Tara Brach

Fear is part of being human. We can't stop life's waves from coming—but we can learn how to meet them with awareness, compassion, and courage. In this talk, I explore how meditation helps us awaken from what I call  "worrier pose" —the habitual patterns of anxiety, overthinking, and contraction that keep us from living with an open heart. Together we'll explore how fear becomes less an obstacle an...

One of the great gifts of mindfulness is discovering that we can always begin again. In this guided meditation, I invite you to return to the aliveness of the present moment through the breath, the body, and the simple recognition: "Know that you're here." Together we'll gently relax the body, awaken embodied awareness, and practice returning whenever the mind wanders. Rather than judging ourselve...

Physical pain is part of being human—but suffering arises from how we relate to it. In this talk, I explore how mindfulness and compassion can transform our relationship with pain, helping us move from fear and resistance toward freedom, presence, and peace. Whether you're living with chronic pain, recovering from illness, navigating emotional suffering, or simply meeting the inevitable challenges...

The Buddha taught that one of the most powerful ways to begin meditation is by gladdening the mind—remembering what we love, resting in gratitude, and opening to the goodness that is already here. In this guided meditation, I invite you to awaken a gentle smile throughout the body and heart, allowing appreciation, ease, and spacious awareness to naturally emerge. Together we'll explore how a simpl...

Many of us carry a deep sense that something is wrong with us—that we are not enough, not lovable, or somehow disconnected from belonging. Yet beneath these conditioned beliefs lives a natural capacity for healing, wisdom, and love. In this talk, I explore the practice of Spiritual Reparenting—bringing the qualities of mindful awareness and compassion to the wounded places within us. Through stori...

What if the peace and presence you long for is already here—closer than you imagine? In this guided meditation, we explore the practice of awakening an intimate presence with life as it is. Through mindful awareness of the body, breath, heart, and senses, we gently release habitual striving and return to the living reality of this moment. As we soften into a receptive awareness, we discover a natu...

What helps us widen our circles of care and awaken a more inclusive, compassionate heart?  As we navigate political division, collective uncertainty, and personal challenges, mindful awareness and spiritual imagination can help us stay connected to love without being overwhelmed by the suffering we witness.  Drawing from mindfulness, compassion practices, personal stories, and timeless wisdom teac...

This guided meditation invites us to reconnect with the aliveness that is here in this very moment by bringing a kind and mindful attention through the body. Moving slowly from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet, we explore how awareness can soften habitual tension, deepen presence, and reveal the vibrant field of sensations that make up our embodied experience. As we rest in receptive...

Most of us know what it is like to feel emotionally reactive—hurt by others, overwhelmed by circumstances, horrified by what is unfolding in our world, betrayed by our own body, hijacked by our mind. In those moments, we can become identified with a small and vulnerable self—a victim self who feels at the mercy of forces larger than us.   In this talk, we will examine how we become trapped in this...

All true meditation guides us back to presence, and the mystery that is our source. In this guided meditation we awaken the senses, collect with the breath, and when lost in thought, practice relaxing back into the aliveness and awareness that is always here. We close with a beautiful poem from poet Danna Faulds.   Our introduction music is from "Opening" by Adrienne Torf, © 2025 ABT Music

In a recent conversation on Tami Simon's podcast Insights at the Edge, Tara and Tami reflected on themes from The Courageous Heart Workbook: Choosing to Love in Perilous Times. As many know, Tami is an exceptional interviewer, and the dialogue opened into questions that feel deeply relevant for these times. What does it mean to be bodhisattvas—to be awakening beings and caring beings—in a world ma...

In this guided meditation, Tara invites us to discover the healing power of a listening presence—an awake and receptive awareness that allows us to come home to the aliveness of this moment. Together, we'll explore how listening deeply—to sounds, sensations, the breath, and the heart—can soften the grip of habitual thinking and reconnect us with the peace, openness, and tenderness that live beneat...

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...

In this guided meditation, we explore the healing power of embodied presence—awakening through the living intelligence of the body and relaxing into the spacious awareness that is always here. Together, we gently soften habitual tension, reconnect with the aliveness flowing through the heart and body, and rediscover the stillness that holds all experience with tenderness and care. Through mindful...

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. In...

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.   Our introduction music is from "Opening" by Adrienne Torf, © 2025 ABT Music

This guided meditation invites you into the living presence that is always here—an awake awareness that can hold the changing waves of sensation, emotion, and thought with tenderness and ease. As we soften into the moment, we discover a natural peace and loving awareness that is not separate from life, but intimately connected with all beings. Whether you are new to meditation or deepening an esta...

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...

Discover the essence of lovingkindness in this first talk of Tara'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 i...

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.   Our introduction music is from "Opening" by Adrienne Torf, © 2025 ABT Music

In the midst of a world that often feels like it's coming apart, what does it mean to truly flourish? Drawing on his new book Born to Flourish, Richard Davidson joins Tara Brach to explore the science and practice of well-being—how awareness, connection, insight, and purpose can be cultivated, and how flourishing may extend beyond the individual into a more compassionate, connected world.   Our in...

This guided meditation offers a pathway to quieting our mind and calming anxiety. We begin with long deep breathing, and with the breath, engage the image of a smile and relax through the body. Then we practice resting in relaxed awareness, allowing waves of thoughts, feelings and sensations to come and go. The meditation ends with a beautiful verse from poet Philip Booth.   Our introduction music...

Most of us value honesty yet are not aware of how regularly we avoid facing what's difficult inside us, and how we are less than truthful with others. This talk explores the practice of radical self-honesty as the grounds of being more honest with others, and bringing more love and freedom to our lives.   Our introduction music is from "Opening" by Adrienne Torf, © 2025 ABT Music

Vipassana, also known as insight meditation, is training in bringing a clear mindful attention to our moment to moment experience. We begin by relaxing through the body and then resting attention with the breath - or some other sensory anchor - and allowing the mind to settle. Then we open to whatever is predominant or calling our attention - sensations, emotions, sounds - meeting each arising exp...

In this talk, we explore how compassion can arise in the midst of conflict—within our lives and in the larger world. In a conversation with Paul Gilbert, moderated by Rick Hansen, we reflect on how our evolutionary conditioning—especially the brain's threat system—fuels fear, shame, and the reflex to see others as "other." Drawing on Buddhist psychology, we look at how a sense of separation and th...