Tara Brach

Latest Episodes:

Realizing True Well-Being, Part 2 Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

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:

how cultivating a grateful, devoted heart opens us to presence, peace, and joy beyond circumstance.
the "infinite field of possibility"—our capacity to incline the mind toward hope, love, and inner freedom.
how mindfulness and compassionate action form a virtuous cycle that nurtures deep well-being and belonging.
ways that serving others and savoring beauty reconnect us with the sacredness of life and the fullness of who we are.
awakening from the trance of unworthiness through practices like metta, gratitude, and receiving love with an open heart.

Guided Meditation: Loving This Life - Happiness - Metta (17:05 min.) Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

This guided meditation, grounded in the practice of Metta, invites us to awaken the heart by softening the body and quieting the mind. We begin with the simple image of a smile—opening to warmth, ease, and presence.

With a tender attention, we rest with breath, sensations, and sound—gently returning when the mind drifts. As we offer loving phrases like "May I feel happy" and "May I be free," we nourish a deep sense of well-being and connection, embracing this life with compassion and an open heart.

Realizing True Well-Being, Part 1 Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

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:

the essential role of happiness in times of crisis—how choosing joy becomes a radical act of resilience and healing.
the trance of negativity and how mindfulness helps awaken our innate capacity for presence, gratitude, and inner freedom.
how positive psychology and Buddhist teachings together point us toward "happiness for no reason"—a deep sense of belonging and well-being.
the power of intention—how consciously choosing to flourish shifts us from survival mode into love, connection, and aliveness.
daily practices like gratitude and loving-kindness as pathways to true well-being and a heart ready for anything.

Heart Meditation: Taking in the Goodness (24:08 min.) Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

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.

Awakening Your Fearless Heart: Tara Brach on Facing Fear (Part 2) Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

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:

Understanding Fear: How fear arises and creates a sense of separation.
The Power of RAIN: A step-by-step guide to using RAIN meditation to work with fear.
Awakening Awareness: Discovering the boundless love and presence that holds all emotions, including fear.

Highlights:

Gain tools to transform fear into a gateway for healing and spiritual awakening.
Explore the compassionate practices that lead to a fearless heart.
Learn how to navigate fear with mindfulness and loving awareness.

Meditation: Relaxing with Life (21:38 min.) Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

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."

Awakening Your Fearless Heart: Tara Brach on Facing Fear (Part 1) Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

What You'll Learn:

Understanding Fear: How fear arises and creates a sense of separation.
The Power of RAIN: A step-by-step guide to using RAIN meditation to work with fear.
Awakening Awareness: Discovering the boundless love and presence that holds all emotions, including fear.

Highlights:

Gain tools to transform fear into a gateway for healing and spiritual awakening.
Explore the compassionate practices that lead to a fearless heart.
Learn how to navigate fear with mindfulness and loving awareness.

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.

Meditation: Open-Hearted Presence (23:49 min.) Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

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.

Freedom from Inner and Outer Tyranny: The Path of Spiritual Warriors Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

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:

The roots of tyranny and fear—how unprocessed fear fuels aggression, domination, and the rise of authoritarianism.
The power of belonging—why remembering our interconnectedness can empower resistance against oppression.
Inner freedom as a path to outer change—how mindfulness and heart-centered practices dismantle fear and awaken courage.
The role of the spiritual warrior—cultivating presence, compassion, and truth to stand against inner and outer oppression.
Taking action from love, not fear—how small, heartfelt acts contribute to collective healing and justice.

Listen to audio: https://www.tarabrach.com/talk-freedom-from-inner-and-outer-tyranny/

Meditation: Coming Home to Openhearted Awareness (19 min.) Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

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).

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