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The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Tara Brach's Dharma Talks
Tara Brach
A pervasive but often invisible source of suffering in our culture is self-aversion. We are a busy culture, and we move through our life feeling anxious and dissatisfied, but not fully conscious of how we neglect or judge our inner experience. We suffer from a lack of belonging: to our own bodies, to each other and to the earth. When we practice Buddhist meditation, we learn how to listen deeply and hold our life tenderly.
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2008-08-27 Listening To Our Life 1:21:28
Listening in a full and open way allows us to come home to our natural state--awake, vast awareness. In an immediate way, a listening attention dissolves the tangles of fear and craving that obscure our wholeness. This class includes both a talk and guided meditations on deep listening to our inner experience and with others.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-08-20 Behind The Mask 1:16:13
We each develop and become identified with masks that express a false or narrowed sense of self. Whether it's the helper mask or addict mask, the controller mask or loser mask, the beliefs and emotions creating the mask prevent us from realizing our natural wholeness and beauty. This talk explores how, in the face of inevitable change and loss, we can remember the presence and love that is peering through the mask.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-08-13 Let Everything Happen To You 1:16:40
The ways we try to control our life imprisons us in a contracted, fearful sense of self. Yet when we contemplate letting go of control, there is a sense that we will be endangered, that we will fail, that something will go wrong. This talk explores how, if we have the courage to "let everything happen" we discover a presence that is healing and freeing. As we learn to live from this allowing presence, our actions become naturally wholesome and wise.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-07-09 Three Attitudes That Awaken And Free Our Spirit 1:13:12
Our predicament is intuiting our true nature--love, awareness--and yet regularly contracting into the self-identity conditioned by wants and fears. This talk explores three essential and liberating ways of relating to our human conditioning: forgiving that it arises, interest in what is true, and regarding experience with friendliness and kindness.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-07-02 Conscious Activity 1:19:34
Most meditation guidance is aimed at formal sitting practice. Yet we spend much of our lives "doing" activities and often, in a way that lacks presence. This talk explores the practical ways that we can transform ego-based doing into activity that is aligned with our heart and expresses our natural creativity, joy and wisdom.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-06-25 The Blessings Of Soul Recognition 1:20:37
Based on one of the great legends from the court of King Arthur, this talk examines the freedom that is possible when we can see past the veil of illusion and realize the true nature that shines through all beings.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-06-18 Planting Yourself In The Universe 1:13:44
One understanding of suffering is that as individuals and a culture we are uprooted, that we have disconnected from our natural world, our inner life and a sense of belonging with each other. Some flags are speediness and over consumption, anxiety and depression. This talk explores how we have become uprooted and the three gateways of rediscovering our natural wholeness, spontaneity and inner freedom.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-06-11 Question/Answer: Working With The Difficult Weather 1:19:31
In this talk Tara responds to questions from participants on how to bring a healing attention to anger, sleepiness, great loss and the wounds of our world. She grounds the teachings in the two wings of clear recognition (of what is happening) and an allowing presence, one that is full with compassion.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-05-28 My Religion Is Kindness 1:13:33
The expression of inner freedom is a kind heart. This talk explores how we armor our hearts, and the pathways of awakening our natural capacity for loving unconditionally. The session includes an experiential inquiry that helps reveal the ways we create separation, and the possibility of healing and freeing our heart.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-05-21 Vesak - Path Of Awakening 1:18:49
In the Buddhist tradition, the spring celebration of Vesak honors the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. The archetypal theme that plays through these three events, and the core teaching of the Buddha, is that we each have the capacity to realize profound inner freedom, happiness and peace. We are no different than the Buddha, and our path is to realize the luminosity of our spirit.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-05-14 Golfing With Monkeys 1:10:36
The Buddha taught that in any moment that we have an argument with life, we suffer. This talk explores the ways we are conditioned to think life should be different, and how the natural arising of unpleasant experience becomes locked into suffering. An experiential reflection guides us in how to respond, rather than react, to life's challenges...inhabiting a wise heart.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-04-30 Realizing Our Natural Joy: II 1:10:40
In the Buddhist teachings, joy is a natural expression of our awakened heart. In these two talks we will explore how we block off joy, and ways that we can cultivate and embody this intrinsic facet of our being.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-04-26 Homecoming To The Awakened Heart 52:13
In the face of inevitable hurts, disappointments and losses, what serves spiritual awakening? This talk explores the gifts of a forgiving heart, devotion and self-inquiry.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Loving What Is: Insight Meditation Weekend
2008-04-23 Realizing Our Natural Joy: I 1:14:10
In the Buddhist teachings, joy is a natural expression of our awakened heart. In these two talks we will explore how we block off joy, and ways that we can cultivate and embody this intrinsic facet of our being.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-04-16 Meeting Fear With A Wise Heart - part 2 1:15:58
These talks investigate how fear, nature's protector, proliferates and becomes a trance of fear and the cause of deep suffering. We look at the "body of fear"- the thoughts, physicality, emotions and behaviors that express and fuel the trance of fear. Through stories and guided reflections we explore the ways that Buddhist meditation can free us from the grip of unhealthy fear.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-04-09 Meeting Fear With A Wise Heart - part 1 1:10:54
These talks investigate how fear, nature's protector, proliferates and becomes a trance of fear and the cause of deep suffering. We look at the "body of fear"- the thoughts, physicality, emotions and behaviors that express and fuel the trance of fear. Through stories and guided reflections we explore the ways that Buddhist meditation can free us from the grip of unhealthy fear.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-04-02 A Wise Understanding Of Desire 1:13:30
We lose huge swaths of our life when caught in wanting experience to be more and different. Yet if we bring a mindful presence to the thoughts and feelings of wanting, we discover a portal into full aliveness and freedom. This talk explores how to recognize and investigate wanting mind; how by tracing longing back to it's very source we discover that what we long for is already here.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-03-26 The Two Wolves 69:37
Empathy and aggression are both part of our evolutionary survival equipment. We awaken spiritually as we bring awareness to the vulnerability that drives aggression, and discover that we can directly cultivate our capacity to experience loving connection.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-03-19 Our Heart's Aspiration 1:13:51
This talk weaves two teachings that are key to awakening. "The most important thing is remembering the most important thing" helps us be guided by the compass of our heart in living our lives. And discovering that "what we long for is already here" lets us trust that the love or peace we seek is found in the fullness of presence.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-03-12 Befriending The Deities 1:15:01
The fruit of practice is releasing our identification with core beliefs and fear-based emotions, and realizing and inhabiting our Natural awareness. This is described as the N in RAIN - an acronym that can guide us in awakening loving presence.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-03-05 The Art Of Practice: Rain 1:19:52
This second class in the Art of Practice reviews the basic components of meditation training and illustrates through several stories, the use of the acronym RAIN in awakening loving presence. The session includes a period of question/answer.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-02-27 The Art Of Practice: Mindfulness 1:12:58
In the Art of Practice, we explore key techniques in preparing the grounds for true meditation. These include relaxation, identifying a home base, awakening the senses and re-mindfulness. These "skillful means" allow us to arrive Here, and to rest in a natural mindfulness, awake and open awareness.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-02-20 Listening Presence 69:12
A full and listening presence is the gateway to genuine intimacy with our self and others. This talk explores the challenges to deep listening and the teachings and practices that guide us in developing this healing and liberating capacity.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-02-06 Gateways To Happiness 1:12:45
While we all want to be happy, our habitual ways of pursuing happiness leave us dissatisfied. What prevents us from being happy? What is true happiness? How do we relax and open to the blessings of our life that are always and already here? Though these reflections we explore together our potential to live from a profound place of inner freedom, peace and happiness.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-01-30 The Power Of Inquiry 65:26
Inquiry, or mindful investigation, is a direct way to deepen our attention and reveal the nature of reality. This talk explores the attitude, types of questions and practice of non-conceptual presence that awakens our deepest wisdom.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-01-09 Touching Enlightenment With Our Body 1:12:33
We realize and inhabit the fullness of what we are through the gateway of our senses. This reflection includes how we dissociate from our bodies (hearts, each other, earth) and the pathways of belonging. The evening is dedicated to John O'Donahue, a teacher of the divine longing that carries us to belonging.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2008-01-02 The Three Refuges 1:21:31
This talk reflects on the three gateways to liberating presence-- Buddha nature (our awakened heartmind); Dharma (the living moment, truth, nature of things) and Sangha (spiritual community.) The evening includes a ritual of "taking refuge" that invites our dedication to each domain of awakening and freedom.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-12-19 The True Revolution 68:30
In Buddhism, lovingkindness is considered a divine abode, our true home. This talk explores how we can recognize the mask that covers insecurity, inhabit our essential goodness of Being, and let ourselves touch and be touched by love. This awakening into wholeheartedness is the true revolution.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-12-12 Path Of Transformation 1:16:34
This talk investigates three core themes on the path of spiritual awakening: forgiveness, inner fire or aspiration, and the awareness of what we are...awareness itself. These living currents on the path are explored through an ancient Indian teaching story and guided reflections.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-11-21 Gratitude And Generosity 1:16:09
When we feel grateful, there is a sense of homecoming. We are connected with what we cherish, and in that abundance, our natural response is generosity. This talk explores two pathways that directly give rise to gratitude and generosity: full presence, and the intentional remembrance of what we love.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-11-14 Lovingkindness - Living With A Wise Heart 1:19:22
The Buddha taught that our fear is great, but greater yet is the truth of our connectedness. These two talks examine the often unconscious habits that generate the pain of separation, and the practices that allow us to realize and live from an awake heart.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-10-31 Stress, Wakeful Relaxation And Freedom 1:11:20
We are designed to respond to stress with flight/fight/freeze and this can proliferate and then harden into our ongoing response to life. The practice of presence, of recognizing and relaxing with what is arising, can cut through this conditioning and gift us with the realization of our true nature and the capacity to love fully.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-10-17 The Three Refuges 1:22:30
Dharma, Sangha and Buddha - In Buddhism there are three, interdependent gateways to freedom. Called refuges, they are the expressions of truth that carry us home to the essence of what we are. These two talks investigate the way we take "false refuge"--habitual ways of trying to control experience--and the profound happiness and peace in discovering true refuge.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-10-10 The Three Refuges 1:11:30
Dharma, Sangha and Buddha - In Buddhism there are three, interdependent gateways to freedom. Called refuges, they are the expressions of truth that carry us home to the essence of what we are. These two talks investigate the way we take "false refuge"--habitual ways of trying to control experience--and the profound happiness and peace in discovering true refuge.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-10-03 Path Of Peace 1:12:35
Awakening from the Trance of Separation - We all have conditioning that can keep us at war with our inner life, and fuel violence in the world. These universal tendencies can block our natural attunement and capacity to respond with compassion to life. The practices of presence allow us to recognize this conditioning and awaken to the truth of our connectedness, to the wisdom and love that make peace possible.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-09-26 The Gift Of Silence 1:18:19
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 us to settle in a natural way, the presence which is silence itself, and the wisdom and love that flows freely when we live from that silence.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-09-19 The Joy Of Conscious Relationships 1:23:42
We live in a relational field, and as we develop the capacity for presence with others, we discover the truth of our connectedness. This discovery is experienced as love, and gives rise to genuine happiness and inner freedom. This talk explores the teachings and practices that nourish conscious relationships.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-09-05 Two Kinds Of Happiness 1:18:01
The Dalai Lama often begins his talks "Everyone wants to be Happy... Nobody wants to suffer." It's true, and yet sadly, our ways of pursuing happiness are often the very cause of suffering. This talk describes the shadow side of seeking happiness, and the practices of presence that lead to spiritual freedom and genuine happiness.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-08-29 Wise Effort 1:15:58
Cultivating an Engaged Presence - A wholehearted commitment to awakening is intrinsic to the spiritual path. Yet often this becomes a striving kind of effort that is generated out of the sense of a "doing self." This talk reflects on the grounds of wise effort: connecting to our deepest intention, and cultivating a genuinely allowing, engaged, presence.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-08-22 Touching Enlightenment With The Body 1:12:52
Our suffering arises from the unseen, unfelt parts of our experience- our unlived life. This rejected energy is stored in our bodies and prevents us from living wakefully and wholeheartedly. By bringing a courageous, mindful presence to bodily sensations our energies untangle and flow freely. Rather than a frightened resisting "self" we rediscover our full aliveness, connectedness and luminosity of Being.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-08-15 Soul Of The Whole 1:21:25
Our incessant inner dialog contracts us into the sense of a small limited self. The practices of presence - noticing and allowing our experience - awakens us from this limiting identity and allows us to realize the loving awareness that is our essence.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-08-08 Awakening From The Story Of Self 1:22:23
Our life experience is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves and the underlying belief that "something is wrong with me." Meditation allows us to recognize and release the grip of the stories that confine our sense of wholeness, peace and inner freedom.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-08-01 The Art Of Loving 1:29:16
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-06-13 Realizing Our Basic Goodness 1:17:24
Our greatest suffering is not realizing who we are. Identified with a sense of separate and deficient self, we forget the basic goodness of our heart and awareness. In this two part series we will explore the practices of presence that support us in awakening from the prison of trance, deepening our empathy and embodying the goodness that is our deepest nature.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2007-05-30 Realizing Our Basic Goodness 1:20:37
Our greatest suffering is not realizing who we are. Identified with a sense of separate and deficient self, we forget the basic goodness of our heart and awareness. In this two part series we will explore the practices of presence that support us in awakening from the prison of trance, deepening our empathy and embodying the goodness that is our deepest nature.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks
2006-04-08 Path Of The Bodhisattva 65:09
The path of the Bodhisattva is to realize and live from the truth or our connectedness. Our practices as compassion and metta awaken us from the trance of separation and free us to embody the awakened heart.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Vipassana Retreat
2006-04-06 Realizing Our True Nature 63:07
This talk explores the pathways to realizing and inhabiting our natural awareness.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Vipassana Retreat
2005-04-25 The Bodhisattva Path 62:06
2005-03-14 Nature Of Awareness 54:30
Pathways to recognize the openness, wakefulness, and tenderness that are the essence of being.
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center
2005-03-07 Fear & Fearlessness 55:51
Understanding the trance of fear and the practices that free our heart.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

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