A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology

Jack Kornfield gives the Westerner a guide to living from the Heart....with widsom ...that is understandable and can fit into ANY spiritual path. One can open it to any chapter and feel a connection to a power greater than themselves. I recommend it to any one wanting healing and connection.

Everything by Jack Kornfield deserves 5 stars! I have listened to many and keep returning to him. His soft voice and easy going manner of talking just draws you in and relaxes you while you are learning.. Plus of course, he knows what he talks about. His experiences and background speak for themself.
I have recommended his books and cd's to many friends.

This is a wonderful meditation companion and history book rolled into one. Jack Kornfield compares and contrasts Buddhist and Western pyschology while giving a wealth of stories of meditations benefits and a guide to practice.

I read several of Jack's previous books and always find his writing style easy and understandable. Probably not the best book for someone just starting their path of meditation, I'd recommend "A Path with Heart" for that, but this is a good book for someone with a few years of practice under their belt who wants to have a deeper understanding of their practice.

Highly recommended.

accessible, profound, useful.
I use this book personally and professionally (I'm a psychologist.) and recommend it to friends and patients. It's a great introduction to the practice of mindfulness. Even though I've been meditating for decades, this book introduced new ideas and reaffirmed old ones.
Jack is a teacher, a student, and a guide.

I have been interested in Buddhist psychology for many years and have read many publications on the subject. The Wise Heart is very easy to understand and Jack Kornfield does a great job of making the complex teachings understandable to the lay person.

I went to "The Wise Heart" for insightful life-wisdom, of course, but I've also had some great laughs! Kornfield clearly enjoyed sharing with his readers the
psychological underpinnings of the Buddha's teachings. Since I've been reading Buddhist books and meditating for years, I was suprised at the freshness of Kornfield's interpretations, and quite impressed by the clear and practical way he applies the Buddha's wisdom to our everyday lives.
One does not have to be Buddhist to enjoy and learn from this book; Kornfield, who is a skillful psychologist, makes the Buddha's insights very applicable to our everyday modern lives.
I highly recommend "The Wise Heart."

This book contains a large amount of information and strives to contain its abundance in a limited amount of space and paper. Its integration of Western psychology and Buddhist principles is remarkable and creates the bridge of commonalities. However, it does well in elevating the discourse by explaining the sometimes narrow aims and goals that often often demarcate psychotherapy from the more holistic comprehensive path of dharma living. The stories also captivate how some of the principles are transformative in the lives of its practitioners.

The Wise Heart is a great read, full of personable anecdotes and doable exercises. I find all the ideas easily applicable to everyday life and was pleased with the conversational tone to Kornfield's writing.

I highly recommend this book. Indeed, I have given it to many people as gifts. I read it when I was grasping for something at a difficult point in my life, and the self-reflection it inspired in me got me through a challenging six months. Mr. Kornfield is an accessible writer with unique experience and perspective and the book is very readable combination of story and history. I am not a Buddhist, but I believe if all of us read this book, the world would be a much better place.

Good balance of stories and practical advice while at the same time presenting an accessible description of basic Buddhist psychological principles. The book is accessible for a wide audience. I recommended over other recent publications on western approaches to Buddhist teachings.

Jack Kornfield speaks with wisdom, knowledge, and insight. I was so drawn to read this book from the moment I opened it up. As a newcomer to Buddhist psychology, this book perfectly dissects all the essentials of the wisdom behind the ancient beliefs. Jack Kornfield writes like a loving father who weaves stories to guide us on our own journey. The concepts are profound and yet so simple I feel that he speaks to a part of us that always had the wisdom deep inside. The book is extremely practical, a truly essential manual for transformation. He ends with the practices that will assist in cultivating the wisdom. I'm a big fan of Jack Kornfield's books (I've read 2 so far) and this is my favorite.

Good balance of stories and practical advice while at the same time presenting an accessible description of basic Buddhist psychological principles. The book is accessible for a wide audience. I recommended over other recent publications on western approaches to Buddhist teachings.

Jack Kornfield speaks with wisdom, knowledge, and insight. I was so drawn to read this book from the moment I opened it up. As a newcomer to Buddhist psychology, this book perfectly dissects all the essentials of the wisdom behind the ancient beliefs. Jack Kornfield writes like a loving father who weaves stories to guide us on our own journey. The concepts are profound and yet so simple I feel that he speaks to a part of us that always had the wisdom deep inside. The book is extremely practical, a truly essential manual for transformation. He ends with the practices that will assist in cultivating the wisdom. I'm a big fan of Jack Kornfield's books (I've read 2 so far) and this is my favorite.

Absolutely the clearest most accessible guide to Buddhist thought that I have found. It will likely stay in my nightstand for the rest of my life. I'm a slow learner. I need a little refresher now and then.

I enjoyed Kornfield's book because it was written in Oliver Sack-esque fashion, with "clinical" stories describing how meditation and Buddhist practices of mindfulness have positively influenced individuals with problems ranging from marital infidelity to terminal cancer. It gives credence to the idea that we can replace drugs and expensive therapy with something as simple and cheap as meditation. Read this book if you are interested in the holistic, don't read it if you think "meditation" sounds like bad science.

I would reccommend it to people who want to develop their inner life on a continuous basis and to be at peace with the world that we live in.The author is charismatic and quite open about is own experience. One can feel his heart.
The exercices he propose are at reach. A friend lent me the french copy of Wise Heart. I could not bring it in Italy too heavy. Then I looked at the store and Surprise! they had the English original available. Now, It is with me for my four months in Italy.

If you have some knowledge of Buddhism and want to deepen it this is a great book. It took me a long time to read because there are so many places I wanted to stop and think about the meaning of what he said. What I really loved was the stories about people he worked with and how they had to deal with the everyday problems in their lives. It will make me a better person if I can just adopt a small percentage of his wisdom

This is a beautiful book, full of wisdom, warmth and insights. It is an easy read yet dense and rich with insight and information. It is a book you want to have on your shelf and where every time you pick it up, you will find something unnoticed, a new way of seeing something or a reminder of what gives us a sound mind and a pure heart. Overall a very valuable contribution to moving today's consciousness to a healthier place for all.

More stories than needed, but Jack's wisdom continues to shine through. His writings are always great teachings in the Buddhist tradition and have immense practical value for all readers. The book is a library requirement for any of us
devoted to Meta in mindful living.

Every book that Jack Kornfield writes is absolutely perfect. I believe that The Wise Heart is his best and I have read every one of his books. He writes with such love, compassion and tenderness that you can follow hisguidance.

This is the most comprehensive and accessible examination of Buddhist teachings I've read. Jack Kornfield shares personal stories, clinical experiences and clear explanations of the fundamental teachings, plus guided meditations and other practices. A treasure.