Voices of Insight (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "WE BEGIN MEDITATION RETREATS by taking refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism, the first of which is the Buddha himself..." (more)
Key Phrases: mental noting, guiding teacher, wise effort, Ajahn Chah, Dipa Ma, Noble Ones (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You don't have to be a practicing Buddhist to thoroughly appreciate these informative and engaging essays written by members of The Insight Meditation Society. Like a carefully prepared cup of green tea, each of these pieces is quieting to the psyche while energizing to the soul.

The teachings of IMS revolve around Theraveda Buddhism, which in the West translates into a commitment to insight, moral integrity, and compassion. As a result, these themes resonate throughout. For example, Steven Smith speaks about the insight he gained from the death of a friend--it helped him grasp the sacredness of friendship. In another essay, Michele McDonald-Smith talks about accidentally locking her car keys and her other sandal in her car. From this anecdote she begins to ponder what it would be like "to live like a guesthouse"--always ready to receive the unexpected guests and situations that come to us in everyday life. It is the use of personal stories that make these Buddhist gleanings so satisfying and accessible. As editor Sharon Salzberg explains in her introduction, "We are unfolding a tradition that speaks of current challenges, our own triumphs, and our unique lessons.... It is a significant step in the transmission of a living truth." --Gail Hudson

From Publishers Weekly

In 1976, Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, young Americans returned from studying Buddhism in Asia, founded Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Mass. Today, IMS, which conveys ancient Buddhist teachings to modern Westerners, serves on the front lines of American Buddhism. Seventeen IMS retreat leaders have now contributed essays, most original, to a collection that's extraordinary not only for the depth of wisdom made accessible through a range of approaches, from memoir to history to abstract analysis, but for the high quality of much of the prose. Goldstein's "The Science and Art of Meditation" is as clear and fresh an introduction to meditation practice as exists anywhere. "Natural Freedom of the Heart," Kornfield's recollection of hard studying in the Thai forest with the "meditation master" Ajahn Chan, conveys powerfully how determination and integrity are indispensable companions along the path. Sylvia Boorstein's two bright essays offer sound advice cloaked in welcome good humor. Other exceptional writings are offered by Gavin Harrison, Christopher Titmuss and Carol Wilson. Not every piece is exemplary: Larry Rosenberg kvetches too much about modern society before delivering a brilliant rumination on silence, and a few other contributors fail to anchor their thoughts in concrete examples. Woven throughout, via introductions and her concluding essay, "Becoming the Ally of All Beings," are Salzberg's own elegant words, which emphasize the practice of loving-kindness. This book is not only a major work of American Buddhism, but anyone who buys it does a good deed: all royalties will be donated to a fund for the care of the American spiritual pioneer Ram Dass, who is recovering from a stroke. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 281 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; First Edition edition (November 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570623988
• ISBN-13: 978-1570623981
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #561,418 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #32 in

  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Theravada

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Tasty Teachings, December 30, 1999

By	Ruth Nelson (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

"Voices of Insight" is a collection of essays by a variety of western Buddhist teachers, all of whom teach at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Mass. I have practiced with many of them, and so for me this book contains the familiar voices of friends. And so I was especially delighted by the fresh taste and the heartfulness of this book, and by how much I learned from reading it. There is a breadth and depth in this collection that can provide inspiration and spiritual nourishment for a wide variety of circumstances and with a wide variety of personal styles. Many of the essays emphasized daily life practice, cultivating awareness and compassion in the midst of washing dishes, working, shopping, etc. It is inspiring to read these personal anecdotes about the teaching available in everyday moments. A few of them describe the depth of the spiritual journey, the cultivation of deep states of silence and concentration, and the effort and joy of following this spiritual path to complete liberation of the heart.

Some of the teachers writing in this book are monastics; most lead their lives as laypeople; some talk about their families, some describe their teachers in Asia or the West; and some discuss experiences of deep silence and awareness. The diversity of the teachings feels very inclusive, and it is delightfully balanced by the clarity and thoughtfulness with which this book is organized. There are sections focussing on the Buddha, representing both the historical Buddha and the various Teachers; the Dharma, or the reality of the teachings as they can be experienced; and the Sangha, the support and teaching we receive from being in relationship with others on a spiritual path. In each of these, the writers express their individual styles in a way that makes their stories accessible and alive. I continually found connections between the experiences described in this book and my own life, whether the teachers were describing formal meditation practice or the practice of being a mother.

This book is not a meditation handbook or a guide for one's practice; it is more of an inspirational book and a demonstration of the teachings that are available. Fortunately, several of the authors, including Sharon Salzberg, have also written books of their own. After tasting their style in "Voices of Insight", it's great to be able to go on and learn more from them.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism as it is practiced in the United States., July 6, 2002

By	Adam Khan (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Voices of Insight (Paperback)

Each chapter of Voices of Insight is written by a different author, and almost all of them were born and raised in the United States. Then they trained and became ordained and legitimate lamas, abbots, Zen masters, and Buddhist teachers in India, Thailand, Japan, etc., and came back to the U.S. to teach. Buddhism is different in every country and in every historical period, and in this book we can see what modern American Buddhism is like. I think you're going to like it.

Voices of Insight is also a good Buddhist primer. One author tells the history of Siddhartha Gotama Buddha and explains important basic ideas like nirvana and samsara. Another author covers the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Joseph Goldstein's chapter on the science and art of meditation explains what meditation is for and what you should be doing when you're meditating more clearly than anything I've ever come across, and all by itself makes the book worth getting.

This book is helpful. It will help you develop your practice. It is not merely interesting and educational; it is practical. I'm the author of the book, Self-Help Stuff That Works, so I'm sort of an expert on applicable information. Voices of Insight is not only illuminating and enjoyable to read, it is thoroughly applicable.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very right to the heart, August 25, 2001

By	Brian Blueskye "dharmahooligan" (Desert Hot Springs, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voices of Insight (Paperback)

This book is perhaps one of the nicest books I have read. It gives great stories, insight, and instruction from some of the best teachers of Buddhism. This book truly are the "Voices Of Insight" to the Buddhist heart.