The path of insight meditation is a journey of understanding our bodies, our minds, and our lives--of seeing clearly the true nature of experience. Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, cofounders of the Insight Meditation Society, join forces to present this accessible and easily readable guide to developing the openness and compassion that are at the heart of this spiritual practice. For those already treading the path, as well as those just starting out, this book will be a welcome companion along the way. Useful exercises are presented alongside the teachings to help readers deepen their understanding of the subjects. Among the topics covered are:

• The hindrances to meditation--ranging from doubt and fear to painful knees--and skillful means of overcoming them
• How compassion can arise in response to the suffering we see in our own lives and in the world
• How to integrate a life of responsible action and service with a meditative life based on nonattachment