Dharma Seed - Dharma Talks given at Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC

2013-08-21 Part 1: Relating to the Fearsome Deities 1:25:01

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

Our relationship to fear shapes our life experience. If we are unconscious, and reflexively try to manage fear, our identity takes the shape of the body of fear. If instead we learn to attend and befriend fear, we discover the freedom of our awakened heart.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-08-07 True Belonging 1:20:43

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

We all have a longing to belong. When pursued at the egoic level--often through our good-personhood projects--there may be temporary satisfaction but our sense of separation is ultimately reinforced. In contrast, bringing mindfulness and compassion to whatever is arising dissolves the sense of separation and reveals the basic goodness of our own loving presence.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-07-31 Practice Beyond Reasonable Doubt 1:17:22
Trudy mitchell-gilkey	Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks
The Buddha taught that the value of making direct contact with experience is liberation from suffering. We can use that teaching to make contact with the muddy water of our doubting minds and learn to practice beyond (even) reasonable doubt.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-07-26 Introducción a la Meditación Parte 1: El Arte y Ciencia de la Meditación (translation from 2010-10-13) 1:24:22
Tara Brach	Download Listen
La primera sesión define la meditación y describe las enseñanzas budistas que le dan contexto al camino de la practica. Exploramos las dos formas básicas de meditación - concentración y conciencia plena - y luego nos enfocamos en el entrenamiento de conciencia plena: trayendo atención de conciencia plena a la respiración y sensaciones corporales. Las meditaciones guiadas incluyen el establecimiento de una intención y la pausa sagrada; aprendiendo a "regresar" usando la respiración como un ancla; y "estando aquí" con una presencia encarnada.
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-07-24 Three Gestures of Love 1:22:25

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

If we inquire "what is between me and presence" we usually find we've been caught inside a limiting story of self, contracted by wants and fears. This talk explores a simple yet powerful way of arousing loving presence and dissolving the narrow identification that keeps us from inhabiting our awakened heartmind.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-07-17 Absolute Cooperation With the Inevitable 1:22:59

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

This talk addresses common misunderstandings about acceptance (allowing, "letting be") and explores the challenges and blessings of opening to the raw emotions that we habitually avoid.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-07-03 Part 2: Hope and the Spiritual Path 1:24:38

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

In this talk we further define the nature of mature or spiritual hope as part of a trinity that includes trust and love, and explore what blocks its unfolding. We then review how different people have "hit bottom" and found their way to the energy, receptivity and openness of hope.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-06-26 Part 1: Hope and the Spiritual Path 1:23:19

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

This talk looks at the difference between egoic hopes and fears, and the quality of hopefulness ("holy hope") that is an essential dimension in spiritual experience. We reflect on the three components of hope that serve awakening: Aspiration, Trust and Dedication of energy.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-05-29 Practicing Meditation: "Getting Out Of Your Own Way" 1:16:31

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

The depth and vitality of a meditation practice depends on our sincerity, and an attitude of curiosity and friendliness. With this as the grounds, our practice will cultivate the clear seeing and openheartedness that expresses our deepest nature. This talk covers basic ingredients in a meditation practice, and includes a half hour of questions and responses.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks

2013-05-22 Being to Being - Loving Beyond the Trance 1:22:52

Tara Brach

Listen to tracks Show 2 Tracks

We have strong conditioning to relate to each other from a sense of separateness--persona to persona. This talk looks at what traps us in egoic relating and how several simple yet powerful reflections can open us to pure, unconditioned loving.

Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC : IMCW Wednesday Evening Talks