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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON
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Right Understanding
By Joseph Goldstein & Jack Kornfield
Joseph Goldstein (born 1944) first became interested in Buddhism
as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand in 1965. He is one of the first
American vipassana teachers, and co-founded the Insight Meditation Society
(IMS) in the US with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg. He is the author of
numerous books on Buddhism, resident guiding teacher at IMS, and leader
of retreats worldwide on insight (vipassana) and lovingkindness (metta)
meditation. Since 1967, Goldstein has practiced different forms of Buddhist
meditation under well-known teachers from India, Burma and Tibet, including
Anagarika Sri Munindra, Sri S.N. Goenka, Mrs. Nani Bala Barua (Dipa Ma),
Venerable Sayadaw U Pandita, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, and Nyoshul Khenpo
Rinpoche. While the majority of Goldstein’s publications introduce Westerners
to primarily Theravāda concepts, practices and values, his 2002 work, One
Dharma, explored the creation of an integrated framework for the Theravāda,
Tibetan and Zen traditions.
Jack Kornfield (born 1945) trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of
Thailand, India and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since
1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice
to the West. After graduating from Dartmouth College in Asian Studies in 1967
he joined the Peace Corps and worked on tropical medicine teams in the Mekong
River valley. He met and studied as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven.
Ajahn Chah, as well as Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. Over the years, Jack has
taught in centers and universities worldwide, led International Buddhist Teacher
meetings, and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a
Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a father, husband and activist. His books have
been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.
In Seeking the Heart of Wisdom Goldstein and Kornfield present the central teachings
and practices of insight meditation in a clear and personal language. The path of
insight meditation is a journey of understanding our bodies, our minds, and our
lives, of seeing clearly the true nature of experience. The authors guide the reader
in developing the openness and compassion that are at the heart of this spiritual
practice. For those already treading the path, as well as those just starting out, this
book will be a welcome companion along the way. Among the topics covered are:
• The hindrances to meditation—ranging from doubt and fear to painful knees—and
skillful means of overcoming them
• How compassion can arise in response to the suffering we see in our own lives and
in the world