Joseph Goldstein(b. 1944)

Barre, Massachusetts

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About

Joseph Goldstein is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts, and one of the first American vipassana teachers. He began practicing meditation in 1967 as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand and went on to study with renowned teachers including Anagarika Munindra, S.N. Goenka, and Sayadaw U Pandita. He is the author of several influential books including 'Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening' and 'The Experience of Insight.' He continues to teach retreats and guide practitioners at IMS.

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Teachings

Books

7 Treasures of Awakening2014

Among the Buddha's many teachings, his instruction on the Seven Factors of Awakening stands alone for the cumulative benefits it makes available to us. When we are firmly established in mindfulness, the Buddha explained, these seven "treasures" serve to steer the mind away from delusion and the causes of suffering, guiding us to the realization of freedom. In 7 Treasures of Awakening, Insight Meditation Society cofounder Joseph Goldstein reveals how each one of these qualities of enlightenment sequentially develop and support each other as our practice of mindfulness matures. Program highlights: Mindfulness, discrimination of states, energy, rapture, calm, concentration, and equanimity: the seven "treasures" of awakening The four qualities of mindful attention Dhammavicaya, or "knowing what's what" Viriya (or energy), the root of all accomplishment Well-balanced effort Pīti, the antidote to anger and ill will Reflecting on the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha The role of calm on the path to awakening Jhāna and the four developments of concentration Sīla, ethical conduct Equanimity versus indifference The "great way" of non-preferential awareness The deep delight born of peace Excerpted from Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, Joseph Goldstein's masterwork on the Buddha's instructions for a life lived consciously.

Book
A Heart Full of Peace2010

Love, compassion, and peace - these words are at the heart of all spiritual endeavors. Although we intuitively resonate with their meaning and value, for most of us, the challenge is how to embody what we know; how to transform these words into a vibrant, living practice. In these times of conflict and uncertainty, this transformation is far more than an abstract ideal; it is an urgent necessity. Peace in the world begins with us. This wonderfully appealing offering from one the most trusted elders of Buddhism in the West is a warm and engaging exploration of the ways we can cultivate and manifest peace as wise and skillful action in the world. This charming book is illuminated throughout with lively, joyous, and sometimes even funny citations from a host of contemporary and ancient sources - from the poetry of W.S. Merwin and Galway Kinnell to the haiku of Issa and the great poet-monk Ryokan, from the luminous aspirations of Saint Francis of Assisi to the sage advice of Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama.

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Beyond the Best Interests of the Child1984

Three distinguished authorities in law, psychiatry, and child development critically evaluate current child placement laws.

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Insight Meditation2003

A leading meditation teacher and the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society offers “an intelligent, thorough, startlingly clear” overview of Buddhism and Western vipassana practice” (Los Angeles Times) In Insight Meditation, Joseph Goldstein provides an overview of Buddhist practice and its context generally while focusing on vipassana meditation specifically. He covers what the path itself is composed of, how to practice, what freeing the mind is all about, how karma works, the connection between psychology and dharma practice, and a look at what selflessness really is. The concluding chapter is a detailed exploration of how to practice in the world, touching on topics like the art of communication, family relationships, work and livelihood, dying, and how to really be of benefit to others.

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Mindfulness2013

Provides lessons on using the mind, body, and feelings to tap into the four foundations of mindfulness, in order to gain new insight into life.

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One Dharma2003

One of America's most respected Buddhist teachers distills a lifetime of practice and teaching in this groundbreaking exploration of the new Buddhist tradition taking root on American soil.

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The Experience of Insight2017

Here is a modern classic of unusually clear, practical instruction for the practice of Buddhist meditation: sitting and walking meditation, how one relates with the breath, feelings, thought, sense perceptions, consciousness, and everyday activities. Basic Buddhist topics such as the nature of karma, the four noble truths, the factors of enlightenment, dependent origination, and devotion are discussed.

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Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening2013

A comprehensive guide to mindfulness meditation rooted in the Satipatthana Sutta, distilling four decades of teaching and practice.

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