After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path

Jack Kornfield, one of America's most beloved teachers of meditation, assures us that enlightenment does occur on the spiritual path but warns that it is not the end of the road. Bringing his thoughts to a personal level, Kornfield looks up many of the notable spiritual teachers of our times (Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Sufi, etc.) and presents extended quotations of their trials and epiphanies. These anecdotes are woven together with fables and ruminations from Kornfield's own decades-long experience as a practitioner and teacher, creating an image of the spiritual life as challenging, multidimensional, rewarding, and, yes, mundane. In the old days in China, Zen monks were encouraged to travel for instruction under a variety of masters. Here, Kornfield introduces us to today's masters, but off their podiums, as equals. Genuine experiences of awakening, despair, fault, serious transgression, and simple childlike joy all appear as bridges on the way to the divine. After the Ecstasy, the Laundry is not just another inspirational bestseller, it is a lasting record of concrete insights forged from the fires of dedicated practice. --Brian Bruya

• A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life
• The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology
• A Lamp in the Darkness: Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times
• The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace
• Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice (Shambhala Library)
• The Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology
• Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation (Shambhala Classics)
• When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
• Dharma Punx
• The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller: 20th Anniversary Edition