Audio and Video Dharma (Teaching Talks) — Library 2012
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The talks below are freely available. All files are in .mp3 format - you can play them on your computer, iPod, or other .mp3 player. To download, right-click (or Control-click on the Mac) and select "Save As" or "Save Target As."
Most of the talks below were given at Wednesday nights at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Bethesda, MD at 7:30pm.
Featured talk: Tara was recently interviewed for the “Talk with Francesca” radio show (talkwithfrancesca.com). It was aired on January 1, 2012 at Boston’s WWZN radio. Below is a link to the recording and Francesca’s comment.
| Date | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 05/09/2012 | Guided Meditation - Dance of Sensation | 24:36 |
| 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 of wisdom. These two talks investigate the practices of presence that awaken our faith and the freedom that arises when our faith becomes radiant and full. |
54:11 | |
| 05/02/2012 | (a meditation to be posted - on retreat last week!) | |
| (Retreat Talk) Be Who You Are
By bringing a surrendering presence to mental, emotional and physical domains, we undo the trance of separation and discover our true nature. This talk explores the practices that cultivate the non-resisting space of presence, and the flavors of our essential being that are revealed: open awareness, love and a vibrant flow of awareness. |
1:02:14 | |
| 04/25/2012 | Guided Meditation - "Sacred Ground of Awareness" | 25:14 |
| The World in Our Heart
Some contemporary evolutionary theories track our development from survival of the fittest to group selection whereby we have the capacity for cooperation and empathy. This talk explores how our meditation practice of attending and befriending consciously facilitates the unfolding of our full evolutionary potential. The talk includes a guided meditation that helps us widen the circles of belonging to include all beings. |
59:41 | |
| 04/18/2012 | Guided Meditation - "Dropping Into Awareness" with Tsoknyi Rinpoche |
26:55 |
| Open Heart, Open Mind - with Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Tsoknyi Rinpoche (in conversation with Tara Brach) - In talking about his new book, Tibetan teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche describes the layers of self that cover over our "essence love," and the way that mindfulness reconnects us to our true nature. His stories, humor and teachings are vibrant and inspiring! |
1:04:36 | |
| 04/11/2012 | Guided Meditation | 21:41 |
| A Mindful Nation - with US Congressman Tim Ryan
One of the great sources of hope is the "quiet revolution" of mindfulness that is appearing in schools, hospitals, prisons, the military, corporate settings and the lives of millions of people around the world. In this talk, US Congressman Tim Ryan points to highlights of this revolution--which are reviewed in his compelling new book, A Mindful Nation. He shares about his own personal experience with mindfulness practice and his commitment to seeing the mindfulness and compassion at the center of our work for a better future. |
53:22 | |
| 04/04/2012 | Guided Meditation
Guided Meditation - In the Body (shorter without the Om's) |
25:22 19:56 |
| Beyond the Prison of Beliefs
Most of us have core fear beliefs that obscure our true nature and bind us in repeating patterns of painful emotions and behavior. This talk looks at the beliefs that limit us and the freedom that is possible when we investigate them with a kind, mindful awareness. |
53:38 | |
| 03/28/2012 | Guided Meditation | 25:59 |
| 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. (See "Attend and Befriend: Healing the Fear Body" in video.) |
59:51 | |
| 03/21/2012 | Guided Meditation - Let Go Into Now | 24:23 |
| Alchemy of Wise Effort in Spiritual Life
The ground of wise effort is our sincere intentionality toward presence, love and freedom. Yet our habit is to go into trance, and latch on to narrowed intentions of self-enhancement or defense. When this goes on for years, we feel disappointment in our lives, a sense of not being true to ourselves. Through guided reflections, we explore how--in spiritual practice and in relationships--we can connect with our deepest intention and live in a way that expresses our awakening heart and awareness. (See "Alchemy of Wise Effort in Spiritual Life" in video) |
58:24 | |
| 03/14/2012 | Guided Meditation - The Dance of Sensations | 23:59 |
| Flowering, From Within, of Self-Blessing
This line from poet Galway Kinnell reminds us of the possibility of meeting our inner life with a loving, healing presence. When we do, we loosen the trance of unworthiness and reconnect with our intrinsic goodness. In turn, we can offer our blessings to others--serving as reminders of the awareness and love that can blossom in all beings. (See "Flowering, From Within, of Self-Blessing" in video.) |
57:05 | |
| 03/07/2012 | Guided Meditation - Meeting Life with Your Whole Body | 26:41 |
| 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 how we become identified with a sliver of what we are, and the pathway to remembering our wholeness. When we know we're the ocean, we are free to relate to the waves with respect, compassion and love. (See "Freedom in the Midst of Difficulty" in video.) |
1:01:15 | |
| 02/29/2012 | Guided Meditation - Portal of Aliveness | 23:50 |
| Embodied Presence: Gateway to Intimacy and Freedom
We often move through the day in a reactive trance, removed from the aliveness of our bodies and this natural world. This talk explores how coming home to our bodies awakens us to living love, creativity and the deepest realization of who we are. (See "Embodied Presence: Gateway to Intimacy and Freedom" in video.) |
57:12 | |
| 02/22/2012 | Opening the Lotus of Your Heart Our reaction to life's stress is to contract, and we live many moments with a tight body, clenched heart and narrowed mind. This talk explores how deepening attention can reconnect us with our natural openness and radiance. (Tara was away these two weeks - 2/15 and 2/22 - on vacation. Enjoy her talk from the 2012 Women's Retreat on 2/3/2012.) |
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| 02/08/2012 | Guided Meditation - Letting Life Live Through Us | 25:22 |
| Questions, Guided Meditation and Group Sharing
Led by Tara |
51:26 | |
| 02/01/2012 | Guided Meditation | 24:59 |
| Part 2: Three Blessings on the Journey
Drawing on a wonderful teaching story from the Upanishads, these two talks explore the role of forgiveness, inner fire and looking at our own minds, in finding freedom. (See "Three Blessings on the Journey: Parts 1 & 2" in video.) |
54:27 | |
| 01/25/2012 | Guided Meditation | 26:44 |
| Part 1: Three Blessings on the Journey
Drawing on a wonderful teaching story from the Upanishads, these two talks explore the role of forgiveness, inner fire and looking at our own minds, in finding freedom. (See "Three Blessings on the Journey: Parts 1 & 2" in video.) |
57:22 | |
| 01/18/2012 | Guided Meditation | 24:40 |
| Part 2: Trusting Your Basic Goodness Einstein says the most important question we will ever ask ourselves is, "Is this universe a friendly place?" Do we trust that there is something essentially benevolent or good about this universe? That we are essentially good? These two talks explore what it means to trust basic goodness, and how this trust naturally emerges through cultivating a meditative presence. (See "Trusting Your Basic Goodness: Parts 1 & 2" in video.) |
56:49 | |
| 01/11/2012 | Guided Meditation | 26:35 |
| Part 1: Trusting Your Basic Goodness Einstein says the most important question we will ever ask ourselves is, "Is this universe a friendly place?" Do we trust that there is something essentially benevolent or good about this universe? That we are essentially good? These two talks explore what it means to trust basic goodness, and how this trust naturally emerges through cultivating a meditative presence. (See "Trusting Your Basic Goodness: Parts 1 & 2" in video.) |
57:30 | |
| 01/04/2012 | Guided Meditation | 23:29 |
| Taking Refuge This class explores the three classic gateways to true refuge - Buddha (awareness); Dharma (path, truth of reality) and Sangha (spiritual friends, loving relatedness). It includes reflections and a ceremony that supports us in remembering the pathway home. (See "Taking Refuge" in video.) |
1:02:41 | |
| 1/1/2012 | Talk with Francesca Show
Tara was recently interviewed for the “Talk with Francesca” radio show (talkwithfrancesca.com). It was aired on January 1, 2012 at Boston’s WWZN radio. Here’s the recording and Francesca’s comment: "Today I interviewed Tara Brach, author of "Radical Acceptance." A brilliant woman, she explained how to end the trance to suffering and pain. It's not that we don't or won't feel pain, however, we can hurt a whole lot less if we would just allow ourselves to accept life exactly as it is rather than fighting it, changing it and reworking things to avoid what needs to be processed. Meditation and mindfulness is key to getting there. Her book is a favorite....a must have for those who want to come home to ourselves." |
23:40 |
| 12/29/2011 | Tara was teaching at the IMCW 2011-12 New Year's Retreat this week. Below is a link to her talk from the retreat. | |
| The Blessings of Embodied Presence All that we cherish - love, creativity, wisdom and aliveness - becomes available when we come home to an embodied presence. This talk looks at how the two wings of mindfulness and compassion guide us in the midst of difficulty to our inner sanctuary of freedom. |
57:27 | |
| 12/21/2011 | Guided Meditation | 23:56 |
| No Mud, No Lotus Our attitude in the face of life's challenges determines our suffering or our freedom. This solstice talk explores the light of compassion that blossoms when we honor our difficult times with a deep, mindful attention. This solstice evening includes chanting, singing and a candlelighting ceremony. (See "No Mud, No Lotus" in video.) Dharma: The Musical - La Sarmiento (7:31 minutes) La performs three dharma spoof songs for the 2011 IMCW Solstice Celebration. The first - "Waking Up is Hard to Do" - is about the delusion that suffering is easier than the effort it takes to wake up. The second - "Let it go, Let it go, Let it go" (written by Maureen Brady of the Snowflower Sangha in Madison, WI) - is about the practice of holiday equanimity. And the third - "My Mind's Prison Blues" - is a summary of the dharma and practice in the spirit of Johnny Cash. (Lyrics for 1st and 3rd songs by La Sarmiento). (See "Dharma: The Musical" in video.) |
54:48 |