Talks: Reflections on the Path

Trusting Who We Are (retreat talk)

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 source (given at the...

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Gratitude: Entering Sacred Relationship

Gratitude: Entering Sacred Relationship

Gratitude arises when we are in sacred relationship with life—present, open and receptive. This talk explores how central gratitude is to our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, and then looks at the ways we can directly gladden our minds with gratitude. We end with a...

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Listening to the Song – Part 2 – “Removing the Fluff”

Listening to the Song – Part 2 – “Removing the Fluff”

Listening is our gateway to intimacy with our inner life, each other, our earth and spirit. These two talks look at the ways that listening gets blocked and the teachings and practices that help us cultivate the gift of a deep and healing listening presence. When Someone Deeply...

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Listening to the Song – Part 1

Listening to the Song – Part 1

Listening is our gateway to intimacy with our inner life, each other, our earth and spirit. These two talks look at the ways that listening gets blocked and the teachings and practices that help us cultivate the gift of a deep and healing listening presence. To listen is to...

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Judgment, Acceptance and Freedom (Retreat Talk)

Judgment, Acceptance and Freedom (Retreat Talk)

The boundary to what we accept is the boundary to our freedom. This talk explores the often unconscious ways we create separation by judging ourselves and others, and the key pathways of meditation practice that release the habit of blame and free our hearts. Really honoring...

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Anger: Responding, Not Reacting

Anger: Responding, Not Reacting

Anger is natural, intelligent and necessary for surviving and flourishing. Yet when we are hooked by anger, it causes great personal and collective suffering. This talk explores how to transform patterns of reactivity by bringing a mindful and compassionate attention to the...

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Belonging to Each Other – Part 3 of 3

Belonging to Each Other – Part 3 of 3

Mother Teresa writes that if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. These three talks explore the causes for severed belonging, and pathways to deepening the felt sense of belonging to our own body, heart and spirit, and to all beings....

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Belonging to Each Other – Part 2 of 3

Belonging to Each Other – Part 2 of 3

Mother Teresa writes that if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. These three talks explore the causes for severed belonging, and pathways to deepening the felt sense of belonging to our own body, heart and spirit, and to all beings....

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Belonging to Each Other – Part 1 of 3

Belonging to Each Other – Part 1 of 3

Mother Teresa writes that if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. These three talks explore the causes for severed belonging, and pathways to deepening the felt sense of belonging to our own body, heart and spirit, and to all beings....

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Spiritual Hope: Trusting Your Awakening Heart

Spiritual Hope: Trusting Your Awakening Heart

Our beliefs and understandings about reality directly impact our moment to moment experience of living. If we believe we will never change, that blocks the transformation that brings happiness and freedom. If we trust our spiritual unfolding and are open to possibility, that...

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Wise Investigation: Dissolving the Trance

Wise Investigation: Dissolving the Trance

If we are suffering, it is because we are believing something that is not true and caught in emotional reactivity. A key tool in meditation is investigation – actively inquiring into what is happening inside us. When we investigate with sincere interest and care, the light of...

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True Happiness: Realizing Well-Being

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 from presence, and several key ways we can nourish our natural capacity for happiness. Happiness cannot be found through great effort...

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The Gift of Silence: Quieting the Mind

The Gift of Silence: Quieting the Mind

Through all spiritual traditions, there is a valuing of silence and stillness. When the mind has quieted, it becomes possible to see into the truth of what we are. Yet quieting can turn into a battle with the process of the thinking mind. This talk explores practices that allow...

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Befriending Irene

Befriending Irene

While Tara is away, this talk is from 2011 after Hurricane Irene hit us with fury. Dorian is now leaving its destruction behind, just as we work with our stormy weather within. Whether you face chronic anxiety or more violent storms of fear and anger, you can cultivate the...

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Earth’s Crisis: On the Edge of the Roof

Earth’s Crisis: On the Edge of the Roof

This talk was given in 2015, yet it is as timely as ever. It views the ecological dis-ease of our planet through the lens of our evolutionary unfolding. We explore the egoic trance that has precipitated the destruction of our environment, and the inner practices of presence...

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“Good Othering” – Helping Each Other Trust the Gold

“Good Othering” – Helping Each Other Trust the Gold

One of the great gifts we can offer is being a mirror of goodness, reminding one another that we can trust our essential awareness, light and love. Because our conditioning is to fixate on flaws, “good othering" takes intention and practice. This talk explores how we can...

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