The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Retreat Dharma Talks at Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC

IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC

  
2018-10-17 Part 2: Rewiring for Happiness and Freedom 51:10
Tara Brach
The Buddha said, “I would not be teaching this (a path of awakening) if genuine happiness and freedom were not possible.” While this is our potential, we each have deep conditioning to get stuck in feelings of fear, deficiency and separation from others. These talks explore the two interdependent pathways of undoing the conditioning that blocks our potential. In Part I we will look at how we can intentionally arouse states of well-being, and with practice, develop them into ongoing traits that bring presence and joy to our lives. In Part II, we will investigate how to cultivate an unconditional presence, and the radical acceptance and love, that are the grounds of true happiness and inner freedom.
2018-10-24 Meditation: Resting in Awake Awareness 18:52
Tara Brach
This practice opens with a body scan, employing the image and felt sense of a smile to awaken awareness through the body. We then open to all the senses, and rest in the awareness that includes this changing life.
2018-10-24 Part 1 – The Jewel in the Lotus: Cultivating Compassion 50:35
Tara Brach
The compassion that arises from mindful awareness can heal our inner wounds, interpersonal conflict and the suffering in our world. These two talks focus on cultivating self-compassion and compassion for others. They look at the blocks to compassion and accessible powerful practices that awaken the full wisdom and tenderness of our hearts.
2018-11-07 Meditation: Whole Body Breathing 19:52
Tara Brach
This guided meditation includes a body scan and invites the receptivity and letting-go of whole body breathing. Once we have awakened the vitality and presence throughout the body, we have access to the formless dimension, the awareness that is our source.
2018-11-07 Part 2 – The Jewel in the Lotus: Cultivating Compassion 54:58
Tara Brach
The compassion that arises from mindful awareness can heal our inner wounds, interpersonal conflict and the suffering in our world. These two talks focus on cultivating self-compassion and compassion for others. They look at the blocks to compassion and accessible powerful practices that awaken the full wisdom and tenderness of our hearts.
2018-11-14 Meditation: The Presence Beyond Thoughts 17:33
Tara Brach
We spend many life moments in a trance of thinking. This meditation awakens the senses through a body scan, and attention to sound. We then rest in the presence that can come alive in the gap between thoughts—the presence that is our true home.
2018-11-14 Survival of the Nurtured – Our Path to Belonging 53:26
Tara Brach
We flourish when nurtured with love and understanding. Yet for so many, the violence of our society and lack of attuned caretakers has severed trust and belonging. This talk explores how meditation and conscious relating with each other can restore the connections so vital to healing and spiritual freedom.
2018-11-21 Meditation: Yes to Life 19:52
Tara Brach
After relaxing our bodies and quieting our minds, this meditation guides us to open to the changing experience of being alive. We ask ourselves two questions: “What is Happening Inside me?” and “Can I be with this?” By learning to bring an unconditional presence and an accepting Yes to our lives, we begin to touch openheartedness and freedom.
2018-11-21 Authentic Thanks Giving 49:26
Tara Brach
How do we awaken our natural capacities for gratitude and generosity? This talk explores the pathways of honest presence and purposeful cultivation, and offers several reflections that guide us in contacting and expressing our love.
2018-11-28 Meditation: Awareness, Aliveness and Space 18:36
Tara Brach
This guided meditation awakens our awareness within our body, extends to include sound, and invites a resting as awareness that includes all passing waves of experience.
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