Tara Brach

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!

Meditation: Resting in Knowing (2015-06-10)

Part 1: Beyond the Fear Body (2015-06-03) - 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. 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: http://www.tarabrach.com/donate.html. With thanks and love, Tara

Meditation - Relaxing Open into Presence (2015-06-03) - "...re-relaxing... sensing in your body what might let go a little bit more right now."

The Two Wings of Awareness (2015-05-27) - The two wings of understanding and love awaken as we learn to recognize what is here in the present moment, and to allow experience to be just as it is. This talk includes a guided reflection and a brief period of questions and responses.

Meditation - Living Presence (2015-05-27)

Part 2: Impermanence - Awakening Through Insecurity (2015-05-20) - From the view of the separate self, this existence is inherently uncertain, and we are profoundly vulnerable. Our habitual reaction to insecurity fuels separation, and limits our capacity to live and love fully. These two talks explore the blessings of wisdom, love and freedom that naturally arise as, instead of resisting, we learn to open directly to the insecurity of impermanence.

Guided Meditation: Entering the Flow (2015-05-20) - "Letting go over and over into this changing flow - the river of aliveness."

Part 1: Impermanence - Awakening Through Insecurity (2015-05-13) - From the view of the separate self, this existence is inherently uncertain, and we are profoundly vulnerable. Our habitual reaction to insecurity fuels separation, and limits our capacity to live and love fully. These two talks explore the blessings of wisdom, love and freedom that naturally arise as, instead of resisting, we learn to open directly to the insecurity of impermanence.

Meditation: Opening to the Flow (2015-05-13)

(retreat talk) Namaste - Seeing the Sacred that Lives through All Beings (2015-04-23) - The trance of separation is part of our evolutionary heritage, but not the end of the story. This talk explores how several key trainings of the heart can evolve and awaken our capacity to realize connectedness, and the sacredness that shines through this living world.

Meditation: Forgiving Ourselves and Others (2015-04-19) - a guided heart practice from the 2015 IMCW Spring Retreat

2012-03-28 - Attend and Befriend: Healing the Fear Body - Our fear management strategies--versions of fight/flight-- contract our body and mind, and separate us from others. As we learn to pause and contact the bodily fear with a gentle, mindful awareness, our sense of being enlarges. We rediscover our belonging to presence, love and life.

2015-04-29 - Investigating Reality - Beyond an Interpreted World - The skillful use of inquiry - asking questions in a way that energizes and focuses our attention - brings what is hidden into the light of awareness. This talk explores the healing that arises as we investigate the unseen, unfelt parts of our psyche, and the freedom discovered as we look into the very essence of who we are.

2015-04-20 - Meditation: Vipassana witih Instruction - Morning guided meditation and instruction from the 2015 IMCW Spring Retreat

2015-04-20 - Retreat Talk - Loving Yourself into Freedom - The most basic truths we forget, and one is this: if we don't love ourselves, we can't love life. In the most basic way, attending to and embracing our inner life reveals the nature of reality. This talk looks at the genesis of self-aversions and several pathways that open us to the loving presence that is our source.

2015-04-22 - Meditation - Letting Life Be, Just As It Is - from morning instructions at the IMCW 2015 Spring Retreat

2015-04-15 - True Happiness - Realizing Well Being - Well being is the deep contentment that arises from a relaxed, wakeful presence. This talk explores the beliefs and habits that contract us away form presence, and several key ways we can nourish our natural capacity for happiness. 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. With thanks and love, Tara

2015-04-15 - Meditation: Relaxing, Smiling, Being Here

2015-04-08 - Three Liberating Gifts: Part 3 - Looking in the Mirror - This 3 part series is based on a teaching story from the Upanishads that shows our potential to awaken from an ego-based trance and discover the full luminosity and freedom of our natural awareness. In each class we'll explore one of the three gifts considered as essential on the spiritual path. The first is the capacity to forgive, to let go of the blame and resentment that prevents our hearts from being open and free. The second gift is "inner fire," the capacity to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to what we most cherish. The third gift is a "mirror" or the capacity to look deeply into our own hearts and minds and realize the truth of who we are. Each class includes guided meditations that explore how these gifts can be nourished right here and now in our lives. Please support this podcast by donating at www.tarabrach.com or www.imcw.org. Your donations allow us to continue to freely offer the teachings!

2015-04-08 - Meditation: Coming Home to the Senses

2015-04-01 - Three Liberating Gifts: Part 2 - Inner Fire - This 3 part series is based on a teaching story from the Upanishads that shows our potential to awaken from an ego-based trance and discover the full luminosity and freedom of our natural awareness. In each class we'll explore one of the three gifts considered as essential on the spiritual path. The first is the capacity to forgive, to let go of the blame and resentment that prevents our hearts from being open and free. The second gift is "inner fire," the capacity to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to what we most cherish. The third gift is a "mirror" or the capacity to look deeply into our own hearts and minds and realize the truth of who we are. Each class includes guided meditations that explore how these gifts can be nourished right here and now in our lives.

2015-04-01 - Meditation: Listening to and Feeling Life