Ep. 322 – Wisdom for Difficult Times: AI, Compassion, and Community

In this powerful dialogue, Jack Kornfield responds to questions from the community about some of the deepest challenges of the human heart.
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This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:
• Caring for aging parents with compassion
• Transforming rage into compassionate action
• Grieving without hardening the heart
• Meeting illness and death with presence
• Sangha as a refuge in difficult time
“We need each other. Sangha is the company of the wise. In these times we need to stand up for the truth and speak up together. That’s part of sangha—to be together in the innate dignity of humanity and say, ‘Yes, this is what matters.’” –Jack Kornfield
This episode was first recorded on Feb 23, 2026 for the Spirit Rock (spiritrock.org) Monday Night Talk and Meditation
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 (dharma.org)in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg (beherenownetwork.com/category/sharon-salzberg) and Joseph Goldstein (beherenownetwork.com/category/joseph-goldstein) and the Spirit Rock (spiritrock.org) Center in Woodacre, California. His jackkornfield.com/books-audio-programs 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 (jackkornfield.com/product/mindfulness-meditati…), Walking the Eightfold Path (jackkornfield.com/product/walking-the-eightfol…), Opening the Heart of Forgiveness (jackkornfield.com/product/opening-the-heart-of…), Living Beautifully (jackkornfield.com/product/living-beautifully-t…), Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories (jackkornfield.com/product/transform-your-life-…), and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass (jackkornfield.com/product/all-access-plan) 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 (jackkornfield.com/product/the-year-of-awakenin…).
“The idea from the Buddha’s teachings is that when we’re together and committed to compassion, liberation, a free heart, and a care for one-another, amazing things are possible.” –Jack Kornfield
Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings (jackkornfield.com/newsletter) by visiting JackKornfield.com (jackkornfield.com) and signing up for his email teachings (jackkornfield.com/newsletter).
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