Ep. 286 – The Great Ocean of Change: Letting Go Into What Is

Exploring how to stay buoyant and balanced on life's great ocean of change, Jack sets our spiritual compass for letting go into what is.

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"What we're asked to do here is a very deep thing, which isn't to change ourselves, but to give ourselves to our life, to practice with continuity and care, bowing, opening. It's really like being in labor, if you've ever had a child or been there for childbirth, it's a birth of your life, a birth of yourself, over and over, letting go to what is." – Jack Kornfield

In this episode of Heart Wisdom, Jack mindfully explores:

• The Tibetan story of Avalokitesvara, Green Tara, and White Tara
• The spiritual wisdom of a duck resting on the ocean
• Floating softly on life's constant ocean of change
• Experiencing ourselves as an always flowing river of life
• Bowing to the truth of impermanence
• Selflessness, emptiness, and openness
• Seeing through the dreamlike mirage of 'who you think you are'
• Letting go into the ever-changing process of life
• Honoring the truth of what's here and now
• Suffering, opening your heart, and connecting to all beings
• Awakening the great heart of compassion
• Ram Dass and the gift of service
• Meeting death with curiosity, play, and wisdom
• Rebirthing ourselves over and over again
• Giving ourselves over sincerely to our life, letting go into what is
• Awakening the great wisdom and heart of the Buddha in every circumstance
• How surrender leads directly to freedom

This Dharma Talk recorded on 1/3/93 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.

“The more we pay attention, the more we sense ourselves as a river of life." – Jack Kornfield

Interested in learning more on this topic? Check out our most recent Here and Now episode for Ram Dass’ perspective on the ocean of change. 

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 in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.