Tara Brach

Meditation: Awake and Open Awareness (with community chanting Om's) (2015-11-25) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Heart Meditation: Loving Presence (from retreat)(2015-10-12) - Scanning the body, filling it with the image of a smile, meditation continues with loving presence of someone easy to love, our own being, and offering care to others.

Part 2: Awakening through Anger - The U-Turn to Freedom (2015-11-18) - While we have strong conditioning to react to aggression with more aggression, we have the capacity to pause, and instead deepen attention and connect to our natural wisdom and empathy. This talk looks at how we can directly engage in this evolutionary adaptation when we encounter trauma related conflict in our personal lives, and in a parallel way when groups of people who have been part of traumatizing conflict seek reconciliation and healing. Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Instructions on Working with Trauma - Q and A from Retreat (2015-04-20) - a short segment that includes a message on working with trauma as part of a morning question-response session at the IMCW 2015 Spring Retreat.

Awakening through Anger - The U-Turn to Freedom (2015-11-11) - Anger is naturally triggered when we feel an obstacle to meeting our needs. How do we honor the intelligence within anger, but not get hijacked into emotional reactivity that creates suffering in our individual and collective lives? This talk explores the U-turn that enables us to offer a healing attention to the feelings and unmet needs under anger. Once present with our inner life, we are able to respond to those around us with wisdom, empathy and true strength. “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”― Mark Twain Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Meditation: The Heartspace That is Home (2015-11-11) - This meditation awakens attention to the space of awareness, and then explores how this awake awareness is experienced as heartspace, the vast tenderness that is home.

Compass of Our Heart (2015-11-04) - All of our actions, our entire life experience, arises from the energy of intention. While it’s natural that our intentions are shaped by egoic wants and fears, when we bring this into conscious, compassionate awareness, we can discover the deep aspiration that guides and energizes our awakening hearts and minds. This talk explores the movement from egoic intention to liberating intention…the movement from “my will” to “my hearts will. Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

2015-10-10-Morning-Instruction-and-Meditation (from the IMCW fall residential retreat) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Relating Wisely with Imperfection (2015-10-28) - Our survival brain reacts to perceived imperfection with aversion and anxiety, and if we are habituated to this reaction, we become imprisoned in the identity of a flawed separate self. This talk explores the healing and transformation that is possible as we learn to regard imperfection with mindfulness and compassion. Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Meditation: A Healing Breath (2015-10-28) - This meditation introduces a simple breathing practice that brings relaxation and inner ease.

Awakening Beyond Self (2015-10-21) - Suffering is our call to deepen attention and discover the truth of who we are beyond the identity of a separate, deficient self. This talk examines how thoughts, beliefs and emotions keep us trapped in a confining identity, and two pathways of practice that serve awakening and freedom.

Meditation: Letting Life Be As It Is (2015-10-21)

Ten-Minute Basic Meditation Practice (from the first morning instructions at the 2015 IMCW fall retreat) (2015-10-10)

(Retreat talk) Freeing Ourselves by Loving Ourselves (2015-10-11) - In this human realm, healing and spiritual realization are rooted in awakening a love for the life that is here. This talk looks at our habit of feeling we should be different than we are, and the ways that mindfulness and self-compassion help enable us to not only embrace our inner life, but bring genuine healing to others.

Retreat Meditation: Radiant Empty Heart (2015-10-15) - an open focus meditation given at the 2015 IMCW Fall 7-day Residential Retreat

Trusting Ourselves, Trusting Life (2015-10-07) - How can we trust in basic goodness when we encounter so much greed and violence within and around us? This talk explores three pathways of practice that enable us to bring a healing attention to our primitive survival conditioning, and cultivate the heart and awareness that express our full potential and deepest essence."Who would you be if you trusted the basic goodness and beauty that lives through you?" Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Meditation: Relaxing Back into Presence (2015-10-07) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

The Sacred Pause (2015-09-30) - When we are lost in the trance of doing, our lives are on automatic, and contracted by sense that something’s wrong or missing. This talk explores the challenges of learning to pause, and the blessings that arise when step out of our incessant mental and physical activity and reconnect with the being-qualities of presence, wisdom and love.

Meditation: Opening to the Mystery (2015-09-30)

Genuine Acceptance (2009-08-26) - a favorite from 2009Our capacity to accept this life is key to our freedom, yet there are many misconceptions about acceptance: People wonder, if acceptance makes us a doormat in relationships? Isn't acceptance akin to resignation? Doesn't it make us passive when what is needed is action? This talk explores some of the misunderstandings about acceptance and offers teachings on the nature of genuine and liberating acceptance. Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time at www.tarabrach.com/donate.html. With thanks and love, Tara

Guided Meditation: Center of Now - with Body Scan (2011-02-16) - a favorite meditation from 2011. Includes chanting "AH."

Letting Go of Judgment (retreat talk) (2015-09-05) - The scales of judgment confine us in a limited sense of self, they restrict the depth and fullness of our loving. This talk explores the genesis of projecting badness on to parts of ourselves and others, and how we can use mindfulness and self-compassion practices to evolve our consciousness and free our hearts.

Heart Meditation: Letting Go of Judgment (2015-09-05) (retreat)

Releasing Limiting Beliefs (2015-09-09) - If we investigate patterns of emotional suffering or “stuckness,” we’ll discover that under our pain is a fear based belief. Until these beliefs are brought into the light of compassionate awareness, they control and confine our lives. This talk reviews key steps of inquiry and mindfulness that help us realize the freedom that comes with awakening from the grip of beliefs. Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time at http://www.tarabrach.com/donate.html. With thanks and love, Tara

Meditation: Simplicity of Presence (2015-09-09) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation:“Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease”when you join her email list.

Learning to Respond, Not React (2015-09-02) - When stressed, we often react with looping fear-thoughts, feelings and behaviors that cause harm to ourselves and/or others. This talk offers three interrelated strategies that can serve us when we’re triggered by stress, and help us find our way back to our natural wisdom, empathy and wholeness of being. By de-conditioning habitual reactivity, we are increasingly able to respond to our life circumstances in ways that serve healing and awakening. Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time at http://www.tarabrach.com/donate.html. With thanks and love, Tara

Meditation - Cultivating an Intimate Presence (2015-09-02) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation:“Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease”when you join her email list.

Awakening from the Trance - Embracing Unlived Life (2015-08-26) - When physical or emotional pain is too much, our conditioning is to pull away and avoid direct contact with raw feelings. The result is a trance - we are split off from the wholeness of our aliveness, intelligence and capacity to love. This talk explores how this dissociation shows up in our lives and a powerful way that mindfulness enables us to integrate cut-off parts of our being. Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time at http://www.tarabrach.com/donate.html. With thanks and love, Tara

Meditation: Opening to the Sea of Presence (2015-08-26) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation:“Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease”when you join her email list.

Transforming Two Fears: FOF and FOMO (2015-08-19) - There are two common fears that can block us from our full potential - fear of failure (FOF), and fear of missing out (FOMO). This talk explores how to meet these fears with mindful presence, and discover within them the essence energies of loving awareness and full aliveness.Note - This talk is dedicated to Tim Ferriss, who turned me on to the phrase FOMO. Tim exemplifies the creative aliveness of FOMO energy when it’s living through someone who’s dedicated to being awake, caring and real. (check out his podcasts, http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast/) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Meditation: Touching Peace (2015-08-19) - (uses the image of a smile as a supportive technique) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Meditation: "Smile Meditation" (2010-07-07) - posted to podcast from Tara's website by popular demand!

Radical Acceptance Revisited (2015-08-12) - One of the truths we most regularly forget is that if we are at war with ourselves, we can't feel love and connection with our world. This talk looks at the genesis of the "Trance of Unworthiness" and how the wings of mindfulness and heartfulness can dissolve the trance and reveal the loving awareness that is our essence Being. Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time at http://www.tarabrach.com/donate.html. With thanks and love, Tara

Meditation - The Sky-like Mind (2015-08-12) - listening and discovering the sky-like mind that is our true home.

The Sacred Art of Listening (2015-08-05) - Deep listening - the kind of listening that brings intimacy and understanding—takes intentional practice. This talk looks at the societal and inner obstacles to an undistracted presence, and the mindfulness strategies that nourish our capacity to listen in a way that heals and connects. Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Meditation: Relaxing, Breathing, Opening (2015-08-05) Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

The Realm of Hungry Ghosts (2015-07-29) - In Buddhist cosmology, the torment of intense desire that can never really be satisfied is depicted as the realm of Hungry Ghosts. This talk explores the attachments and addictions that so many of us struggle with, and the teachings and practices that can liberate us. Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time at http://www.tarabrach.com/donate.html. With thanks and love, Tara

"Coming Back" - Meditation Instructions with Q and A (from retreat) (2015-06-26) - A special recording from the first morning of the 2015 IMCW Women's Retreat that offers further guidance and addresses some frequently asked questions about meditation. (13.5 min)

Meditation - Relaxing Back into Wakeful Openness (2015-07-22) - Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time. With thanks and love, Tara www.tarabrach.com

That Bird Got My Wings (2015-07-22) - This talk looks at how we are imprisoned by a limited sense of who we are, and how the wings of mindfulness and heartfulness enable us to realize the spirit that is our essence. We then look at how we can bring the wings of freedom to our engagement with others. The talk’s title is the name of a book written by Jarvis Masters, a deeply wise and inspiring African American man currently on death row at San Quentin prison. Your support enables us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time. With thanks and love, Tara www.tarabrach.com

Unfolding of the Sacred Feminine (retreat) (2015-06-26) - The sacred feminine expresses the qualities of heart that emerge as we open beyond identifying with the egoic, separate self. In this talk, Tara tracks a series of challenging experiences in her own life that catalyzed an awakening of heart, and explores how for each of us, the places of difficulty can help us realize our belonging to life and the loving awareness that is our true essence. (given at the 2015 IMCW Women's Retreat) Your support will enable us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time. Visit: www.tarabrach.com.

Heart Meditation: Three Domains of Forgiveness (retreat) (2015-06-27) - Instruction and guided heart meditation on forgiveness from the 2015 IMCW Women's Retreat. Your support will enable us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time. Visit: www.tarabrach.com.

The Dance with Pain (2015-07-08) - “Pain is inevitable and suffering is optional.” In this talk Tara explores the difference between pain and suffering and examines the most common, yet often unconscious, ways we resist pain. She then shares practices that help us find balance, equanimity and awakening in the midst. Your support will enable us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time. Visit: www.tarabrach.com. A guided meditation on "Radical Acceptance of Pain" is available on the "Guided Meditations" page. With thanks and love, Tara

Meditation: Presence, Breath, Full Aliveness (2015-07-08)

Part 2: Devotional Practices (2015-07-01) - The sacred feminine expresses the realization of our belonging, our innate interdependence with all of life. These two classes explores inner practices that help us open to our longing to belong, and awaken the power of prayer. Please support this podcast by donating at www.tarabrach.com. Your donations allow us to continue to freely offer the teachings!

Meditation: Relaxing into the Flow (2015-07-01)

Part 1: Devotional Practices (2015-06-24) - The sacred feminine expresses the realization of our belonging, our innate interdependence with all of life. These two classes explores inner practices that help us open to our longing to belong, and awaken the power of prayer.

Beloved Community (2015-06-17) - Martin Luther King’s term, “Beloved Community,” points to our potential for living together with love, justice and respect. This talk explores the often hidden expressions of racism that fuel separation and violence, and pathways toward healing and freeing our collective hearts. Free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease” when you join her email list.

Meditation: Relaxing Open into Full Presence (2015-06-17) - Please support this podcast by donating at www.tarabrach.com. Your donations allow us to continue to freely offer the teachings!

Part 2: Beyond the Fear Body (2015-06-10) - A central part of spiritual awakening is recognizing and befriending fear, and in the tender intensity of fear, discovering the awakened heart. In these two talks we explore the suffering of becoming identified with the fear body, and the skillful means that enable a full and liberating presence with fear. Please support this podcast by donating at www.tarabrach.com. Your donations allow us to continue to freely offer the teachings!