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| The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology | 
 enlarge | Author: Jack Kornfield
Publisher: Bantam
Category: Book
List Price: $28.00
Buy New: $15.98
You Save: $12.02 (43%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (22 reviews)
Sales Rank: 3078
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.1 x 1.5
ISBN: 0553803476
Dewey Decimal Number: 294.3422
EAN: 9780553803471
ASIN: 0553803476
Publication Date: April 29, 2008
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Wonderful book ! October 21, 2008
I just hope many have enough conditions to read and experience this book. It is the best present I have ever received.
 Not His Best Book October 9, 2008
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
I was disappointed and irked by The Wise Heart. My low rating comes from three sources: (1) Format (2) Content and (3) Peeves. My critical comments and poor rating come with hesitation because I have a a sincere appreciation of Jack Kornfield's work. I hope this book will be re-written.
(1) Format. I have been fortunate to attend many Monday nights of Jack's dharma talks at Spirit Rock, and his powers as a presenter are unmatched. Unfortunately, the formula in this book fails to deliver the sub- title's promise "A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology." The sections start with several quotes, next a vague notion ("So does mindfulness open us to that which is unseen in our experience" p. 97) followed by an intense story with a happy ending ("With mindfulness Peter found relief" p. 98) and ending up with a sweeping generality ("Since 1980 nearly a thousand scientific papers have documented the effectiveness of mindfulness, often studying Western trainings that are based on a Buddhist approach." p. 99). The therapy stories are too numerous, I come away from this book completely befuddled.
(2) Content. The notion of inner radiance or beauty as each human's intrinsic nature isn't an idea that is accepted by many followers of Theraveda or Zen Buddhism. I am finding that once you read the original texts not Western commentary, the Buddha is circumspect about settling any metaphysical debates, in Nikaya's translation of the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha in the Aggivacchagotta Sutta on p. 590 for example, the Buddha refuses to settle a long sting of metaphysical debates in his discussion with the wanderer Vacchagotta. The 26 principles throughout the book are internally contradictory, and not universally accepted by Buddhists.
(3) Peeves. Authors that provide "early praise" for this book on the back cover have most of their books listed in the Related Documents section. Perhaps it isn't quid pro quo, but I find it really irritating to have the extraordinary claim that "Two thousand years before Freud and Jung's probed the unconscious, Buddhist psychology taught about the unconscious foundation of human behavior" on pg. 151 without providing the title and translating author of the book containing the Fifty Verses on the Nature of Unconscious in the in the Related Documents section. This book has hundreds of quotes, and there are no footnotes to check how the quotes mold the content. You can't check whether the quotes are taken out of context, or if the quote comes from a early inaccurate translation. Also, there are well intentioned but sloppy stereotypes, for example, the dubious stereotype "This is evident in the healthy, caring bond between parents and children in Buddhist countries." p. 187. Or, what I find most irritating of all, what I can only describe as sophistry via oxymoron baiting: this is the use of objective terms to modify subjective experiences to further the current self-help fad promoting Buddhism as a scientific not religious activity. So, we have the "technology of visualization" p. 277 "science of mind" p.xi, and "particle-like aspect of consciousness" p.39.
The Wise Heart and Mind October 6, 2008
I enjoy,savor and collect almost every book by Thich Nhat Hahn,Ajahn Chah and others and this one goes right into the realm of Gem.The wisdom of Ajahn Chah(from "Food for the Heart",Everything arises,Everything falls away,Being Dharma,and A still forest pool,All highly recommended)is made easier to understand.The Structure of the book and contents is perfect.I read this one chapter and sometimes one section of a chapter at a time,realizing this is the best it gets with these kind of books.A perfect gift and I will give it away and reread when paperback comes out.I like to do that with Gems.Im doing that now with The Joy of Living(Yongey Rinpoche). This book is an excellent summary of all teachings of the Mind Science,Buddhism.
The Wise Heart September 8, 2008
Use this book with my boyfriend (he has a copy)We take approximately 10 minutes to read a chapter, then we follow up with a 20 minute meditation.
Useful information.
Another Home Run for Jack Kornfield August 29, 2008
As anyone who has heard Jack Kornfield speak or has read his previous books (e.g., A Path With Heart) knows, Jack is a wonderful storyteller who uses his beautifully touching stories to teach us the most profound truths about life. Any reader of The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology will not be disappointed.
Fifteen years after having written A Path With Heart, Jack's story telling abilities have not diminished--and he has new stories to tell. In addition, he clearly enunciates 26 principles of Buddhist psychology; moreover, as other outstanding teachers of psychotherapy have noted (including not only therapists with a solution-oriented bent, but also such psychoanalysts as Allen Wheelis and Herbert J. Schlesinger--e.g., see Endings and Beginnings: On Terminating Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis), he reminds us that psychotherapy is not just about understanding but is also about action. In contrast with much of Western psychology, however, which has primarily focused on the contents of consciousness, "on what we think about," he points out that Buddhist psychology focuses on how we think, on our mental states themselves. In line with that orientation, at the end of each chapter, he offers a specific practice to help us shift from unhealthy states of mind to healthy ones, thus making it possible to turn theory into a living reality.
The Wise Heart is an outstanding book, worthy of being not only read but also chewed and digested.
Frank R. Timmons, Ph.D., P.C.
Certified Hudson Institute Executive and Life Coach
Licensed Psychologist
303-751-6301
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