Finding Radical Compassion with Tara Brach

Tara Brach is an internationally known meditation teacher, psychologist and author of bestselling Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion. Her popular weekly podcast is downloaded 3 million times a month. Along with Jack Kornfield, Tara leads the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP) serving participants in over 50 countries.

 

This was by far one of the most touching and moving interviews I've done. It is clear that Tara embodies incredible presence, loving kindness and the qualities of the divine. 

 

There were so many beautiful words of wisdom here that I hope touch, move and inspire you as much as they did for me. I believe that self-kindness and ending the war with ourselves is one of the most important steps to waking up and changing our collective story to one of collaboration and community. Read on for Tara's brilliant nuggets of wisdom:

 

1. When you're in a challenging time, as we all are now, Tara shared that it's important to start with "This is hard." It's real and raw and affirms what's going on. When we get stressed, we turn against ourselves and get into a 'trance of unworthiness'. We start to believe "It feels bad, so I'm bad." Being at war with ourselves is the biggest issue.
2. Real transformation happens when we decide to be kind to ourselves. Let your intention be to be kind to yourself, and start there. You might say "Please, may I be kind."
3. A practice Tara uses in her own life, especially during the pandemic, is to bookend her day. She starts the day with "Please, may I be open hearted, open to love and kind." In the evening she'll scan the day to see what happened. No matter what, be kind to yourself and don't get into blame or judgment. Tenderness with ourselves helps to decondition this negative inner voice.
4. Whatever you practice becomes your practice. Set the intention to be present and loving.
5. What really matters right now is waking up together, holding hands. We need to wake up out of separateness because we belong together as one energy and one spirit. 
6. Meditation doesn't have to just be sitting down, it can be you taking a walk in nature, singing, yoga or lying on your back feeling into your body. Tara shared a great piece of fun advice, "put your tush on the cushion and no judgement."

 

Connect with Tara Brach

• Website: https://www.tarabrach.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarabrach/
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TaraBrach
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarabrach/

 

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