“The land, the practices, and the community—these are the things that help us remember who we really are.” – Jack Kornfield

Dear ones,

There is a great mystery at the heart of our lives. We spend so much time tending to our responsibilities, our plans, and our worries that we can forget to look up and remember the sacredness of being alive.

Across Buddhist cultures, stupas have been built as places of remembrance and blessing. They invite us to pause. To step out of the rush of our days. To remember the timeless truths of compassion, wisdom, and awakening that live within each of us. A stupa is more than a monument. It is a reminder. It reminds us that even in difficult times, there is something trustworthy within us. It reminds us that love can be cultivated, wisdom can be awakened, and that our lives are connected in ways far deeper than we often remember.

This spring, our community gathered at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, to bless a newly completed stupa and to celebrate my 80th year of life. What moved me most was not the ceremony itself, but the spirit in which it was held. Friends old and new came together in meditation, chanting, music, silence, gratitude, and prayer. I was deeply touched to be joined by beloved friends including Joan Baez and Gabe Harris, Ajahn Pasanno, and many of the teachers who have helped shape Spirit Rock over the decades. Together we walked beneath the open sky, carrying candles and blessings for one another and for the world.

I invite you to watch the full hour+ recording above of this special Stupa gathering, my 80th birthday celebration, and reflection on the sacred woven through ordinary life. May it help you remember your own goodness, your own belonging, and the mystery that lives at the center of all things.

With metta,
Jack

Short on time? Watch the ten-minute version on Jack’s YouTube