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Longing for Freedom: A conversation with Tara Brach and Lama Rod Owens

Tara Brach

Release Date: 10/05/2023

Short Talk and Meditation: Saying “Yes” to Our Life (11:23 min.) show art Short Talk and Meditation: Saying “Yes” to Our Life (11:23 min.)

Tara Brach

Our habitual ways of avoiding pain keep us from experiencing intimacy with our inner life and with each other. This short talk and guided meditation offers instruction in saying “yes” to the life we encounter. As we release resistance, we discover the creativity, wisdom and love that express our truest nature (a reflection from the archives). Listen to the full talk:  

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Trusting Who We Are (retreat talk) show art Trusting Who We Are (retreat talk)

Tara Brach

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 Fall 2019 IMCW 7-Day Silent Retreat - 2019-11-06). 

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Revolutionary Love: A Conversation with Tara Brach & Valarie Kaur show art Revolutionary Love: A Conversation with Tara Brach & Valarie Kaur

Tara Brach

In a divided, reactive, and violent world, how do we embrace love and joy? How do we genuinely include our opponents in our hearts? What gives us the courage to bring our whole being into serving and savoring? And what is our vision for a new world?   In this fresh and profoundly relevant conversation, Tara Brach and Valarie Kaur explore the challenges and potential of these turbulent times. Valarie, a Sikh activist, filmmaker, civil rights lawyer, and author, shares insights from her powerful books, including See No Stranger and her recent works, World of Wonder and Sage Warrior....

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Meditation: Breath by Breath – Inviting Relaxation and Ease show art Meditation: Breath by Breath – Inviting Relaxation and Ease

Tara Brach

This meditation invites relaxation and ease. We begin with a long deep breathing that helps calm the body and mind. Then we release tensions that might be held in the body, and settle our attention in a receptive way with the breath. The intention is to discover the relaxed wakefulness that expresses our natural being.

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Part 2: A Heart that is Ready for Anything - The Gateway of Equanimity show art Part 2: A Heart that is Ready for Anything - The Gateway of Equanimity

Tara Brach

In a world where the pace and magnitude of change is beyond anything ever experienced by humans, we are being called to cultivate the qualities of calm, inner balance and a steady, wise heart. These two talks look at the conditioning that fuels our emotional reactivity, and the practices that cultivate equanimity, resilience and a full, openhearted presence. We dedicate to these practices for the sake of our own freedom, and the wellbeing of all beings.

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Guided Meditation: Opening to the Sea of Presence (19:53 min.) show art Guided Meditation: Opening to the Sea of Presence (19:53 min.)

Tara Brach

When our body and mind is relaxed, we become filled with a very awake, dynamic quality of presence. This meditation guides us in relaxing, opening our senses and resting in the vastness and inherent freedom of our own natural awareness.

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A Heart that is Ready for Anything- The Gateway of Equanimity - Part I  show art A Heart that is Ready for Anything- The Gateway of Equanimity - Part I

Tara Brach

In a world where the pace and magnitude of change is beyond anything ever experienced by humans, we are being called to cultivate the qualities of calm, inner balance and a steady, wise heart. These two talks look at the conditioning that fuels our emotional reactivity, and the practices that cultivate equanimity, resilience and a full, openhearted presence. We dedicate to these practices for the sake of our own freedom, and the wellbeing of all beings.

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Meditation: Relaxing Back into Full Presence  show art Meditation: Relaxing Back into Full Presence

Tara Brach

This guided practice begins with a conscious breath that relaxes the body and mind, and then a body scan to awaken to the aliveness of the present moment. We then open into the natural awareness that includes the changing flow of sounds, feelings and sensations, and practice “relaxing back” when the mind gets lost in thought.

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Gratitude: Entering Sacred Relationship show art Gratitude: Entering Sacred Relationship

Tara Brach

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 guided meditation that includes sharings from the group. The audio includes a poem of blessing by John O’Donohue with a brief cut from Robert Gass – Om Namaha Shivaya (from the archives).

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Heart Meditation: Taking in the Goodness (24:08 min.) show art Heart Meditation: Taking in the Goodness (24:08 min.)

Tara Brach

Taking in the Goodness: Rumi said, “Whenever some kindness comes to you, turn that way – toward the source of kindness.” This meditation guides us to look for the source of loving and to turn in that direction. It begins with a lovingkindness practice that spreads the image of a smile into the body, then continues with a practice of seeing the goodness of ourselves and others.

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More Episodes

Longing for Freedom: A conversation with Tara Brach and Lama Rod Owens - In his recent book, The New Saints, Lama Rod Owens offers teachings and practices that awaken our longing for freedom, and help us realize the truth of who we are.

This week, I sat down with Lama Rod to talk about how an authentic path of liberation must include the often unexamined layers of our personal and societal existence.

Pre-order the book: The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors