What do you think?
Rate this book
All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World
Beloved teacher Jack Kornfield shares stories on navigating our human experience with wisdom and care—for ourselves and our world.
At a time of collective anxiety, injustice, and suffering, this book helps us listen with compassion to the pulse of the world and to one another. Beloved meditation teacher Jack Kornfield guides us toward our basic goodness. He encourages us to remember our loving awareness, free ourselves and others from hatred and fear, and pave a path with heart where we all belong.
Through stories, poems, and fables, Kornfield shows us that the way to build a wise society within ourselves and for our world is through remembering our interconnectedness. He reminds us to respect the world and ourselves even in the face of the incomprehensible. He invites us to envision a generous world and therefore change it. He guides us to heal our bodies and bring healing to the earth. He teaches us that being of service is an endless source of happiness, and to remember that death also brings rebirth.
Accessible, timely, and heartfelt, the book offers a variety of perspectives, from Kornfield’s personal stories and the teachings of the Buddha to poetry from Mary Oliver and timeless legends. Throughout, Kornfield reminds us that the inescapable pain and beauty of our human experience is what can ultimately connect us. “Let yourself be tender with the world,” writes Kornfield, “The world is your lover in a way that almost nothing else is. It's always here. You can go out right now and kiss the earth.”
At a time of collective anxiety, injustice, and suffering, this book helps us listen with compassion to the pulse of the world and to one another. Beloved meditation teacher Jack Kornfield guides us toward our basic goodness. He encourages us to remember our loving awareness, free ourselves and others from hatred and fear, and pave a path with heart where we all belong.
Through stories, poems, and fables, Kornfield shows us that the way to build a wise society within ourselves and for our world is through remembering our interconnectedness. He reminds us to respect the world and ourselves even in the face of the incomprehensible. He invites us to envision a generous world and therefore change it. He guides us to heal our bodies and bring healing to the earth. He teaches us that being of service is an endless source of happiness, and to remember that death also brings rebirth.
Accessible, timely, and heartfelt, the book offers a variety of perspectives, from Kornfield’s personal stories and the teachings of the Buddha to poetry from Mary Oliver and timeless legends. Throughout, Kornfield reminds us that the inescapable pain and beauty of our human experience is what can ultimately connect us. “Let yourself be tender with the world,” writes Kornfield, “The world is your lover in a way that almost nothing else is. It's always here. You can go out right now and kiss the earth.”
288 pages, Hardcover
Published November 11, 2025
About the author
Jack Kornfield
154 books1,455 followersJack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He began his training after graduating from Dartmouth College in Asian Studies in 1967. Then he joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to the Public Health Service in northeast Thailand, which is home to several of the world’s oldest Buddhist forest monasteries. He met and studied under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. After returning to the United States, Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. He is also a founding teacher of the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California, where he currently lives and teaches. Over the years, Jack has taught in centers and universities worldwide, led International Buddhist Teacher meetings with the Dalai Lama and worked with many of the great teachers of our time. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a husband, father and an activist.
His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. They include, A Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology, A Path with Heart; After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; Teachings of the Buddha; Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; Living Dharma; A Still Forest Pool; Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart; Buddha’s Little Instruction Book; The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace, Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are, and his most recent book, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are.
His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. They include, A Wise Heart: A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology, A Path with Heart; After the Ecstasy, the Laundry; Teachings of the Buddha; Seeking the Heart of Wisdom; Living Dharma; A Still Forest Pool; Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart; Buddha’s Little Instruction Book; The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness and Peace, Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are, and his most recent book, No Time Like the Present: Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy Right Where You Are.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 28, 2025
Jack Kornfield is a phenomenal storyteller as well as a curator of wonderful stories. I have heard or read some of the stories offered in this book, but in a different context they shine in a new light. The Tolstoy story of the Empress and her three questions is a favorite of mine. In addition to stories there are quotes and guided meditations which I appreciated. In the first half of the book I was overwhelmed with the number of stories told. It was too much of a good thing. As a well regarded teacher I would have liked more personal sharing of his own insights. This is the perfect book to read before the start or at the end of a day. I found it most enjoyable reading a couple of passages at a time.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book
December 6, 2025
a mix of anecdotes, parables, wisdom teachings, and epigrams. I found many of my favorites from Kornfield's audio recordings in here, as well as new to me bits, all told in his very particular and very warm and approachable style. I will be holding on to this book and adding it to the group of spiritual books I open at random when I want something to reflect on. also I appreciated the citations in the back! some of these stories I had heard shared by several different meditation teachers in contexts where it is not usual to cite sources, and I liked finally learning who they got them from (even as I realize the people cited probably got them somewhere else before that).
September 6, 2025
This is an excellent book - would be great for having discussions on each section. Kornfield has brought together stories from all over the world that are so meaningful. I read an advance copy - it's not in the bookstores until November so it would make a great Christmas present for someone! Or share a story from it around the Thanksgiving dinner table. One quote that really stood out for me was from Maya Angelou. "If we lose love and respect for one another, this is how we will finally die." We need to remember this in all our interactions.
August 28, 2026
Whenever the Buddha was done with his teaching, he would look at the questioners as they digested their lessons, and then he would conclude with a famous phrase: “Now it is time for you to do as you see fit.” It was as if he was saying, “My friends, I’ve given you the best teachings that I can. I’ve illuminated what can be seen, and now I place these in your heart, in your hands.” This was a gesture of respect and sovereignty.
When you read or hear wise teachings from the Buddha or other sages, what should you do next? Reflect. Consider. Listen to your own heart for “it is time for you to do as you see fit.” You are the one who determines how you will live.
Ajahn Chah’s instructions as a teacher were born from his time in the jungle. He talked very simply about “taking the one seat.” “Just go into your forest hut and take the one seat in the center of the room,” he said. “Open the doors and windows and see who comes to visit. In meditation you’ll witness all kinds of scenes and actors, pleasures and pains, temptations and stories, everything imaginable. Your only job is to stay in your seat. To respect everything that comes with kindness and equanimity. You’ll see it all arise and pass. And out of your steady presence, wisdom, compassion, and true freedom will arise.”
I continue to struggle with the westernification of Buddhism and other faiths to make them palatable to the intended audience, but I also love these stories and teachings. Annie Dillard asks in her writings about the Catholic Church why they repeat prayers over and over, repeat the Bible stories over and over, ad nauseum, and concludes it is not brainwashing, but a ritual that helps the mind keep the Christian lessons in mind, so these teachings strike that chord in me.
I never tire of listening to a new guided meditation of things to thank in the world.
Start by sitting quietly and invite your body to come to ease. Now, bring a mindful loving attention to your breath. Wherever you feel it, notice the subtle changing rhythms, shallow or deep, soft or slow. Rest with the rhythm of the breath for a time, breath by breath inviting a sense of calm. Then say to your breath, “Thank you. Thank you for breathing so steadily all my life. Thank you for breathing together with the trees and the global ocean of air and all life on earth. Breath, you can relax. I’m OK just here and now. Thank you.” Notice the ease that arises as the breath responds to this gracious thank you.
Sense, too, how much your body carries for you, the stress and concerns and love. Hold it with quiet kindness for a minute. Then say to your body, “Thank you. Thank you for holding so much and for continuously sustaining my life. I’m OK just here and now. You can relax. Thank you.” Notice what happens as you relax. “Thank you. Thank you heart for carrying so much. I’m OK just here and now. You can relax.”
I love the culture shock of the Dalai Lama here:
In 1989, at an international Buddhist teacher meeting with the Dalai Lama, we Western teachers brought up how often unworthiness, self-criticism, shame, and self-hatred arose in Western students’ practice. The Dalai Lama and other Asian teachers with him were shocked. They could not quite comprehend the concept of self-hatred. There is no such word in Tibetan. It took the Dalai Lama some time conferring with Geshe Thupten Jinpa, his wonderful translator, to understand it. Then he turned and asked if many of us experienced this problem in ourselves. He saw nods of affirmation from all of us. He seemed genuinely surprised.“But that is mistake,” he said. “Every being is precious!”
It helps remind us that our Western stories and thoughts are not universal and how beautiful the Buddhist perspective of being can be. I forget too often in this culture.
Vimalakirti invites us to sit under a canopy of bejeweled umbrellas, vast as the cosmos. He shows us that our imagination is big enough to contain everything. Ram Dass’s spreading altar brings this to life. With a hundred images of saints, sages, and occasional sinners too, we are welcomed into the vastness of the awakened heart. This whole world is our temple. Let us envision transforming it into a world that’s not ruled by greed or hatred or fear. Let us envision the creation of a world without injustice and inequality and racism and the dangers of climate change. So much is possible. We have mind-bending outer technology. Who would’ve imagined that you could have the great library of Alexandria in your pocket along with a hundred million cat videos? It is time for the outer developments of technology to be matched by the inner development of humanity. The world only changes when we envision the transformation we wish to see. The task for us is to imagine another way and shepherd it into being.
When you read or hear wise teachings from the Buddha or other sages, what should you do next? Reflect. Consider. Listen to your own heart for “it is time for you to do as you see fit.” You are the one who determines how you will live.
Ajahn Chah’s instructions as a teacher were born from his time in the jungle. He talked very simply about “taking the one seat.” “Just go into your forest hut and take the one seat in the center of the room,” he said. “Open the doors and windows and see who comes to visit. In meditation you’ll witness all kinds of scenes and actors, pleasures and pains, temptations and stories, everything imaginable. Your only job is to stay in your seat. To respect everything that comes with kindness and equanimity. You’ll see it all arise and pass. And out of your steady presence, wisdom, compassion, and true freedom will arise.”
I continue to struggle with the westernification of Buddhism and other faiths to make them palatable to the intended audience, but I also love these stories and teachings. Annie Dillard asks in her writings about the Catholic Church why they repeat prayers over and over, repeat the Bible stories over and over, ad nauseum, and concludes it is not brainwashing, but a ritual that helps the mind keep the Christian lessons in mind, so these teachings strike that chord in me.
I never tire of listening to a new guided meditation of things to thank in the world.
Start by sitting quietly and invite your body to come to ease. Now, bring a mindful loving attention to your breath. Wherever you feel it, notice the subtle changing rhythms, shallow or deep, soft or slow. Rest with the rhythm of the breath for a time, breath by breath inviting a sense of calm. Then say to your breath, “Thank you. Thank you for breathing so steadily all my life. Thank you for breathing together with the trees and the global ocean of air and all life on earth. Breath, you can relax. I’m OK just here and now. Thank you.” Notice the ease that arises as the breath responds to this gracious thank you.
Sense, too, how much your body carries for you, the stress and concerns and love. Hold it with quiet kindness for a minute. Then say to your body, “Thank you. Thank you for holding so much and for continuously sustaining my life. I’m OK just here and now. You can relax. Thank you.” Notice what happens as you relax. “Thank you. Thank you heart for carrying so much. I’m OK just here and now. You can relax.”
I love the culture shock of the Dalai Lama here:
In 1989, at an international Buddhist teacher meeting with the Dalai Lama, we Western teachers brought up how often unworthiness, self-criticism, shame, and self-hatred arose in Western students’ practice. The Dalai Lama and other Asian teachers with him were shocked. They could not quite comprehend the concept of self-hatred. There is no such word in Tibetan. It took the Dalai Lama some time conferring with Geshe Thupten Jinpa, his wonderful translator, to understand it. Then he turned and asked if many of us experienced this problem in ourselves. He saw nods of affirmation from all of us. He seemed genuinely surprised.“But that is mistake,” he said. “Every being is precious!”
It helps remind us that our Western stories and thoughts are not universal and how beautiful the Buddhist perspective of being can be. I forget too often in this culture.
Vimalakirti invites us to sit under a canopy of bejeweled umbrellas, vast as the cosmos. He shows us that our imagination is big enough to contain everything. Ram Dass’s spreading altar brings this to life. With a hundred images of saints, sages, and occasional sinners too, we are welcomed into the vastness of the awakened heart. This whole world is our temple. Let us envision transforming it into a world that’s not ruled by greed or hatred or fear. Let us envision the creation of a world without injustice and inequality and racism and the dangers of climate change. So much is possible. We have mind-bending outer technology. Who would’ve imagined that you could have the great library of Alexandria in your pocket along with a hundred million cat videos? It is time for the outer developments of technology to be matched by the inner development of humanity. The world only changes when we envision the transformation we wish to see. The task for us is to imagine another way and shepherd it into being.
January 5, 2026
I have great respect for Jack Kornfield. This is the first book I’ve read by him, although I know him well from his reputation and having seen him speak personally on several occasions. When he does a Dharma talk at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, you leave uplifted with much to reflect on.
I read this book slowly and I recommend reading a couple of chapters at a time. I don’t think it’s a book that one reads cover to cover. Jack is an amazing storyteller and these stories always contain some deeper truths that are always relatable. He emphasizes our interconnectedness, mindfulness and love. I really appreciated the fables, poems and personal anecdotes from his life. I loved the quotes scattered throughout the book by people like Mary Oliver, Maya Angelou, Albert Camus, Desmond Tutu, and so many more. I could easily meditate on each of these.
At the tumultuous time in which we live, this book reminds us that we are not alone. He shows us that it is possible to navigate by reconnecting with each other and with our planet.
“ Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate.
Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted
Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled.
Look within, be still.”
The Buddha (p. 175)
I read this book slowly and I recommend reading a couple of chapters at a time. I don’t think it’s a book that one reads cover to cover. Jack is an amazing storyteller and these stories always contain some deeper truths that are always relatable. He emphasizes our interconnectedness, mindfulness and love. I really appreciated the fables, poems and personal anecdotes from his life. I loved the quotes scattered throughout the book by people like Mary Oliver, Maya Angelou, Albert Camus, Desmond Tutu, and so many more. I could easily meditate on each of these.
At the tumultuous time in which we live, this book reminds us that we are not alone. He shows us that it is possible to navigate by reconnecting with each other and with our planet.
“ Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate.
Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted
Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled.
Look within, be still.”
The Buddha (p. 175)
March 11, 2026
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Beloved meditation teacher Jack Kornfield is known for his storytelling, weaving insights that touch our hearts among tales that capture our imagination. In All in This Together, Jack shares teachings and stories that are perfect for this moment—stories and wise words that help us remember our basic goodness, free ourselves from fear, and pave a path to a world where we all belong.
These marvelous tales and teachings range from Jack’s training in the monasteries of Burma, to the life of the Buddha, to Arthurian legend. Some are ancient, some are new. Many are Jack’s, and some are from revered voices, including Ram Dass and Mary Oliver. Together, these stories offer inspiration:
• Trusting the gifts of interconnectedness
• Envisioning generosity to change the world
• Being of service as an endless source of happiness
• The healing power of love… always
Throughout, Jack reminds us that the universal pain and beauty of our human experience is what can ultimately connect us. As Jack writes, “Our shared stories make us larger than ourselves. Let them move you and wake you up and remind you: We are all in this together.”
Beloved meditation teacher Jack Kornfield is known for his storytelling, weaving insights that touch our hearts among tales that capture our imagination. In All in This Together, Jack shares teachings and stories that are perfect for this moment—stories and wise words that help us remember our basic goodness, free ourselves from fear, and pave a path to a world where we all belong.
These marvelous tales and teachings range from Jack’s training in the monasteries of Burma, to the life of the Buddha, to Arthurian legend. Some are ancient, some are new. Many are Jack’s, and some are from revered voices, including Ram Dass and Mary Oliver. Together, these stories offer inspiration:
• Trusting the gifts of interconnectedness
• Envisioning generosity to change the world
• Being of service as an endless source of happiness
• The healing power of love… always
Throughout, Jack reminds us that the universal pain and beauty of our human experience is what can ultimately connect us. As Jack writes, “Our shared stories make us larger than ourselves. Let them move you and wake you up and remind you: We are all in this together.”
January 2, 2026
Jack Kornfield is a legend in the American Buddhist community who has been a sought-after teacher for more than half a century. He has been one of the key teachers to introduce Theravada Buddhist practice to the West. He also holds a PhD in clinical psychology, and clearly knows the value of a good story.
He explains in the Introduction: “These tales invite us into an illuminating, intimate, and universal realm that can touch the heart and awaken revelation and understanding.” Some of them comes from Kornfield’s travels, which include training as a monk in Thailand, Burma, and India. Others are adapted from the stories of friends such as Mary Oliver, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rick Fields, Fred Rogers, and Ram Dass. There’s even some Arthurian legend, a tale of Leo Tolstoy’s, and the three ancient Greek Furies, adapted here.
I enjoyed, too, the stories that Kornfield has adapted from friends of his who are not at all famous, such as Michelle McDonald, a preschool teacher, with one about the kids in her class learning about death and rebirth.
He explains in the Introduction: “These tales invite us into an illuminating, intimate, and universal realm that can touch the heart and awaken revelation and understanding.” Some of them comes from Kornfield’s travels, which include training as a monk in Thailand, Burma, and India. Others are adapted from the stories of friends such as Mary Oliver, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rick Fields, Fred Rogers, and Ram Dass. There’s even some Arthurian legend, a tale of Leo Tolstoy’s, and the three ancient Greek Furies, adapted here.
I enjoyed, too, the stories that Kornfield has adapted from friends of his who are not at all famous, such as Michelle McDonald, a preschool teacher, with one about the kids in her class learning about death and rebirth.
July 14, 2026
A nice collection. I would have given it 5 stars if not for the blemish on page 25: a story lauding Facebook, of all things, as an example of respect and lovingkindness. The Facebook employee quoted in this section says, “I got to teach social and emotional learning and conflict resolution to 980 million people.”
It saddens me that even after we know Facebook was the app used to coordinate a literal genocide in Myanmar, even after the brave whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed the deeply evil intent of the company and its founders - and Kornfield says in the story of the Buddha’s death that intent MATTERS - even after the millions of ways that Facebook and Meta and Instagram have harmed young people and failed to protect its users - that this section of an otherwise very nice collection would make it to print.
The editors should have removed pages 25-26 from the book and taken a stand against such blatant techwashing. For me, a teacher and protector of young people, this glaring mistake is quite disturbing and I feel it warrants review, reflection and retraction.
It saddens me that even after we know Facebook was the app used to coordinate a literal genocide in Myanmar, even after the brave whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed the deeply evil intent of the company and its founders - and Kornfield says in the story of the Buddha’s death that intent MATTERS - even after the millions of ways that Facebook and Meta and Instagram have harmed young people and failed to protect its users - that this section of an otherwise very nice collection would make it to print.
The editors should have removed pages 25-26 from the book and taken a stand against such blatant techwashing. For me, a teacher and protector of young people, this glaring mistake is quite disturbing and I feel it warrants review, reflection and retraction.
November 13, 2025
All In This Together was a series of stories, poems, and fables aimed essentially at loving each other home. Some of the stories and quotes I've definitely heard before but I don't think that took anything away from the book.
I did feel as though there were times when there wasn't a lot of flow between stories and it just felt like a bit of a jump. Some of that could have been formatting that will be fixed in the final version. I wish we heard a bit more from Kornfield instead of just copy and pasting some of the stories.
All In This Together was published Nov 11, 2025 and I received an advanced ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
I did feel as though there were times when there wasn't a lot of flow between stories and it just felt like a bit of a jump. Some of that could have been formatting that will be fixed in the final version. I wish we heard a bit more from Kornfield instead of just copy and pasting some of the stories.
All In This Together was published Nov 11, 2025 and I received an advanced ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
February 15, 2026
I loved this book. I have been a fan of Jack Kornfield for many years and this simple book filled with stories made my heart sing! I will be giving it to all of my friends next Christmas. A simple and easy to read book that makes a lasting impact on lives!
March 18, 2026
For me this was best read a bit at a time. When I read too many of the stories back to back, I lost the importance of each story yet did have a clearer understanding as to why they were grouped as they were.
September 7, 2026
A moving collection of stories, poems, anecdotes, and guided meditations from a broad range of souces and culled from Kornfield's lifetime of experiences and study, ideal for use as part of a daily reflective practice.
January 22, 2026
What an excellent book. Perfect bedtime reading. Lovely stories from Kornfield that are his own and others and many stories of the Buddha. Really enjoyed this.
February 6, 2026
Very insightful
March 28, 2026
Thank you, Jack Kornfield for the short, helpful stories and essays in this book.
Read
April 24, 2026Nice read to clear the mind after reading the news headlines. Take one or two pages at a time for best results.
June 17, 2026
Fun book I liked it. Some helpful bits of wisdom and delightful stories.
September 7, 2026
Short reminders, spurts of spiritual grounding to reset, remember what is.
February 1, 2026
This was my first read from Kornfield and I definitely look forward to reading more of their work.
With how the world is right now, this felt like such a timely read and one that was really needed. I felt captivated from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed Kornfield’s storytelling as well as the adapted stories. It felt approachable, rich in wisdom, and deeply spiritual. This is a book that I see myself coming back to from time to time and would like to gift to those close to me as well. In these trying times, these are the stories that are needed. In a world that feels so divided, this book invites us to come back to togetherness and healing.
I had the absolute luck and pleasure of winning this in a Goodreads giveaway and I’m so glad I did because it gave me the opportunity to read from an author I hadn’t experienced before.
With how the world is right now, this felt like such a timely read and one that was really needed. I felt captivated from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed Kornfield’s storytelling as well as the adapted stories. It felt approachable, rich in wisdom, and deeply spiritual. This is a book that I see myself coming back to from time to time and would like to gift to those close to me as well. In these trying times, these are the stories that are needed. In a world that feels so divided, this book invites us to come back to togetherness and healing.
I had the absolute luck and pleasure of winning this in a Goodreads giveaway and I’m so glad I did because it gave me the opportunity to read from an author I hadn’t experienced before.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews