JewBu Joseph Goldstein (Pick-Ax Dhamma)

Pick-Ax Dhamma Q&A: Deep Mining the Four Foundations of Mindfulness | Joseph Goldstein

Mindfulness: A Practical Guide
to Awakening (Joseph Goldstein)

(Clear Mountain Monastery) Clear Mountain Monastery Podcast. JuBu Joseph Goldstein is co-founder (with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg but not their good friend Sylvia Boorstein) of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts (New England) – a center for tranquility, wisdom, and compassion.

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:23 What's the definition of mindfulness? (Munindra-jii)
• 00:02:14 What is the most basic definition and the most profound form of mindfulness?
• 00:06:33 What is your relationship with the German scholar-monk Bhante Analayo?
• 00:10:41 How do the four qualities of ardency, clear comprehension, mindfulness, and concentration work together?
• 00:18:41 How can one keep their purpose aligned in daily life?
• 00:23:05 What was the Buddha's chitchat like?
• 00:30:08 What is the specific elemental meditation you teach?
• 00:38:55 How do you interweave different methods without digging a different hole?
• 00:47:03 How can one transition from mindfulness of the body to rapture and refreshment?
• 00:52:12 What is the relationship between mind knowing mind and Dzogchen teachings?
• 1:05:03 What does the phrase "deathless element" mean?
• 1:08:38 Is it worth speculating about nirvana (Pali nibbāna) before realizing it?

In this session of Pick-Ax Dhamma, Western Buddhist monks Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho interview the great Joseph Goldstein (a student of Indian mother (Dipa's mother) and Buddhist Meditation Master Dipa Ma and her Indian teacher Anagarika Munindra) about his perspectives on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as taught in the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (suttacentral.net) and elaborated in his book Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening.

This conversation touches on Goldstein's

• personal relationships with his teachers and peers Munindra-jii and Ven. Analayo,
• the meaning of "ardency" (ātāpi);
• the daily life practice of clear comprehension;
• the experience of "not clinging to anything in the world";
• how to relate to "digging for the water" of practice;
• breathing mindfulness;
• walking meditation;
• intuitive practice with the [Four] Elements;
• the similarities and differences between knowing mind as mind and Dzogchen;
• whether nirvana is a state of awareness;
• how to relate to such inquiries;
• and much more!

BIOGRAPHY

Path of Insight Meditation (Goldstein+Kornfield)

Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight- and lovingkindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and the Forest Refuge (Forest Refuge), a center for long-term meditation practice.

He is the author of: Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening; One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism; The Experience of Insight, among other books. To learn more about Joseph Goldsten, visit: dharma.org.

Tune in with fellow practitioners for Clear Mountain’s weekly online and hybrid events:

• Wednesday Evening Teaching & Discussion (6:00 – 7:30 pm PT, YouTube then Zoom)
• Saturday Morning Meditation, Teaching, & Coffee Social (9:30-11:00 am PT, online & in-person)
• Sunday Evening “Mission Majjhima!” Sutta Teaching & Discussion (5:00-6:00 pm PT, online)
• Website: clearmountainmonastery.org
• Welcome! Visit Clear Mountain Monastery for details.
• #JosephGoldstein #Awareness #Mindfulness #Meditation #PresentMoment #SelfAwareness #MentalHealth #MindfulLiving #Buddhism

• "Mindfulness" defined by Ven. Analayo

• 

  U.S. JewBu (Emily Sigalow)

  American JewBu: Jews, Buddhists, and Religious Change
• Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
• Ardent, Alert, and Mindful: Discussion (Sutta Central)
• EncyclopediaOfBuddhism.org
• Is there any evidence that S.N. Goenka's assertion that the technique taught in his retreat centers was passed down... | Quora

• Joseph Goldstein (dharma.org), Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho (Clear Mountain Monastery, Dec. 17, 2025); Shauna Schwartz and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Jesus Mary 'n Joseph: Las Posadas

It's piñata time. Mexico (which extends over the border, reaching Los Angeles, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and even Chicago) has a beautiful Judeo-Christian tradition in the almost entirely Catholic country. It is called Los Posadas or "The Lodgings."

(Wiki) Las Posadas is a novenario (an extended devotional prayer). It is celebrated chiefly in Latin America, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and by Latin Americans in the United States [1, 2].

Catholic church service in Chicago

It is typically celebrated each year between December 16-24 [1]. Latin American countries have continued to celebrate the holiday, with very few changes to the tradition since the Conquerors brought imperial rule, rape, and enslavement to the indigenous people of the Americas courtesy of the Vatican in Rome and the imperial Holy Roman Church, extracting gold, silver, and land in exchange.

Los Angeles ("The Angels") is still very Mexican even after Partition

Las Posadas derives from the European language (Latin-based Spanish) word posada ("lodging," "accommodation") which, in this case, refers to the inn from the Nativity story.

What do the Irish call the holy family: Issa-son, Muire, and Seosamh?

Cardinal Dolan: Irish Expressions of Faith | “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!”

It uses the plural form as the celebration lasts for a nine-day interval (called the novena) during the Christmas season, which represents the nine-month pregnancy [3, 4] of the virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. More

• "Christspiracy" (new documentary)
• Crystal Quintero, Pfc. Sandoval, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

Voices of Insight Meditation (anthology)

Begin again, begin again, and if necessary...

The Buddha made a general distinction between two types of cultivation or "meditation," one emphasizing calm and the other wisdom, shamatha and vipassana. This tradition of calm-and-insight is inseparable, one interdepending on the other, acting as the foundation for the other. The Theravada tradition used to encourage (foolishly in our opinion) dry insight, that is, this kind of meditation without the help of the other. Begin with calm and use it as a support for insight practices, which mainly derive from the two Satipatthana Suttas or the "Fourfold Setting Up of Mindfulness Discourses."

• READ A SAMPLE

Sharon Salzberg edited an anthology called Voices of Insight about vipassana meditation in 1/9/99 with Mirabai Bush. It has 4.7 out of 5 stars 21 ratings.

Voices of Insight

In this anthology, leading Western teachers of Buddhism share their personal experiences on the path of insight meditation called vipassana; their understanding of the basic teachings of the Buddha; the lessons they've learned in their training with their own teachers; and some good advice on following the Buddha-Dharma in everyday situations of work, family, and service. These contributors include:

• Jack Kornfield
• Sharon Salzberg
• Larry Rosenberg
• Sylvia Boorstein
• Christopher Titmuss
• Joseph Goldstein
• Steve Armstrong
• Narayan Liebenson Grady
• Bhante G (Ven. Gunaratana)
• Gavin Harrison
• Kamala Masters
• Michele McDonald-Smith
• Rodney Smith
• Steven Smith
• Ajahn Sumedho
• Carol Wilson
• Christina Feldman
• BOOK: Voices of Insight
• Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Kornfield: Who are the 12 Living Masters?

Sharon, Joe, Jack, Sylvia(?) The Best of Sharon Salzberg: Life, Teachings, Quotes (Awaken)

Living Dharma: Teachings and Meditation Instructions from Twelve Theravada Masters

• The full classic text FREE: Living Buddhist Masters by Jack Kornfield (Internet Archive)

Once upon a young American from the Bay Area in California decided to go on a spiritual quest.

(Yes, that's true of writers at Wisdom Quarterly, but this time we're talking about Jack Kornfield, who preceded us).

Kornfield decided to seek the wisdom of the East along with his hippie friends from the East Coast.

Jack Kornfield: Life is funny because karma is.

While working in the Peace Corps and learning languages in Asia, he trained to be a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma, and India (just like we did, although we added Sri Lanka, where many of the sutra texts are stored along with their chief translator, Bhikkhu Bodhi, our teacher and inspiration.

Buddhism for Beginners (Jack Kornfield)

Wishing to visit Thailand, a friend who became Tan Jess, and I heard about Kornfield's guide to young seekers, which talks about a dozen living masters one might possibly study under in the original wandering ascetic forest tradition). Kornfield was good enough to write about his experiences under ten teachers, ten living Buddhist masters, for a Western audience back home. Not everyone is called to let it all go and go East. (But we were). Thankfully, Kornfield was.

The Wise Heart (Jack Kornfield)

Miraculously, he found what he was looking for, and not only he but at least four others. All seem to have attained the path of stream entry (the first stage of enlightenment) there under Dipa Ma and others.

There is Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein (IMS, IMS Forest Refuge), Sylvia Boorstein, and we could swear there was someone else who is not Trudy Goodman (founder of InsightLA.org) because she came into Kornfield's life much later and is now his wife, but maybe it was his previous wife, Liana.

Kornfield awakened (probably in Dipa Ma's living room in India), was sent back to the US, and is now the co-founder of the Bay Area's Spirit Rock Meditation Center near San Francisco and one of the co-founders of Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.

What does Kornfield teach?

Where does he teach? Spirit Rock and InsightLA

Kornfield has worked to make Buddhism accessible for Westerners [10], combining loving-kindness and self-compassion with the practice of mindfulness. He incorporates the wisdom of Eastern and Western psychology. In his book After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, he writes about the honest development of the wise heart within the cycles of day-to-day life.

Original 1977 cover of the book

For instance, "amid all the Western masters and teachers I know, some idealistic perfection is not apparent.

"Times of great wisdom, deep compassion, and a real knowing of freedom alternate with periods of fear, confusion, neurosis, and struggle. "Most teachers will readily admit this" (pg. xix).

Kornfield's early lectures were featured by Joe Frank on his radio series "The Other Side." More

• Jack Kornfield, Living Buddhist Masters (Internet Archive, archive.org); Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Ajahn Mahindo (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Lion's Roar mag: Heart Sutra, Halloween...

Lionsroar.com, Top Stories, 10/31/23; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Unlocking the Wisdom of the Heart Sutra

The Heart Sutra is a pithy, powerful text. If one understands it, says Ven. Guan Cheng, one understands the Buddha’s teachings. From the November 2023 issue of Lion’s Roar.

The Great Lessons of Halloween

What do we want to be for Halloween? Who do we want to be in life? Ira Sukrungruang on the costumes we wear.

How to Set Better Boundaries

Guided by Buddhist teachings on the brahmaviharas ("Diving Abidings"), Elizabeth Hernandez-Stomp helps us learn when to say yes and how to say no. [To read this article in Spanish] Para leer este articulo en español: “Cómo establecer mejor nuestros límites”

Share Your Wisdom: Do you practice loving-kindness meditation?
If so, how has it changed your life or practice? Send your answer, location, and a photo of yourself to themoment@lionsroar.com for possible inclusion in Lion’s Roar magazine.

Joseph Goldstein: It’s Not Either-Or

In this conversation with Buddhadharma (the Teachings of the Buddha), the Insight Meditation Society co-founder applies the “harmonized understanding” approach championed in his book One Dharma to the idea of buddhanature. In the end, it’s not about who’s right or wrong about it. It’s about what leads us to less clinging. From the Fall 2023 “Buddhanature” issue of Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Guide.

The 17th Annual Lion’s Roar Online Auction begins November 13, 2023

It’s that time of year again! The 17th annual Lion’s Roar Online Auction, the biggest fundraising event of the year, is starting soon.

Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche completes US tour in New York, Montana, and Colorado

Through September and October, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, the spiritual heir and grandson of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, visited the US to offer teachings in New York, Montana, and Colorado.

For subscribers: “Short, Simple, Lovely Meditations” Audio Pack

This audio series available exclusively to Lion’s Roar subscribers is designed to help even the busiest of us find a few brief moments to practice through short but powerful meditations. We can all spare a few minutes to come back to the present moment, and these short, simple, lovely meditations do just that.

AD: Online course, Nectar of the Path: Teachings on the Path of Awakening (tergar.org)

10.31.2023

"Buddhism for Beginners (Jack Kornfield)

Jack Kornfield, Amazon, 2001; Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Buddhism for Beginners by Dr. Jack Kornfield is an Audible audiobook, an original recording Bay Area psychologist and successful Buddhist meditator Kornfield.

Dr. Kornfield is founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin County, California (next to San Francisco), who also narrates.

Living Buddhist Masters

This Sounds True publication has 4.5 stars out of 5 with 15 ratings. It was created specifically to address the questions and needs of first-time students. (It is offered FREE with Audible trial).

Here is Buddhism's vast spiritual legacy (in the early Theravada back-to-basics tradition of the Teachings or Dhamma of the historical Buddha, Siddhattha Gotama or Sakyamuni) presented by one of America's leading meditation teachers. More + audio sample

Sharon Salzberg IMS book launch (10/10)

SharonSalzberg.com (Insight Meditation Society • BOOK CLUB • Virtual Book Launch); Amber Larson and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

What and where is IMS? It's the Insight Meditation Society of Barre, Mass. Event is online.

Who better to lead us than someone who found her way all the way to success?

Salzberg fan Mrs. Jack Kornfield (aka Trudy Goodman) is the founder of InsightLA.org

Finding Your Way: Meditations, Thoughts, and Wisdom for Living an Authentic Life is a gorgeous little gift book that pairs full-color illustrations with short essays centered around Sharon Salzberg’s most popular sayings.

• “Do the good that is in front of you.”
• “Your heart is big enough for everyone and everything.”
• “We need courage to learn from our past and not live in it.”
• “We can always begin again [resetting our mindfulness of this moment after the mind has wandered away during sitting meditation].”
• FREE EVENT: Insight Meditation Society • BOOK CLUB • Virtual Book Launch - Sharon Salzberg (Oct. 10, 2023)
• Event Time Announcer - IMS Book Club: Finding Your Way - Meditations, Thoughts, and Wisdom for Living an Authentic Life (timeanddate.com)

This book will inspire and remind readers how much we are truly capable of. For someone who has never meditated, it is a perfect introduction to the teaching of American Theravada Buddhist and successful insight meditator Sharon Salzberg, whose voice has inspired a generation of seekers.

It's possible to meditate because...

FREE Summit: (3/29) Gabor Mate, Tara Brach, Rick Hanson, Sharon Salzberg, Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldberg, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Dan Harris...

Sharon Salzberg; Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Jen, Wisdom Quarterly

Sharon Salzberg is delighted that Wisdom for Life came to her with the idea of creating a summit based on the themes of her new book, Real Life, to be published on April 11th.

The book is based on the possibility of moving from contraction and isolation, the “narrow straits” of habit and assumption, to a world of greater spaciousness, creativity, and connection.

In this summit, too, we will look at common states of narrowness and pain and how to work with them.

We will look at when we feel most expansive and open (e.g., states like loving-kindness and compassion) and how to cultivate them.

We will look at what we want to take along on this journey and what’s a burden best left behind. And we will look at the power of that more open and expansive state and how it can change our lives. 

• CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Sharon Salzberg is hosting the Summit and conducting many of the interviews with 30+ speakers. She’s joined in conducting the interviews by Andrés González, Ali Smith, Atman Smith of the Holistic Life Foundation, and Lily Cushman.

Speakers include meditation teachers, playwrights, activists, scientists, poets/rappers, and more. Several of these extraordinary people will be quite familiar, and some will be the most delightful new discoveries.

Upgrade page - Wisdom For Life Summits

Each of the five days of the Summit has a unique theme from the book:

1. DAY ONE: WHAT IS AUTHENTIC LIVING
2. DAY TWO: CONTRACTION
3. DAY THREE EXPANSION
4. DAY FOUR: THE JOURNEY
5. DAY FIVE: THE EMERGENCE.

The scheduled speakers are:

• Ali Smith
• Amishi Jha
• Andrés González
• Anu Gupta
• Atman Smith
• Caroline Welch
• Courtney Martin
• Daisy Hernández
• Dan Harris
• Dan Siegel
• Daphne Zuniga
• Duncan Trussell
• Dr. Gabor Maté
• Jack Kornfield
• Jerry Colonna
• Joel Leon
• Jon Kabat-Zinn
• Joseph Goldstein
• Krishna Das
• Mark Epstein
• Omid Safi
• Parker Palmer
• Pete Holmes
• Rhonda V. Magee
• Rick Hanson
• Sarah Jones
• Sarah Ruhl
• Shelly Tygielski
• Simran Jeet Singh
• Sylvia Boorstein
• Tara Brach
• Trudy Goodman
• Valarie Kaur
• Zainab Salbi.
• CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Hope you can join us.

Take care, Sharon Salzberg (sharonsalzberg.com)

MEETUP GROUPS (Los Angeles):

• Disclosure Project
• Nature Center
• PasaDharma