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Tara Brach

Religion & Spirituality

Tara Brach, Ph.D is an internationally known meditation teacher and author of bestselling Radical Acceptance and True Refuge. Tara shares a weekly guided meditation and talk that blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices. The podcast addresses the value of mindfulness meditation and self-compassion in relieving emotional suffering, serving spiritual awakening and bringing healing to our world.

Location:

United States

Description:

Tara Brach, Ph.D is an internationally known meditation teacher and author of bestselling Radical Acceptance and True Refuge. Tara shares a weekly guided meditation and talk that blend Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices. The podcast addresses the value of mindfulness meditation and self-compassion in relieving emotional suffering, serving spiritual awakening and bringing healing to our world.

Twitter:

@tarabrach

Language:

English


Episodes
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Realizing True Well-Being, Part 1

4/3/2025
Buddhist psychology and the Western oriented field of positive psychology agree: How we pay attention determines whether we live primarily in fear and judgment, or happiness and peace. This two part series explores the teachings, practices and attitudes that enable us to live a meaningful life with a heart that is “happy for no reason.” In this talk, Tara explores:

Duration:00:55:17

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

4/2/2025
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.

Duration:00:24:08

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Awakening Your Fearless Heart: Tara Brach on Facing Fear (Part 2)

3/27/2025
Fear is a universal human experience, but when it dominates our inner world, it can trap us in a sense of separation and suffering. In this profound talk, Tara Brach introduces how the transformative power of the RAIN meditation can help us face fear with courage and compassion. By bringing mindfulness and loving awareness to fear, we can move beyond its grip and reconnect with the boundless freedom of our true nature. What You’ll Learn: Highlights:

Duration:00:57:32

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Meditation: Relaxing with Life (21:38 min.)

3/26/2025
This meditation begins with a body scan, and then we practice opening to and relaxing with our changing experience. The sitting closes with a beautiful poem by Danna Faulds, "Just for Now."

Duration:00:21:38

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Awakening Your Fearless Heart: Tara Brach on Facing Fear (Part 1)

3/20/2025
Fear is a universal human experience, but when it dominates our inner world, it can trap us in a sense of separation and suffering. In this profound talk, Tara Brach introduces how the transformative power of the RAIN meditation can help us face fear with courage and compassion. By bringing mindfulness and loving awareness to fear, we can move beyond its grip and reconnect with the boundless freedom of our true nature. What You’ll Learn: Highlights: Why Listen? This talk is an invitation to step out of fear’s grip and into the freedom of open-hearted living. Whether you’re dealing with personal fears or navigating collective challenges, Tara’s guidance offers a powerful path toward inner peace and resilience.

Duration:00:58:17

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Meditation: Open-Hearted Presence (23:49 min.)

3/19/2025
This meditation establishes a kind attention by bringing the imagery and felt sense of a smile into the body scan and then, with the breath as a home base, opens the attention to changing experience. We end with a brief loving kindness reflection.

Duration:00:23:49

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Freedom from Inner and Outer Tyranny: The Path of Spiritual Warriors

3/13/2025
Many agree that this is the most unpredictable and dangerous time we’ve ever lived through. How do we hold what is unfolding, and respond with courage and clarity? In this talk we reflect on the ways we become spiritual warriors dedicated to freeing ourselves from the inner domination of fear (hatred, delusion) and freeing our world from external forms of tyranny. In this talk, Tara explores:

Duration:00:47:01

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Meditation: Coming Home to Openhearted Awareness (19 min.)

3/12/2025
In daily life we often leave ourselves, get lost in thoughts, and cut off from a direct, openhearted experience of our life. This meditation reconnects by opening all the senses, turning towards the awareness that is here, and resting in the awakened heartspace that includes and tenderly holds our moment to moment experience (a special favorite from the archives).

Duration:00:18:59

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Equanimity - Part 4 of Present Heart: The Universal Expressions of Love

3/6/2025
Equanimity unfolds as we find a wise balance and spaciousness in the midst of this living, dying world. This series reflects on four primary expressions of an awake, wise heart: lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. In each talk we explore the habitual patterning that blocks our full realization of these innate capacities, and the understandings and practices that nurture their unfolding.

Duration:00:52:05

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Meditation: The Space and Aliveness of Presence (21:56 min.)

3/5/2025
We arrive in presence by deepening attention in the body; relaxing and awakening through a body scan. That presence deepens as we bring our attention to the space of awareness that includes the changing flow of sounds, sensations and feelings. In that wholeness of formlessness and form, we discover our natural being - open, awake and tender.

Duration:00:21:56

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Joy – Part 3 of Present Heart: The Universal Expressions of Love

2/27/2025
Joy blossoms in the moments our hearts open boundlessly to reality, to the 10,000 joys and sorrows. This series reflects on four primary expressions of an awake, wise heart: lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. In each talk we explore the habitual patterning that blocks our full realization of these innate capacities, and the understandings and practices that nurture their unfolding.

Duration:00:52:39

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Meditation: The Heartspace Where All is Welcome (18:40 min.)

2/26/2025
This meditation scans through the body, and awakens attention to the open, inclusive awareness that all life arises in. We then explore experiencing that openness in the region of the heart, saying yes to life and including whatever is here with unconditional presence.

Duration:00:18:40

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Compassion - Part 2 of Present Heart: The Universal Expressions of Love

2/20/2025
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 talk we explore the habitual patterning that blocks our full realization of these innate capacities, and the understandings and practices that nurture their unfolding.

Duration:00:53:51

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Meditation: Awareness is Our Home (21:39 min.)

2/19/2025
This guided practice helps us come into our senses through a body scan. We then rest in the awareness that is listening to and feeling the changing flow of experience. When the mind drifts, the return is a relaxing back to our senses, and to the sea of awareness that includes and experiences the waves of life.

Duration:00:21:39

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Lovingkindness – Part 1 of Present Heart: The Universal Expressions of Love

2/13/2025
Discover the essence of lovingkindness in this first talk of Tara Brach's series, "Present Heart: The Universal Expressions of Love." This series delves into four primary qualities of an awake, wise heart: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. In Part 1, Tara explores the nature of lovingkindness — how it can be blocked by our habitual patterns, and how we can nurture and fully realize this innate capacity through mindful practices and understanding. ❤️ What You’ll Learn:

Duration:00:55:06

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Meditation: Living Presence (21:08 min.)

2/12/2025
This meditation guides us to awaken to our senses through scanning through the body and then listening to sounds. When distracted by thoughts we relax open again and again, learning to rest in the formless awareness that includes sounds, sensations and all passing experience.

Duration:00:21:08

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Meeting these Times with Courageous Love

2/6/2025
Many recognize that love is the antidote to the suffering in our divided world, yet finding the path to an open heart can feel more challenging than ever. This talk explores the full spectrum of love—both tender and open, as well as fierce, protective, and engaged. When we cultivate this courageous love, we are able to hold even those we see as enemies in our hearts. In its true form, this love is not passive or soft. As Martin Luther King Jr. described, it is a powerful soul force, capable of bringing healing and liberation to all beings. In this talk, Tara explores:

Duration:01:10:58

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Meditation: Embodied Metta (19:37 min.)

2/5/2025
Lovingkindness becomes full when it is energetically experienced in our bodies. This meditation guides us in awakening the receptivity, warmth and openness of metta through our body, and then invites us to rest in the space of loving presence, as we open to whatever arises.

Duration:00:19:37

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The Infinite Game - From Self-Improvement to Spiritual Freedom

1/30/2025
While meditation is widely practiced in today’s world, many miss the opportunity to tap into its profound potential to awaken the heart and mind. Beyond its surface benefits, meditation can guide us to the radiant light, boundless love, and pure awareness that is our true nature. This reflection explores how we often lose touch with the deeper possibility meditation offers, and guides us in approaching practice and daily life in a way that opens us to the timeless freedom and awakening of a Buddha. In this week’s talk, Tara explores:

Duration:00:49:57

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Meditation: Open Awareness – Relaxing Back into Presence (19:20 min)

1/29/2025
This guided meditation practice brings attention to the continuous space within and around the body, and the aliveness of sound, sensation and feeling that lives through us. While it’s natural for attention to get distracted, the pathway home is a relaxing back into presence – the awake space that is aware of this changing life.

Duration:00:19:20