Tara Talks – Guided Reflection: From “If Only” Trance to Open-Hearted Presence (7:47 min.)
When we notice that we’re in the trance of “if-only” mind, we can choose to re-open and surrender to what is right here. When we make that U-Turn and stay with our experience with kindness, we find a sense of goodness in that presence. This is the beginning of joy....
Compassion – Part 2 of Present Heart: The Universal Expressions of Love
Part 2: Compassion – the tender resonance of heart – awakens as we allow ourselves to be touched by our shared vulnerability. This series reflects on four primary expressions of an awake, wise heart: lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. In each...
Tara Talks: Impermanence of the Body (5:54 min. video)
Aging, sickness and dying are treated as something “bad” to be fought. Truly opening to the reality that every body in the universe continually changes can awaken us to the ‘who we are’ that’s larger than the changing flow. Listen and watch the full talk...
Lovingkindness – Part 1 of Present Heart: The Universal Expressions of Love
Part 1: Lovingkindness – We awaken our natural lovingkindness by learning to attend to and take in the goodness of this life. This series reflects on four primary expressions of an awake, wise heart: lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. In each talk...
Part 3 of 3 – Freedom from Othering: Undoing the Myths that Imprison Us
A primary source of our suffering is the conditioning to create “bad other,” or “inferior other.” This same conditioning leads us to creating a bad self and turn on ourselves. These three talks explore how we subscribe to societal myths and beliefs that perpetuate...
Part 2 of 3 – Freedom from Othering: Undoing the Myths that Imprison Us
A primary source of our suffering is the conditioning to create “bad other,” or “inferior other.” This same conditioning leads us to creating a bad self and turn on ourselves. These three talks explore how we subscribe to societal myths and beliefs that...
Part 1 of 3 – Freedom from Othering: Undoing the Myths that Imprison Us
A primary source of our suffering is the conditioning to create “bad other,” or “inferior other.” This same conditioning leads us to creating a bad self and turn on ourselves. These three talks explore how we subscribe to societal myths and beliefs that perpetuate...
Winds of Homecoming: How Intention Frees Our Heart
The Buddha taught that we live our lives on the tip of intention, it is the seed of our future. This talk explores the difference between “limbic” intentions driven by grasping or fear, and intentions that are the call of our awakening heart. You will learn how to...
Three Gateways to Peace and Freedom
Three Gateways to Peace and Freedom ~ This talk explores the three archetypal refuges of truth, love and awareness. We look at the outer and inner aspects of each refuge, and then through guided reflections and a Refuge Ritual, deepen our commitment to the pathways...
Remembering and Choosing Loving Presence (retreat talk)
We are conditioned to go into a limbic trance—an emotional reactivity to life within and around us—that keeps us identified with a limited, separate sense of self. This talk helps us to identify the flags of trance, and to bring a healing attention that frees us to...
My Religion is Kindness – Part 2
Authentic kindness must include the life within us. These two talks examine the movement from an armored to a free and loving heart. The first looks at how we can awaken from the trance of unworthiness and establish a genuinely caring relationship with our inner life....
My Religion is Kindness – Part 1
My Religion is Kindness – Part 1 ~ Authentic kindness must include the life within us. These two talks examine the movement from an armored to a free and loving heart. The first looks at how we can awaken from the trance of unworthiness and establish a genuinely...
A Grateful, Giving, Happy Heart
Gratitude is like breathing in – letting ourselves be touched by the goodness in others and in our world. Generosity is like breathing out – sensing our mutual belonging and offering our care. When we are awake and whole, breathing in and out happens...