The book is very profound, informative and interesting. Probably the best book on insight meditation, clearly understandable and readable. The quality of the information in the book is excellent and the scope is wide, which makes you want to re-read the chapters again and again. Whether you are or are not a practitioner, or whether you want or do not want to become one, the book is very interesting from the viewpoint of psychology because it opens new realities and widens your mind.

If you have always imagined Buddhism as some mystified religion, or if you have only been educated psychology from the western viewpoint and have felt sometimes that "something is missing", try reading this book. Perhaps, you will be surprised at finding out what Buddhism actually is, and perhaps you will find in the book that "missing part".

"Our life has been spent in sleep and sleepwalking," Jack Kornfield writes in this guide to insight meditation; "meditation means waking up" (p. 52). Coauthors Kornfield and Goldstein are also the cofounders of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. This book is based on "talks given at several intensive meditation retreats" there, and focuses "on the deepening of the inner meditative process, the hindrances one encounters, skillful means of mastering them, and the understanding and wisdom that can arise while in meditative silence" (p. 215). "To understand ourselves and our life is the point of insight meditation: to understand and be free" (p. 7), Kornfield writes. Goldstein tells us that "we practice to open, to balance, and to explore" (p. 18).

Practicing insight meditation is about "clearing or emptying" the mind and heart so that we can listen in a deep and new way" (p. 57). This introductory guide not only contains valuable exercises, but also offers trusted advice about working through the "difficulties and hindrances" that may arise while practicing--desire, aversion, torpor, restlessness, and doubt. "Through practice," we're told, "it is possible to train the heart and mind, to make them concentrated, to make them steady and luminous and free" (p. 39).

The book concludes with a discussion of "the seven factors of enlightenment," mindfulness, effort and energy, investigation, rapture, concentration, tranquility, and equanimity, also offering advice for integrating meditation practice into "our everday lives" (p. 215) so that we may live "a mindful life in the world" (p. 228). Like a finger pointing at "a bright, round moon" from this "floating world" (pp. 129-30), this book is sure to become a trusted resource for anyone interested in living a deeper, more meaningful life through the practice of insight meditation. For those interested in venturing further down "the path of insight meditation," I also highly recommend Goldstein and Salzburg's 12-cassette INSIGHT MEDITATION course.

G. Merritt

I picked up the pocket version of this book one day and happened to open to the page which talks about the accumulation of material items and the transitory happiness it brings -- how once the novelty of the item has worn off we go about buying more things-- all in the hopes of stimulating that "happiness" response. Boy did that hit the nail on the head!! I had to get the full length version and it has been very enlightening. A definte must for anyone who is at a point in their life where they are questioning their purpose, their "path" and want to know what to do to effect change. I loved it!!!

Having tried it all. The SCD, the paleolithic diet, the juice diet, macrobiotic diet, traditional medicine -- working with doctors, chiropractors, accupunture, massage. All of it made me more sick until I read this book. Do a google search on this title.

A personal testamonial in the vein of a true-confession story, only this story is not of love and betrayal, but of a young man who, through recieving much conventional medical treatment for ulcerative colitis, had been so damaged by the medicos that he approached death. In the nick of time he discovered natural hygiene, fasted for over 40 days and began to recover health and enjoyment of life. Gruesome in its detailed description of the disease and shocking in its recounting of the brutal and constitution-destroying treatments he received, interesting in the detailed inner-experience of a long-time water faster...

This is an excellent and helpful book for anyone wishing to know the locations of sanghas, monasterys, and the like in North America. There is also interesting commentary from various North American practitioners of Buddhism included in the material. The overall layout of the book is good and the amount of information is massive. My only complaint is that the information is divided into the three schools of Buddhism and then it is put in geographic order by state and province. I would have preferred it to have been all geographic with the type of Buddhism practiced placed in the listing. Others may be perfectly happy with how the book is set up however. Regardless of this I would recommend this book for those who want a large directory of Buddhist groups in North America.

This book is extremely informative and practical. It clearly describes the different forms of Buddhism, including articles on each, and also covers non-sectarian Buddhist organizations.
Buddhist centers/groups are listed according to type (Theravada, etc.), and includes all the essential information for each, such as contact information and programs offered.
There is also an appendix listing the centers by location (alphabetically by state and locality), and another listing them alphabetically by name.
Many illustrations of centers and spiritual heads also add to the appeal and usefulness of this excellent book.

What A delight, Clear and concise.I carry it around in my shirt pocket.Do the authors give individual sessions about their book?

"THOUGH OUR MINDS MAY BE COMPLICATED, BEAUTY IS NOT. WE DON'T HAVE TO STRIVE TO MAKE BEAUTY IN OUR LIVES, OR LOOK FAR TO FIND IT. WHEN THE MIND IS STILL, WE CAN SEE A MAGNIFICENCE IN EVEN THE MOST ORDINARY THINGS--THE VIVIDNESS OF A SUNSET, THE WARMTH OF A SMILE, THE SIMPLICITY OF SERVING A CUP OF TEA. WE CAN SEE NEW LIFE AND GROWTH. EACH THING IS DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERS, EACH MOMENT IS UNIQUE." [from page 152.]

Here are the chapters: 1) Discovering the Heart of Meditation 2) Meditation Instructions 3) Difficulties and Hindrances 4) Suffering: The Gateway to Compasion 5) Integrating Practice. (Each chapter is amazing but chapter five to me is the best. I have probably 85% of it highlighted!)

This is a life-changing book. It's small enough to carry on your body and profound enough to envelop in your heart. I will cherish this always. My wish for all who read this is on page 170, paragraph one.

Thank you Joseph and Jack!

This book was obviously written at the peak of the internet "Boom". The majority of the companies cited as examples of the onslaught of the new economy are no longer in existence. Earnings are barely mentioned. Companies cited as the movers and shakers of tomorrow are now penny stocks. The total lack of balance relative to other sectors is appalling and in retrospect is by itself educational. Everyone bought into the hype including the entire VC industry. This might explain why they all sat on the sideline in 2001 trying to regain their sense of direction. The entertainment value is a 5 and the educational value a 1. It is your choice.

This book is a must read for every entrepreneur and VC. The snippets of information in it are very valuable even after the downfall of the Internet economy-most of the text is more focused on timeless vc/entrepreneur related issues. I would highly recommend this book...

I was very impressed by the knowledge in this book. It has a ton of useful information for everyone from entrepreneurs to investors to other financial professionals. In addition, the content is fresh and much more applicable to the "after the shakedown" landscape than other venture capital oriented books such as eBoys, Confessions of a Venture Capitalist and Done Deals. This is a great book that has a ton of useful information straight from some very accomplised venture capitalists.