Tara Brach

Awakening from Virtual Reality

15 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2009-05-02 - (retreat talk) Awakening from Virtual Reality - This talk examines how we get stuck in identifying as a separate, deficient self, and the...

Longing to Belong

08 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Tara is away this week. Enjoy a favorite talk from 12/9/2009. Spiritual practice reveals our belonging through bringing presence to three gateways: th...

Practicing Meditation: "Getting Out of Your Own Way"

01 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-05-29 - Practicing Meditation: "Getting Out Of Your Own Way" - The depth and vitality of a meditation practice depends on our sincerity, and an a...

Being to Being - Loving Beyond the Trance

25 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-05-22 - Being to Being - Loving Beyond the Trance - We have strong conditioning to relate to each other from a sense of separateness--persona to ...

2013-05-15 Guided Meditation: Open, Wakeful Presence

17 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-05-15 Guided Meditation: Open, Wakeful Presence

Releasing the Barriers to Unconditional Loving

17 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-05-15 - Releasing the Barriors to Unconditional Loving - We long for love and habitually armor our hearts. This talk explores the aggression and ...

2013-05-08-Meditation-Coming-Home-to-Being

11 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-05-08 - Meditation: Coming Home to Being - Enjoy the meditation prior to the talk at Tara's Wednesday night's class at RRUUC.

Remembering Being

11 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-05-08 - Remembering Being - Our fear-based doings block us from realizing the formless dimension of our Being, and living from that source of wis...

Loving Ourselves (Retreat Talk)

05 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-04-28 - Retreat Talk: Loving Ourselves - The greatest truths we forget, and one of them is that if we don't love the life that is right here--wha...

Letting Go Into Living and Dying

25 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-04-24 - Letting Go Into Living and Dying - Our capacity to live and love fully is directly related to our acceptance of change and loss. This tal...

2013-04-17 - Entering the Mystery

17 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-04-17 - Entering the Mystery - John O'Donahue writes, "We are so busy managing our lives, we forget this great mystery we are involved in." This ...

Heavenly Messengers

10 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-04-10 - Heavenly Messengers - Tara interviews Frank Ostaseski, founder of Zen Hospice, on a contemplative approach to death and dying. Please sup...

Part 3: Three Blessings - Looking Into the Mirror

03 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-04-03 - Part 3: Three Blessings - Looking In the Mirror - The third gift on the journey of awakening is the mirror. In this talk we explore how t...

Part 2: Three Blessings - Inner Fire

27 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-03-27 - Part 2: Three Blessings - Inner Fire - Each of us has the longing to manifest our full potential--to realize and live from loving, awake ...

(retreat talk) Self Compassion

20 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2009-10-26 - (retreat talk) Self Compassion - We can only find love and peace in this life if we are able to hold our inner life with compassion. This...

Part 1: Three Blessings of Awakening Consciousness

13 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-03-13 - Part 1: Three Blessings of Awakening Consciousness - In this two part series we explore the evolution of consciousness through the lens o...

(retreat talk) Minting Gold - Embodying the Awakened Heart

06 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2010-12-31 - Minting Gold - Embodying the Awakened Heart - Our core conditioning expresses as both a longing for love and the pain of not trusting we ...

The Fires of Loss

27 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2010-06-16 - The Fires of Loss - We all encounter the great losses of our own health and life, and of cherished others. We are conditioned to resist o...

Beyond the Interpreted World

20 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-02-20 - Beyond the Interpreted World - Hildegard of Bingen writes, "An interpreted world is not a Home." This talk explores the suffering that ar...

The Wings of a Liberating Presence

13 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-02-13 - The Wings of a Liberating Presence - No matter what is happening in our lives, if we relate to our experience with mindful recognition an...

Embodying True Refuge--Serving and Savoring Life

06 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-02-06 - Embodying True Refuge--Serving and Savoring Life - This talk traces the story of the Buddha's awakening, and reflects on four key archety...

Remembering What Matters

30 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-01-30 - Remembering What Matters - Our conscious aspiration toward awakening is what energizes the spiritual path. This talk reviews the main cha...

The God Whom I Love is Inside (2012-12-29) (retreat talk)

23 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2012-12-29 - (retreat talk) The God Whom I Love is Inside - Our suffering arises from unlived life--the fears and loneliness and hurt that we have bee...

Stepping Out of the Cave

16 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-01-16 - Stepping Out of the Cave - If we are suffering it is because we are believing something that is not true. This talk explores the genesis...

The Barriers to Loving Presence

09 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-01-09 - The Barriers to Loving Presence - You might reflect on someone important to you, and ask: "What is between me and loving fully?" Notice w...

Finding True Refuge

02 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

2013-01-02 - Finding True Refuge - This talk explores the three classic gateways to peace and freedom and includes a living ritual that invites us to ...

Meditation - Awakening Compassion (from retreat)

26 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-12-31 - Meditation - Awakening Compassion - Our deepest wisdom and purest actions arise out of open-hearted presence. This meditation is drawn fr...

Turning Toward the Light

19 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-12-19 - Turning Toward the Light - This solstice talk explores how, in the face of darkness - unconsciousness, ignorance, violence - we can call ...

Forgiving Our Way to Freedom

12 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-12-12 - A Forgiving Heart - Living with chronic blame or resentment is a trance that confines us to a limited fragment of what we are. This talk...

A Forgiving Heart - Embracing our Inner Life

05 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-12-05 - A Forgiving Heart - Embracing our Inner Life - Self-aggression, whether it's low key blame or deep condemnation, prevents us from intimac...

Guided Meditation - A Forgiving Heart

28 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-11-28 - Guided Meditation - A Forgiving Heart - Forgiveness is the letting go of armor we have erected around our heart. While forgiving is a lif...

Gratitude and Generosity - Markings of Inner Freedom

21 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-11-21 - Gratitude and Generosity - Markings of Inner Freedom - Those who are genuinely happy, are also naturally grateful for life and generous i...

Hands Off the Controls

14 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-11-14 - Hands Off the Controls - We are deeply conditioned to respond to impermanence and inevitable loss by trying to control our experience. Ou...

Practical Dharma for Stressful Times

07 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-11-07 - Practical Dharma for Stressful Times - When we are caught in a stress reaction, we are in a trance that cuts us off from our creativity, ...

Loving the Life Within Us (retreat talk)

27 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-10-27 - Loving the Life Within Us (retreat talk) - If we don't love the life we consider "self," we will not realize or live from the loving awar...

Wise Investigation: Dissolving the Trance

24 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-10-24 - Wise Investigation: Dissolving the Trance - If we are suffering, it is because we are believing something that is not true and caught in ...

Question and Response with Tara

17 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-10-17 - Question and Response with Tara - Please support this podcast by donating at www.tarabrach.com or www.imcw.org. Your donations allow us t...

Part 2 - Wise Intention--Living in Truth

10 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-10-10 - Part 2 - Wise Intention--Living in Truth - Evolution has conditioned us to identify as an egoic self and to protect that identity. A key ...

Part 1 - Wise Intention--the Compass of our Hearts

03 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-10-03 - Part 1 - Wise Intention--the Compass of our Hearts - One of the most powerful spiritual practices in the world is to reflect on your hear...

Part 2 - Embodied Spirit

26 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-09-26 - Part 2 - Embodied Spirit - Our body--this changing field of sensation--is a portal into pure Being. These talks explore the resistance we...

Part 1 - Embodied Spirit

19 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-09-19 - Part 1 - Embodied Spirit - Our body--this changing field of sensation--is a portal into pure Being. These talks explore the resistance we...

The Freedom of Yes

12 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-09-12 - The Freedom of Yes - How do we accept ourselves or others when our actions are causing harm? Does acceptance mean passivity? Does it unde...

Trance of the Unreal Other

05 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-09-05 - Trance of the Unreal Other - We are conditioned to perceive people as unreal others- two dimensional characters who lack sentience, vulne...

Intimacy with Our Inner Life

29 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-08-29 - Intimacy with Our Inner Life - Jung wrote that our suffering arises from the unseen, unfelt parts of our psyche. This talk explores ways ...

Part 2 - 1000 Serious Moves

22 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-08-22 - Part 2 - 1000 Serious Moves - We easily habituate to feeling stressed, leaning forward, trying to figure things out and get things done. ...

1000 Serious Moves

15 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-08-15 - 1000 Serious Moves - We easily habituate to feeling stressed, leaning forward, trying to figure things out and get things done. The unde...

Real But Not True

08 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-08-08 - Real but not True - One of the most liberating realizations is that we don't have to believe our thoughts. In this talk we look at the s...

Back to the Garden

01 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-08-01 - Back to the Garden - The suffering of perceiving ourselves as separate selves expresses as fear, aggression, shame and a host of other af...

Listening with an Awake Heart

25 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-07-25 - Listening with an Awake Heart - Listening to our inner life and each other is the grounds of healing, intimacy and love. This talk explo...

(retreat talk) Our True Nature--Emptiness Dancing

18 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

(retreat talk) 2011-10-12 - Our True Nature--Emptiness Dancing - The most profound question in spiritual life is "who (or what) am I?" This talk explo...

(from Retreat) Introduction to the Heart Practices

11 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-04-28 - Introduction to the Heart Practices - These instructions on the heart practices were given at the IMCW 2012 Spring Retreat. A guided lovi...

Part 2 - Freedom: Taking the Backward Step

04 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-07-04 - Part 2 - Freedom: Taking the Backward Step - This talk investigates the core conditioning that creates and sustains trance. We then explo...

Part 1 - Freedom: Seeing Who is Looking Through the Mask

27 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-6-27 - Part 1 - Freedom: Seeing Who is Looking Through the Mask - We suffer when we are identified with our egoic conditioning and unable to reco...

Cultivating Equanimity (Duck Meditation)

20 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-06-20 - Cultivating Equanimity (Duck Meditation) - Equinimity, the mindful presence that neither grasps nor resists experience, is the grounds fo...

Committing to Joy

13 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-06-13 - Committing to Joy - What makes joy rare? How do we awaken this beautiful capacity to embrace life? In this talk we explore the obstacles ...

Cultivating Compassion

06 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-06-06 - Cultivating Compassion - We each have the potential to live with a compassionate, open heart. In this talk we explore the conditioning th...

Intimacy with Life - Awakening Love

30 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-05-30 - Intimacy with Life - Awakening Love - The Buddha taught about four Divine Abodes--dwelling places of the awakened heart mind: lovingkindn...

Training for Intimacy with Life

23 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-05-23 - Training for Intimacy with Life - "Enlightenment is intimacy with all things" teaches Zen Master Dogen. While we long for this intimacy,...

Part 2: The Lion's Roar

16 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-05-16 - Part 2: The Lion's Roar - The Buddha taught that faith--trust in our true nature--is intrinsic to the spiritual path and the expression o...

Part 1: The Lion's Roar

09 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-05-09 - Part 1: The Lion's Roar - The Buddha taught that faith--trust in our true nature--is intrinsic to the spiritual path and the expression o...

Be Who You Are (Retreat Talk)

02 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-05-02 - (Retreat Talk) Be Who You Are - By bringing a surrendering presence to mental, emotional and physical domains, we undo the trance of sepa...

The World in Our Heart

25 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-04-25 - The World in Our Heart - Some contemporary evolutionary theories track our development from survival of the fittest to group selection wh...

Open Heart, Open Mind

18 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-04-18 - Open Heart, Open Mind - Tsoknyi Rinpoche with Tara Brach - In talking about his new book, Tibetan teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche describes the ...

A Mindful Nation

11 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-04-14 - A Mindful Nation - One of the great sources of hope is the "quiet revolution" of mindfulness that is appearing in schools, hospitals, pri...

Beyond the Prison of Beliefs

04 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-04-04 - Beyond the Prison of Beliefs - Most of us have core fear beliefs that obscure our true nature and bind us in repeating patterns of painfu...

Alchemy of Wise Effort in Spiritual Life

21 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-03-21 - Alchemy of Wise Effort in Spiritual Life - The ground of wise effort is our sincere intentionality toward presence, love and freedom. Yet...

Flowering, From Within, of Self-Blessing

14 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-03-14 - Flowering, From Within, of Self-Blessing - This line from poet Galway Kinnell reminds us of the possibility of meeting our inner life wit...

Freedom in the Midst of Difficulty

07 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-03-07 - Freedom in the Midst of Difficulty - We suffer when we forget who we are and get caught in a limited sense of self. This talk explores ho...

Embodied Presence: Gateway to Intimacy and Freedom

29 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-02-29 - Embodied Presence: Gateway to Intimacy and Freedom - We often move through the day in a reactive trance, removed from the aliveness of ou...

Opening the Lotus of Your Heart

22 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-02-03 - Opening the Lotus of Your Heart - (from 2012 Women's Retreat) Our reaction to life's stress is to contract, and we live many moments with...

Guided Meditation: Letting Life Live Through Us

15 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-02-08 - Guided Meditation: Letting Life Live Through Us - Meditation ends with poem by Roger Keyes, "Hokusai Says." Please support this podcast ...

Questions, Guided Meditation and Group Sharings

08 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-02-08 - Questions, Guided Meditation and Group Sharings - Led by Tara. Please support this podcast by donating at www.tarabrach.com or www.imcw.o...

Part 2 - Three Blessings on the Journey

01 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-02-01 - Part 2 - Three Blessings on the Journey - Drawing on a wonderful teaching story from the Upanishads, these two talks explore the role of ...

Part 1 - Three Blessings on the Journey

25 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-01-25 - Part 1 - Three Blessings on the Journey - Drawing on a wonderful teaching story from the Upanishads, these two talks explore the role of ...

Part 2 - Trusting Your Basic Goodness

18 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-01-18 - Part 2 - Trusting Your Basic Goodness - Einstein says the most important question we will ever ask ourselves is, "Is this universe a frie...

Part 1 - Trusting Your Basic Goodness

11 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-01-11 - Part 1 - Trusting Your Basic Goodness - Einstein says the most important question we will ever ask ourselves is, "Is this universe a frie...

Taking Refuge

04 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

2012-01-04 - Taking Refuge - This class explores the three classic gateways to true refuge - Buddha (awareness), Dharma (path, truth of reality) and S...

The Blessings of Embodied Presence

29 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-12-29 - The Blessings of Embodied Presence (retreat talk) - All that we cherish - love, creativity, wisdom and aliveness - becomes available when...

No Mud No Lotus

21 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-12-21 - No Mud No Lotus - Our attitude in the face of life's challenges determines our suffering or our freedom. This solstice talk explores the ...

The Dance of Relational Trance

14 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-12-14 - The Dance of Relational Trance - When we become emotionally reactive in our relationships, we often go into a trance that creates separat...

The Backward Step

07 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-12-07 - The Backward Step - Our habit is to think we are on our way someplace else, and that our happiness is to be found outside ourselves. Yet ...

Genuine Acceptance

30 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2009-08-26 - Our capacity to accept this life is key to our freedom, yet there are many misconceptions about acceptance: People wonder, if acceptance ...

Pathways to a Grateful Heart

23 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-11-23 - Pathways to a Grateful Heart - When we are filled with gratitude, we are living from the most sincere, awake part of our being. This tal...

Mindful Speech

16 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-11-16 - Mindful Speech - Deception, gossip and aggressive speech are pervasive in our culture. This talk looks at the roots of these forms of com...

The Space of Presence

09 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-11-09 - The Space of Presence - The perception of "there's not enough time or space" in life blocks our natural capacity for intimacy, creativity...

Divine Abodes: Equanimity

02 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-11-02 - Divine Abodes: Equanimity - Equanimity is the mental state of balance and non-reactivity that arises when we are resting in open, wakeful...

Divine Abodes: Joy

26 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-10-26 - Divine Abodes: Joy - Joy is an innate capacity, an expression of unconditional presence with life. Yet for many, it is blocked by our con...

Divine Abodes: Compassion

19 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-10-19 - Divine Abodes: Compassion - We cultivate compassion by letting ourselves be touched by the suffering within and around us. Because our c...

Unconditional Love for the Life Within

08 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-10-08 - Unconditional Love for the Life Within - (Retreat Talk) The tyranny of "should" prevents us from living and loving fully. This talk explo...

Divine Abodes: Lovingkindness

05 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-10-05 - Divine Abodes: Lovingkindness - Love is the most basic expression of who we are, and yet it is often obscured by the trance of separation...

Causing No Harm

28 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-09-28 - Causing No Harm - The mindstates behind violence--anger and fear--are universal and natural. If they possess us and drive our actions, we...

Part 2 - Do You Make Regular Visits to Yourself?

21 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-09-21 - Part 2 - Do You Make Regular Visits to Yourself? - These two classes cover the basic instructions for Buddhist mindfulness (vipassana or...

Part 1 - Do You Make Regular Visits to Yourself?

14 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-09-14 - Part 1 - Do You Make Regular Visits to Yourself? - These two classes cover the basic instructions for Buddhist mindfulness (vipassana or...

Finding The Juice Inside Fear

07 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-09-07 - Finding The Juice Inside of Fear - Learning to bring a mindful presence to fear is an intrinsic part of spiritual awakening. In this talk...

Befriending Irene

31 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-08-31 - Befriending Irene - Whether you face chronic anxiety or more violent storms of fear and anger, you can cultivate the wings of freedom--th...

Wholehearted Living

24 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-08-24 - Wholehearted Living - What stops us from being wholehearted in our relationships and life? This talk explores the conditioning that keeps...

The Gift of Silence

17 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2007-09-26 - The Gift of Silence - Through all spiritual traditions, there is a valuing of silence and stillness. When the mind has quieted, it become...

Relating Wisely to Desire

10 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-08-10 - Relating Wisely to Desire - Without desire, this world would not exist. While this universal energy is entirely natural, if we are not m...

Learning to Respond, Not React

03 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-08-03 - Learning to Respond, Not React - When life doesn't go our way, we often launch into a chain reaction of obsessive thinking, blaming and u...

Part 2: The Mystery of Who We Are

27 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

2011-07-27 - Part 2: The Mystery of Who We Are - Everything we cherish--love, creativity, wisdom, aliveness-- arises out of our capacity to arrive in ...