I love to soak in your words….to the depth of my soul. There is much wisdom in your voice, and I have sensed you have known the intimate feelings of vast aloneness. But I didn’t know what sent you into that abyss until this video, when you shared your physical illness and of the extreme loss you experienced.. I am thankful it was temporary. May God continue to bless you.
Nature has always been important to my well-being. During the pandemic, the only thing I could do (it seemed) was to get home from the hospital, change my clothes and go sit under one of our trees. I let the breeze blow away the heaviness and grief of the day. It really saved my well-being. I even bought a heated chair so I could continue the practice during the snowy winter months. It has been 5 yrs and I still get home, change and head outside.
These three teachings are just priceless. I want to listen and soak them in over and over again. Unfortunately, this is the last day of their availability so I will perhaps listen again and take them with me… just as we can after a loss of a love that Tara talks about. Thank you for this offering, this wisdom, this loving and compassionate teaching.
When I was a teenager, after my parents divorced, my older brother was my safe space.
This practice also reminded me that we are connected. I sometimes choose to isolate, and I need to rethink that.
My goodness, what peace I touched into, or touched into me. I have a friend who just went home from the hospital into hospice. I will be with her soon. I am going to let myself be present with her in this great Holding Love. Thank you.
During hard times I immerse myself in the teachings. I feel very fortunate to have access to teachers like Tara Brach, Echart Tolle and such. For me this is huge and I am so grateful!
Tara gave me an approach and words/language to invite my clients into the experience of sitting next to their feelings of grief and finding a sacred dwelling for themselves to be held through the process of grieving.
The pause moment has been present lately as I rediscover my life in a new way, new place and around new people. I heal from a painful experience and find my body cleaning house internally, making room for the new and filling it with light.
I I lost my sister recently. Knowing I will not be with her again brings waves of sorrow.
Sitting with my grief and allowing the feelings to wash over me in quiet helps.
I even wear some of her clothes keeping her close and imagining that she would be pleased!
We are planning a celebration of her life soon and I hope this will help.
Thank you Tara? for your heartfelt sharings.
They have helped me through difficult times
in my life.
Thank you, Tara, a greater presence is healing. In a way, death in late life is expected, a natural evolution. However, it is the unexpected, sudden trauma and loss, in youth, that seems hard to process… the brain wants to make sense of it all, the why, but it can’t bc the loss goes against what we expect the youthful phase to be.
Thank you, Tara. I have been grieivng loss of some mental abilities due to a medication change this past year. I could relate to you not being able to go to a family vacation in this video and it did bring up some things for me. Thank you again for being such a wonderful teacher and guide.
Tara is a miracle worker. Your insights and gentle guidance are vital to processing grief and suffering. Your talks are straightforward and easy to absorb due to your abundance of loving kindness. Thank you for the work you do.
There really are no words to describe how meaningful this recording has been to me both personally and professionally. I have lost 2 children, and I am going to use Tara’s practices daily for myself, and with clients. There is so much love and compassion in Tara’s teachings. Thank you so much! Is there a way to obtain a copy of these sessions?
I love you Tara and so happy that I was introduced to you years ago. My question is: when praying I don’t have a sense of who or what is the larger connection. I truly believe in Mother Earth being part American Indian and loving the outdoors but I don’t feel like praying to her is genuine. I really want to pray to something but nothing feels true. Do you have any suggestions for me and my patients who are fighting cancer and questioning their own beliefs and faith. I feel envious of those who have a solid belief in a larger belonging. I want so badly to feel that larger community and connection. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. You have held me in times of crisis and uncertainty. You are truly a lifesaver ❤️
It seemed ironic that the person I brought to mind to grieve, was the same presence that I leaned into for safety and support. That spoke volumes to the loss itself.
Thank you. 💚✨
Alone time to reflect on my loss. After reflecting on what happened I seek someone.who can compliment my position at the time. I seek out like people with similar struggles and are able to see a future with their loss. If we have similar circumstances we can help each other move on if that makes sense to us.
My friend sent me your post. I had been following you for years prior to my retirement. I, too, have been dealing with long term grief due to a connective tissue disorder which took me many years to diagnose and has taken so much from me. It is a very isolating invisible illness. Your posting was so very helpful. None of us are walking alone on this journey. Thank you and God bless.
I find the examples very helpful…hearing the various “options” for spirituality that reside outside my experience of spirituality gives me a broader sense of how to apply the concepts beyond my own experience. Thank you for this…It would be helpful if we had a PowerPoint to follow and fill in with our own thoughts about what you shared. I look forward to getting your handout.
My sister walked me through deepest loss to date. I was so depressed I used like iny bed all day though I did dress. She took the time to call me each day with encouragement. I essence I lost my mother twice. Mom went to a mental institution when I was 3 and for only short periods was well and stable. Later in life I found the most wonderful surrogate mother who died much to soon. She claimed me as a daughter. Ann claimede as a precious sister and never let go of me.
Today is my beautiful mom’s birthday. She left us in 2013, and yet, she never has left us. Today I found myself missing her terribly. I cried my eyes out when I went to place flowers on my parent’s graveside.
In this meditation, I was immediately lifted to my church, and there the light of Jesus enveloped me. When I brought it here, to where I am, and echoed the words in my heart, “Stay with me. Accompany me. Hold me.” things really did shift. I no longer felt alone. I felt held. I felt presence. I suddenly believed that I could walk through the challenging situations that are currently in my life. For the first time in quite some time, I was able to internalize the idea that everything is going to be ok. I guess I missed my mom so much because that is exactly how I always felt whenever I was with her. She really is still with me! Thank you, Dr. Brach!
Thank you for this program, I often feel such spaciousness and love when I surrender to life and all the emotions it evokes, including grief. It belongs
Sometimes feeling the presence of an animal companion that has departed helps. I sense it settling down beside me – not demanding anything of me at all. Just being there.
nature has helped me, that’s my safe space. I invited that in and felt my feelings in this practice, I am so grateful. This is my first chance getting to truly face and understand my loss more because of your workshop. Thank you for this sacred blessing.
When our son died suddenly I felt completely lost. Slowly I was helped by some family and friends including our son’s toddler daughter. I was very much helped by nature, meditation, qi gong and binaural beats. I learned to pray in a new way. The prayer at the end of this program brought tears but also an energy that lifted my spirits. Thank you for this program.
I came into this series with the hope to identify skills to assist and support others, but as someone who has experienced a tremendous amount of intense grief and loss over the past year, I think what I have gained instead is renewed sense of love and support for myself more than anything. Thank you, Tara, as always, for your incredible ability to touch the deepest areas of the heart with such tenderness and kindness and love. I can only hope that some day, I can extend the same to another.
Thank you, Tara, for this timely and illuminating mini-workshop. It was very helpful for considering how I personally relate to grief, and I also appreciated the park bench meditation for helping clients, as well.
Joan Sullivan, Psychology, Boston, MA
Before I reached age thirty, I had lost my family of origin. Now, I am now experiencing the loss of my daughter, who died suddenly a few weeks ago. My losses have always made me feel separate from others who have had more “normal lives/families.” And that is quite isolating. Tara, your third session about being always being a part of something larger, despite our losses, spoke to me and offered me comfort. Thank you.
This helped me realize and embrace the grief and losses experienced by those who have mentored and encouraged me and to know that communally we can love and continue to thrive.
My zazen practice has helped me to connect with the Dharma, and know that there is more to life than just my everyday problems and hurt feelings and bad experiences from the past.
“This is the beginning of sacred refuge,
we don’t have to carry the grief alone,
there’s a larger belonging that holds our life”
Thank you so so much for this words, I will add them to my daily metta practice.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful teaching.
Paula J. Bussard says
I love to soak in your words….to the depth of my soul. There is much wisdom in your voice, and I have sensed you have known the intimate feelings of vast aloneness. But I didn’t know what sent you into that abyss until this video, when you shared your physical illness and of the extreme loss you experienced.. I am thankful it was temporary. May God continue to bless you.
Laura Piatt says
So very helpful. I will share with a client!
Andrea Tatley says
Nature has always been important to my well-being. During the pandemic, the only thing I could do (it seemed) was to get home from the hospital, change my clothes and go sit under one of our trees. I let the breeze blow away the heaviness and grief of the day. It really saved my well-being. I even bought a heated chair so I could continue the practice during the snowy winter months. It has been 5 yrs and I still get home, change and head outside.
Roseanna Woods says
Lovely sharing. I appreciate the reminder of “something larger than me” – I find that space in nature.
malgosia Cegielski says
The brief guided session did connect me to the larger space we all belong to.
Lisa Arick says
These three teachings are just priceless. I want to listen and soak them in over and over again. Unfortunately, this is the last day of their availability so I will perhaps listen again and take them with me… just as we can after a loss of a love that Tara talks about. Thank you for this offering, this wisdom, this loving and compassionate teaching.
Jan Sidebotham says
When I was a teenager, after my parents divorced, my older brother was my safe space.
This practice also reminded me that we are connected. I sometimes choose to isolate, and I need to rethink that.
Jan Sidebotham says
When I was a teenager, after my parents divorced, my older brother was my safe space.
Carol Blackwell says
Thank you , I’ve had 2 losses in the last 2 months. This has come in divine order
Joan Beck says
My goodness, what peace I touched into, or touched into me. I have a friend who just went home from the hospital into hospice. I will be with her soon. I am going to let myself be present with her in this great Holding Love. Thank you.
Jodi Johnson says
Lovely! Thank you 🙏🏻
Joan Willoe says
Thanks for these insightful ways to reframe loss and grief. The discussed practices are going to be my new practices for my therapeutic toolkit.
Kristen Kochanski says
Sitting by the ocean, always flowing, recognizing its vastness.
Virginia Licari says
During hard times I immerse myself in the teachings. I feel very fortunate to have access to teachers like Tara Brach, Echart Tolle and such. For me this is huge and I am so grateful!
R says
The aloneness and feelings of isolation have been strong in me. Thank you for showing how to begin to open to this larger belonging.
Jude Hartlove says
Being close to the Earth. Spending time in Nature
Marta Carlson says
Tara gave me an approach and words/language to invite my clients into the experience of sitting next to their feelings of grief and finding a sacred dwelling for themselves to be held through the process of grieving.
Mic says
The pause moment has been present lately as I rediscover my life in a new way, new place and around new people. I heal from a painful experience and find my body cleaning house internally, making room for the new and filling it with light.
Julie pramuk says
I I lost my sister recently. Knowing I will not be with her again brings waves of sorrow.
Sitting with my grief and allowing the feelings to wash over me in quiet helps.
I even wear some of her clothes keeping her close and imagining that she would be pleased!
We are planning a celebration of her life soon and I hope this will help.
Thank you Tara? for your heartfelt sharings.
They have helped me through difficult times
in my life.
Berthena Parrish says
Thank you for sharing the beautiful “pause” moment. Powerful!
Berthena Parrish, LMFT
San Luis Obispo, CA
S N says
Thank you, Tara, a greater presence is healing. In a way, death in late life is expected, a natural evolution. However, it is the unexpected, sudden trauma and loss, in youth, that seems hard to process… the brain wants to make sense of it all, the why, but it can’t bc the loss goes against what we expect the youthful phase to be.
Garima Lamba says
Thank you, Tara. I have been grieivng loss of some mental abilities due to a medication change this past year. I could relate to you not being able to go to a family vacation in this video and it did bring up some things for me. Thank you again for being such a wonderful teacher and guide.
Janet Honek says
Tara is a miracle worker. Your insights and gentle guidance are vital to processing grief and suffering. Your talks are straightforward and easy to absorb due to your abundance of loving kindness. Thank you for the work you do.
Marilynn Raben says
There really are no words to describe how meaningful this recording has been to me both personally and professionally. I have lost 2 children, and I am going to use Tara’s practices daily for myself, and with clients. There is so much love and compassion in Tara’s teachings. Thank you so much! Is there a way to obtain a copy of these sessions?
Allison MIlton says
Discovering the always and already Love within is what I always longed for. Your teaching supports so many. Thank you.
jennifer saunders says
I love you Tara and so happy that I was introduced to you years ago. My question is: when praying I don’t have a sense of who or what is the larger connection. I truly believe in Mother Earth being part American Indian and loving the outdoors but I don’t feel like praying to her is genuine. I really want to pray to something but nothing feels true. Do you have any suggestions for me and my patients who are fighting cancer and questioning their own beliefs and faith. I feel envious of those who have a solid belief in a larger belonging. I want so badly to feel that larger community and connection. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. You have held me in times of crisis and uncertainty. You are truly a lifesaver ❤️
Nicky Robins says
It seemed ironic that the person I brought to mind to grieve, was the same presence that I leaned into for safety and support. That spoke volumes to the loss itself.
Thank you. 💚✨
Sharon Kochman says
Alone time to reflect on my loss. After reflecting on what happened I seek someone.who can compliment my position at the time. I seek out like people with similar struggles and are able to see a future with their loss. If we have similar circumstances we can help each other move on if that makes sense to us.
Julie Konigsberg says
My friend sent me your post. I had been following you for years prior to my retirement. I, too, have been dealing with long term grief due to a connective tissue disorder which took me many years to diagnose and has taken so much from me. It is a very isolating invisible illness. Your posting was so very helpful. None of us are walking alone on this journey. Thank you and God bless.
Valerie Wright says
I find the examples very helpful…hearing the various “options” for spirituality that reside outside my experience of spirituality gives me a broader sense of how to apply the concepts beyond my own experience. Thank you for this…It would be helpful if we had a PowerPoint to follow and fill in with our own thoughts about what you shared. I look forward to getting your handout.
Taj Guzzardo says
My sister walked me through deepest loss to date. I was so depressed I used like iny bed all day though I did dress. She took the time to call me each day with encouragement. I essence I lost my mother twice. Mom went to a mental institution when I was 3 and for only short periods was well and stable. Later in life I found the most wonderful surrogate mother who died much to soon. She claimed me as a daughter. Ann claimede as a precious sister and never let go of me.
Sherri Mclario says
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I loved the gentleness and compassionate approach woven throughout.
Diane Lown says
This has been immensely helpful in giving me some language and understanding for some complicated emotions and patterns.
Kathleen Kunze says
Being in nature, connecting with Source, being heard with compassion, self acceptance.
Martha Desmond says
Today is my beautiful mom’s birthday. She left us in 2013, and yet, she never has left us. Today I found myself missing her terribly. I cried my eyes out when I went to place flowers on my parent’s graveside.
In this meditation, I was immediately lifted to my church, and there the light of Jesus enveloped me. When I brought it here, to where I am, and echoed the words in my heart, “Stay with me. Accompany me. Hold me.” things really did shift. I no longer felt alone. I felt held. I felt presence. I suddenly believed that I could walk through the challenging situations that are currently in my life. For the first time in quite some time, I was able to internalize the idea that everything is going to be ok. I guess I missed my mom so much because that is exactly how I always felt whenever I was with her. She really is still with me! Thank you, Dr. Brach!
Rebecca Thompson says
Thank you for this program, I often feel such spaciousness and love when I surrender to life and all the emotions it evokes, including grief. It belongs
Melissa Richardson says
I love the compassion offered in these teachings. I know my clients will greatly benefit from them as will I.
Alma Ayala says
Sometimes feeling the presence of an animal companion that has departed helps. I sense it settling down beside me – not demanding anything of me at all. Just being there.
Alyssa Herren says
nature has helped me, that’s my safe space. I invited that in and felt my feelings in this practice, I am so grateful. This is my first chance getting to truly face and understand my loss more because of your workshop. Thank you for this sacred blessing.
Terry Richter says
The presence of God.
Nancy Other says
When our son died suddenly I felt completely lost. Slowly I was helped by some family and friends including our son’s toddler daughter. I was very much helped by nature, meditation, qi gong and binaural beats. I learned to pray in a new way. The prayer at the end of this program brought tears but also an energy that lifted my spirits. Thank you for this program.
Val Taylor says
Thank you Tara. I felt God holding me.
Suzette Reuschel-DiVirgilio says
I came into this series with the hope to identify skills to assist and support others, but as someone who has experienced a tremendous amount of intense grief and loss over the past year, I think what I have gained instead is renewed sense of love and support for myself more than anything. Thank you, Tara, as always, for your incredible ability to touch the deepest areas of the heart with such tenderness and kindness and love. I can only hope that some day, I can extend the same to another.
Dawn Geoppinger says
Thank you, Tara, for this timely and illuminating mini-workshop. It was very helpful for considering how I personally relate to grief, and I also appreciated the park bench meditation for helping clients, as well.
Dinah Heinrich says
Thank you for the information and guidance.
Joan Sullivan says
Joan Sullivan, Psychology, Boston, MA
Before I reached age thirty, I had lost my family of origin. Now, I am now experiencing the loss of my daughter, who died suddenly a few weeks ago. My losses have always made me feel separate from others who have had more “normal lives/families.” And that is quite isolating. Tara, your third session about being always being a part of something larger, despite our losses, spoke to me and offered me comfort. Thank you.
Carol says
This helped me realize and embrace the grief and losses experienced by those who have mentored and encouraged me and to know that communally we can love and continue to thrive.
Alina Sansevich says
My zazen practice has helped me to connect with the Dharma, and know that there is more to life than just my everyday problems and hurt feelings and bad experiences from the past.
“This is the beginning of sacred refuge,
we don’t have to carry the grief alone,
there’s a larger belonging that holds our life”
Thank you so so much for this words, I will add them to my daily metta practice.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful teaching.
Deb Langhans says
Thank you & bless you, Tara, for your very comforting & transformational teaching.
with love & gratitude,
Deb~
Julie Zeff says
Remembering my dad holding me in his arms as I cried helps me to remember the feeling of feeling held during hard time. Thank you, Tara. I adore you!