Embodied Presence (Part 1) – Planting Our Roots in the Universe
In describing our human predicament and dis-ease, D.H. Lawrence says we are like a great tree with our roots in the air. We need to replant ourselves—in our bodies, hearts and spirit. These two talks are guides to replanting ourselves. In Part 1, we explore how we are...
Meditation: Portal to Sacred Presence (22:01 min.)
This meditation includes a full body scan, and then opens the senses to all experience, allowing life to be just as it is. Awakening to the life of our body reveals the mysterious formless presence that is our source. We close with a poem from Danna Faulds. Trust the...
Shifting from Limbic to Liberating Intention
Becoming conscious of our intentions is the first step to truly aligning our life with our heart. This talk explores identifying when we are being driven by grasping and fear, and ways we can bring compassion to unmet needs and discover the deeper longing – the...
Meditation: Coming Home with the Breath (17:47 min.)
This guided practice has a short period of relaxing the body, and establishes the breath as a home base for attention. We practice arriving again and again, deepening the pathway of homecoming. The meditation ends with lovingkindness for ourselves and our world. In...
Blog: Turning Toward Fear with RAIN
Turning Toward Fear with RAIN Adapted from Tara’s new book: Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of R.A.I.N. In a far-off land, word spread far and wide of a holy man with magic so powerful it could relieve the most...
The Three Refuges – Gateways to Belonging and Freedom
We all need ways to guide our attention that allow us to find wisdom, love and freedom in the midst of our lives. This talk reviews three archetypal gateways—Buddha/awareness, Dharma/truth, and Sangha/loving community. Through teachings, guided meditations and a...
Meditation: Relaxed and Awake (17:14 min.)
This guided meditation helps us find ease and wakefulness in our body and mind. With the breath as our home base, we offer a gentle and full attention to the changing waves. We close with a beautiful poem, “Walk Slowly,” by Danna Faulds.
The Power of Awake Awareness (retreat talk)
We all encounter “demons” of fear, anger, hurt, craving and shame. This talk explores our key ways of resisting difficult emotions, and how “when the resistance is gone, the demons are gone.” We look at the power of mindfulness and compassion to undo resistance, and...
Blog – RAIN: A Practice of Radical Compassion
RAIN: A Practice of Radical Compassion Download a free printable guide here: RAIN: A Practice of Radical Compassion (PDF). Português [.pdf]: RAIN: Uma Prática de Compaixão Radical The acronym RAIN is an easy-to-remember tool for bringing mindfulness and compassion to...
Introductory Meditation Instructions – Guided Practice from Retreat (39:02 min.)
This guided session includes an overview of the primary components in meditation practices, and then guidance in awakening the senses, collecting the attention, and opening mindfully to changing experience (from the 2019 IMCW New Year’s 5-Day Silent...
Short Talk and Guided Heart Meditation – Releasing Blame (retreat) (37:50 min.)
This meditation explores the meaning of forgiveness and its role in healing and transformation. We then are guided in a forgiveness practice that helps us release the armoring of blame, and inhabit an inclusive and open heart (given at the Fall 2019 IMCW 7-Day Silent...
Short Talk and Guided Heart Meditation – Loving Kindness – Befriending our Lives (39:29 min.)
This meditation introduces the domain of “heart practices” and then guides us in how to cultivate a deep quality of friendliness in relating to our inner life and each other. The gift of this practice is a direct sense of belonging – knowing that we can never be...
Trusting Who We Are (retreat talk)
When we are suffering, we are believing something untrue – usually a limiting story about who we are. This talk explores the roots of our self-doubts, and the teachings and practices that remind us of our basic goodness – the loving awareness that is our...