Tara Brach

These days we are seeing all around us a lot of turbulence, inner and outer. The tendency when we get stirred up – and this is for all humans – is to go into a kind of habitual “jungle mentality,” also known as our stress reflex. We get anxious or upset and we try to sense where we can throw blame for what’s wrong. There is a polarizing. Mostly what we are doing when we are in stress-reactivity is trying to find certainty. We are trying to find some ground again; and everything we try to do then is, on some level, trying to frame things so we have a stable ground – something that allows us to say, “Oh, here is what’s going on!” We try to define it, as a means of regaining a sense of certainty and security – an illusion of control. Charles Eisenstein calls this place “the space between stories.” And if we grab on to the next story and act from that, then we don’t wake up. Now, we need to act, always; we need to act in our families to take care of our loved ones, and w

How to bring a wise, caring, transformative presence to situations that trigger irritation, judgment, hurt, defensiveness… Watch Tara's full talk at https://www.tarabrach.com/learning-to-respond-not-react-audio-2/

We know we need to let go of harmful habits like obsessive worry, blame and over consuming to experience true well-being, yet much of the time we are stuck and judge ourselves for being out of control. This talk explores what’s so difficult about letting go and how we can’t will it but we can be willing. We then explore the shift to awake awareness that enables a natural dissolution of clinging and resistance, and the deep peace and freedom of letting be. Audio available at: https://www.tarabrach.com/letting-go/ Photo: Jon McRay

When we are unaware of the emotions and beliefs that shape our experience, we are in a trance characterized by an identity as a separate, incomplete self. Trance obscures the awareness and love that is our deepest essence. This talk explores the two key pathways of awakening from trance and recognizing and trusting the gold of our true nature. (talk given at the IMCW Fall retreat on 2016-11-10) audio at: https://www.tarabrach.com/trusting-gold-retreat/   photo: Shell Fischer – www.mindfulvalley.com