Divided into 5 parts, Jack Kornfield's book, 'The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology,' is an insightful introduction to Buddhist psychology for beginning students. A must read, 'The Wise Heart' is interspersed with fresh insights into psychology both east and west.
In parts I and II Mr. Kornfield commences with a discussion of the Buddhist idea of self and consciousness. Then he continues with an examination of practices of mindfulness. In part III he begins to look at suffering and its transformation through mindfulness practices. Part IV offers guidance on finding freedom in the midst of suffering. Part V introduces the path of the Boddhisattva and the application of Buddhist teachings into the world around us.
Each part is subdivided into specific chapters in which Mr. Korfield introduces an element of Buddhist psychology. Then he includes personal anecdotes and real life stories which illustrate the principle introduced. He ends each chapter with a meditation for readers to practice.
I found Mr. Kornfield's thoughts on interdependence, emptiness, and the nature of consciousness especially intriguing. He shows how the concepts of interdependence and emptiness illustrate that there is no separation between the things that make up the universe; instead, things have no intrinsic qualities unto themselves. The perception of separation is merely an illusion.
However, everyday experiential consciousness perceives separation. This is our thinking, planning mind. It is the part of our consciousness that reviews the past, and simulates the future. Our feelings of anger, guilt, denial, jealousy, depression, fear, desire, and momentary pleasures stem from this experiential consciousness. It is the segment of our selves attached to our experiences. Nonetheless, there is more to consciousness than this experiential side.
There is also an aspect of consciousness that is pure awareness, a witnessing aspect, that is untainted pure potential. It is this witnessing aspect which could be considered pantheistic. Unlike contemporary western philosophy, in Buddhism consciousness is the foundation of existence, and the witnessing aspect of consciousness permeates throughout reality.
The trick for a practitioner is to access this witnessing aspect of consciousness for themselves. Buddhism elaborates on a methodology for awakening to the witnessing within us and in the outer reality around us. Right living, right thinking, and mindfulness practices assist in this awakening. This mindfulness methodology also assists us in navigating the suffering states that we endure through our experiential everyday consciousness.
One thing that readers must be aware of is 'like the finger pointing to the moon,' concepts can point the way to 'witnessing' consciousness. However, concepts fall short, and we should not mistake the finger that points for the moon itself. This is part of the reason for the emphasis on practice in Buddhism, because it is the practice and not the concepts that transform. Buddhism like other branches of mysticism also employs metaphors to describe what cannot be adequately named. Two metaphors that Mr. Kornfield discussed were the sky and the mirror. The sky represents pure awareness, whereas clouds within the sky serve as experience and the mental states resulting from this experience. Reflections within the mirror also embodies experience whereas the clear mirror again represents a pure witnessing awareness that is unclouded by experience.
I like what Mr. Kornfield said about the brain's malleability. Utilizing scientific evidence to back up Buddhist philosophy, he illustrates that we can change our patterns of thinking and behavior. Through proper practice at any age we can actually change our brain's wiring.
The beauty of 'A Wise Heart,' is that it imparts a message of inspiration, hope, and a path to freedom. This short synopsis cannot do justice to all of the contents within this book. Therefore, I urge other readers to pick up this book, read it, and contemplate its message for themselves. I assure you that you will be richly rewarded for your efforts.
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Ari pyk