.” – Jack Kornfield

In this episode, Jack mindfully explores:

• How art, beauty, music and poetry uplift the world to the sacred
• Rumi’s poem, Tending Two Shops
• Letting go of fear, opening into freedom
• Poetry not as a denial of life’s struggles, but as a gracious way through
• Being at home with oneself
• Poetry from Siddhartha Buddha, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rumi, and more
• Telling the truth, becoming nobody, and walking the path
• Meditation and working with our ‘inner mob’ of voices
• Relating to the ‘zoo’ of our lives with meditation
• The three dimensions of Rumi’s spiritual poetry
• Saying ‘yes’ to this too, even to what’s difficult
• Walking this life and path in humbleness

“Sometimes the greatest political act is to turn on Mozart and turn off the news, or to walk by the ocean or in the hills during sunset, or to read a poem—to sense a possibility in the midst of all the 10,000 joys and sorrows of finding some peace or balance in this heart that can then be brought to the world around us.” – Jack Kornfield

This Dharma Talk from 4/15/1993 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

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.

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

“The source of much of the suffering in the world is the loss of attention, beauty, and connection with one another.” – Jack Kornfield

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