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

I wasn't expecting this book to explain the process of awakening, however I am glad it did! I love this little book. There are very clear stories and examples of how enlightenment is a life long, ongoing process instead of a peak experience. I have referenced this text many times. In real fairness, the title isn't really what the book is about. The book is poetic and gentle. It is kind and helpful. This book discusses living deeper in the world.

I thought from the title this book was going to have some humor. I found it very heavy with many stories about suffering and the pain that rose in people while on long retreats in India etc. I was hoping for a more lighthearted book about your average spiritual student and the beauty of just doing our everyday tasks with love and compassion for those we care for. It didn't make it very far in the book. Found myself being effected by so many stories of suffering and had to put it down.

The title is MISS-LEADING. In no way is this book about 'normal' people - bridging the gap between how the everyday life is - Marriage, kids, etc to some better version of life. If your monk, thinking of going off into the woods for 5 years - maybe you'd like this book. I was sooo disappointed. I'm even MAD, because the title is nothing like the book. Frankly at 200 pages plus, its just ramblings with a slice of a one small segment of the fully devoted meditators world.....who happens to live in mountainous regions for years at a time. This book sucks!

As a spiritual teacher I have known that those who write about their often miraculous,transcendental, and extraordinary experiences with The Other Side are only telling part of the story..That there is always an 'after the ecstasy..but it is never discussed..never acknowledged, laving many to believe that these people have become enlightened, and are therefore no longer plagued by their egos, as the rest of us are. I was thrilled to see Jack Kornfield debunk this in this book. We all have these ecstatic 'moments', and we all have the 'dirty laundry' experiences also...This is part of the human condition, and is not to be judged. We all do the best we can with the knowledge we possess, and Jack Kornfield makes this known through his stories of mystics, sages, and others who have experienced both the Dark Night of the Soul (when your ego holds you hostage) and the moments of enlightenment when your Higher Self/Soul/God-Self shares a truth..and you hear it...Thank You Jack Kornfield.

I read this book 15 20 years ago. I didn't get much out of it then, but I decided to read it again. It was a great experience . First of all you have to be in the right place in your spiritual life. Most important don't read it as an novel - just read the book piece by piece.

I am part of a Mindful Meditation group that used this book as a part of our discussion. Even with such analysis, this book shines with beauty and understanding of the spiritual path and man's journey on earth. The fact that Jack Kornfield collected statements and experiences from many different religions and spiritual people to support his statements, truly brought a sense of oneness to this book. I recommend this book to anyone who is on a spiritual or religious journey; it brings clarity, understanding, and compassion to the experience.There are so many statements, poems, stories that can help a person identify with and therefore, gain assistance or perhaps a "aha moment" that benefits them greatly.My only wish is that this book could be purchased using the Kindle option.

I bought this book in September of 2011, on the advice of aacquaintance. Being a Psychology major with a BS degree, and, aadditional Substance Abuse Specialization degree, and, some postgraduate course completion from Imperial College of Science @theUniversity of London, UK. I thought, with over one hundred and thirtybooks on the study of human behavior, in my personal study, I've created from a bedroom, to a study room, I thought I had read everything, on one's spiritual journey, toward life balance, including attendance to over one dozen one to 5 day seminars, from "book writers" on the national & international speaking circuit, including, many audio-cassette tapes on those pop psychology, and, "transformation" orientedseminars. The book "After the Ectasy, the Laundry" by Jack Kornfield, I found most enlightening, that, "I have not read everything, I had falsely told myself". The book is easy to read, and interpret, I believe, to consumers of all faiths, religions, including agnostics, andathesists. I highly recommend this book, to anyone, on a spiritual journey for wholeness, and to gain additional peace of mind, who may have a goal of becoming "Self-Actualized" in Abraham Maslow's Hierachy of Needs, or even the beginner, who is on a spiritual journey, (my choice of words) who, may have become dis-enchanted, attending seminars,"when the guru leaves town, all too often, the charisma, and, insight, fade away" (at least that has been my experience form 1983 until this very year, 2011). I give Jack Kornfield, a solid Grade A, as with his Ph.D in Clinical Psychology, again, is written, in very simple language, for even, the beginner, who seeks some answers, that life is a journey, not necessarily a destination.Everyone worldwide, can gain some very useful insight about "Enlightment does exist, and bring transformation, but, they don't last" from pagexiii of my version, of the Bantam trade paperback edition, published in October of 1991. I am also most grateful, to www.amazon.com who offered this book, at a savings to me, from a independant bookstore, classified as "Very Good" my interpretation, was it was flawless, and "brand spanking new", & received the book with supersonic speed, frombuymeimcheap. From a 11 yr member of Amazon.com (Charlotte, NC, USA)

I loved this book. I bought it having just attended a 5 day Zen meditation retreat and having had an amazing and enlightening experience when there - in terms of 're-entry' this book was perfect. Because really, after the ecstasy does indeed come the laundry.... I loved the way the author drew on experiences from people from a range of 'faiths' and how it looked for the similarity in our paths. I loved its realism and its straight talking but also its compassion and spirit.So glad to own it.

An amazing book for those who are looking for a spiritual path. I found it immensely helpful, well written and will certainly re-read. I recommend this book highly.

Bought as a gift for a friend as it is one of my favorite books

it's a classic Kornfield book; doesnt add much if you have read others of his, but if its your first does give an example of someone trying to work out a meditative, buddhist type way of living in the West culture

Brilliant book !!