Contemporary Teachers

[greggorious]

Are the likes of Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg Theravada teachers, or are they more of a modern Vipassana (with a bit of Mahayana thrown in)? I'm never sure where theravada ends and a vipassana group begins?

[Goofaholix]

Are the likes of Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg Theravada teachers, or are they more of a modern Vipassana (with a bit of Mahayana thrown in)? I'm never sure where theravada ends and a vipassana group begins?

So are a lot of people and you'll get various opinions. They learned from Theravada teachers and mostly teach Theravada techniques, they quite often have Theravada monks teaching at their centre, or vis versa.

I think it depends on what you find important in Theravada, if it's doctrine, tradition, culture, or religious trappings you'll see them as separate, if meditation you'll see them as belonging.

[befriend]

check out there website, Insight Meditation Society, Barre MA. or spirit rock, california.

[mikenz66]

I think it depends on what you find important in Theravada, if it's doctrine, tradition, culture, or religious trappings you'll see them as separate, if meditation you'll see them as belonging.

I agree. There's lots of good stuff in their teachings. I find Joseph's talks to be very much in tune with other Theravada teachers I find helpful. Jack has more of a synthesis of approaches and I personally feel less connection with his approach than Joseph's. Sharon I don't have much familiarity with, though her book on the Brahmaviharas was very good.


Mike