Guided Meditations for Difficult Times: A Lamp in the Darkness [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Jack Kornfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2010

We all face tough times. But how can we meet these situations with a compassionate heart and a clear mind? "Inside each of us is an inner light that I call 'The One Who Knows,'" teaches Jack Kornfield. "Awakening to this wisdom can help us find our way through pain and suffering with grace, tenderness, and curiosity." Guided Meditations for Difficult Times gives us eight new practices for reconnecting to our inner guide to skillfully navigate life's storms. With his warm teaching style and gift for storytelling, Jack Kornfield invites us to discover:

• Equanimity and Peace-how to hold the sorrows and struggles of our world and ourselves with balance, while seeing the great peace behind it all
• Shared Compassion-a revolutionary practice for learning to experience painful situations with understanding and care
• Forgiveness-for releasing the past and breaking down barriers to all that is closed in the heart
• Setting Your Highest Intention-a powerful guide for navigating difficulty and awakening to the shining beauty and potential of the human spirit

Our inner wisdom can light the way ahead so that we can take life in stride, teaches Kornfield. Guided Meditations for Difficult Timesoffers fresh insights and practices for being present, loving, and open in the midst of any life challenge.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Kornfield was trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma, and India and has taught around the world since 1974. He also holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and of the Spirit Rock Center. He lives in northern California.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591799279
• ISBN-13: 978-1591799276
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.6 x 6.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Books on CD > Health, Mind & Body > Relaxation & Meditation
  • #58 in Books > Books on CD > Health, Mind & Body > Meditation

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Very Good, Host Your Own Retreat in Your Home November 19, 2010

By Mayflower Girl TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

While I've read some of Jack's books, I'd never heard him speak--either in person or on CD. He's one of the most respected Buddhist teachers in the West, so it was a pleasure to finally do so. His voice is, as one may expect from somebody whose been meditating for over 40 years, very peaceful and claming. Just turning on one of the tracks was enough to relax and clam me. I had wondered from the description on Amazon if it would just be eight guided meditation sessions--but it is far more... there are lots of teachings interspersed among them, plus, if you go to the SoundsTrue website, you can download two additional guided meditations. All in all, one gets three CDs--each with over an hour's worth of material on them. For me, it allowed me to host my own little weekend retreat, listening to one CD each day. With four small kids, the chances of me actually going off to any sort of retreat are slim--so I really appreciated the depth and wisdom of the materials I was given.

Most of the guided meditations are 20 minutes in length--which I feel is a good length for most people. I am not a Buddhist, yet I still feel like I gain a lot of wisdom and insight from Buddhist teachers such as Jack Kornfield, Ani Pema Chodron, and the Dalai Lama. Like Pema, Jack is an American--so there are no accent issues to overcome. At the current time, I see myself coming back to CD 3 the most--and the meditations on it. But, I think as needs/situations change, I will find myself returning to the others as well.

For some reason, I don't do well with meditating by myself, but love guided meditations. If you are like that as well, I think you'll like these. I also have enjoyed the guided meditations of Bodhipaksa, whom you can find on Amazon and on the web.

Here's What You Get (as currently the Amazon description is a little lean):
CD One: Recognizing Our Pain
1. Introduction 0:51
2. Our Deepest Knowing 10:13
3. The Wisdom of Hardship 6:33
4. Centering and Stabilizing Our Lives 7:14
5. Guided Meditation: The Earth is My Witness 19:50
6. The Quality of Compassion 9:07
7. Guided Meditation: Shared Compassion 20:10

CD Two: Moving Toward Healing
1. Introduction 0:46
2. Illuminating Your Lamp of Wisdom 5:19
3. Guided Meditation: The Buddha in Difficulties 13:51
4. Releasing our Burdens Through Forgiveness 11:27
5. Guided Meditation: The Practice of Forgiveness 14:54
6. TThe Power of Healing 7:15
7. Guided Meditation: The Temple of Healing 13:24

CD Three: Our True Potential
1. Introduction 0:46
2. Consciously Moving Through Your Pain 3:57
3. Guided Meditation: The Zen of an Aching Heart 12:04
4. Resting in Equanimity 11:27
5. Guided Meditation: Equanimity and Peace 15:53
6. Setting the Compass of Your Heart 9:06
7. Guided Meditation: Your Highest Intention 8:06

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Forget Your Problems Are Workable December 2, 2010

By Brad B

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

In some ways the title of these lessons is unfortunate. 'Meditations for Difficult Times' would suggest that one should turn to these when life gets bad. While there is nothing wrong with that approach I found these very centering now, when things aren't bad.

In the first CD, there is this wonderful passage:
"If you can sit quietly after difficult news;
If in financial downturns you remain perfectly calm;
If you can see your neighbors travel to fantastic places without a twinge of jealousy;
If you can happily eat whatever is put on your plate;
If you can fall asleep without a drink or a pill;
If you can always find contentedness just where you are - you are probably a dog.
The one who knows realizes that difficulties are a part of every human life."

The meditations are delightful and will help you find love and compassion for yourself within you. You will find that every problem is workable.

There is a reason that Jack Kornfield is a master of meditation - the lessons he offers are so grounded, so well stated, you can't but help come away with more clarity in your life and more understanding of life.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Guided Meditations and Accompanying Teachings November 17, 2010

By E. Campisi VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

The first thing that impressed me about this collection was that there are 3 CDs included for the price you normally pay for one. A clue that Kornfield is offering you a lot with this set - literally! I've always admired his work, but have never heard his voice, so that was also nice.

Usually, guided meditation CDs just have the meditations. This one has teachings interspersed with the meditations. That might have felt intrusive from anyone else, but if you are truly going through tough enough times to get this CD, you want to hear what someone with a PhD in psychology has to say to you. I found the teachings incredibly comforting and validating, and just as useful as the guided meditations. You will note both the Buddhist philosophy and psychology elements.

The meditations themselves are also excellent though, and I found Kornfield's voice comforting and not cloying, like some people can sound when guiding you through a meditation.

Here is what you get:

CD 1 Recognizing Our Pain
1. Introduction
2. Our deepest knowing
3. The wisdom of hardship
4. Centering and stabilizing our lives
5. Guided meditation: the earth is my witness
6. The quality of compassion
7. Guided meditation: shared compassion

CD 2 Moving Toward Healing
1. Introduction
2. Illuminating your lamp of wisdom
3. Guided meditation: the Buddha in difficulties
4. Releasing our burdens through forgiveness
5. Guided meditation: the practice of forgiveness
6. The power of healing
7. Guided meditation: the temple of healing

CD 3 Our True Potential
1. Introduction
2. Consciously moving through your pain
3. Guided meditation: The Zen of an aching heart
4. Resting in equanimity
5. Guided meditation: Equanimity and peace
6. Setting the compass of your heart
7. Guided meditation: Your highest intention

As you can see, each CD has 2 guided meditations and the rest are teachings. I especially got a lot out of the section of the third CD on equanimity. Realize that you will be listening to teachings before the meditations. I think they are really excellent, especially since you need them if you're going through hard times. They were a pleasant surprise.

Highly recommended. You get a lot for your money here.