Finding True Refuge: Meditations for Difficult Times

by Tara Brach

Insights and Practices for Finding Sanctuary in Any Circumstance

When the difficulties and losses of life feel overwhelming, is there someplace we can turn for the safety, nurturing, and peace that we long for? Most of us are strongly conditioned to react with fear and confusion, falling back on strategies of judgment, control, addictive behaviors, and anger. Yet there is another way. “In any moment, no matter how lost we feel, we can take refuge in presence and love,” teaches Tara Brach. On Finding True Refuge, this renowned psychologist and meditation teacher offers you three sessions of spiritual teachings and practices for finding your way home to the inner sanctuary that is always available. Tara reveals how the three gateways of refuge-truth, love, and awareness-allow us to draw on our own deepest wisdom, and offers eight guided meditations that

Mindful awareness-cultivating a non-judging, present-centered attention Using the therapeutic RAIN process for releasing fear and healing through self-compassion Letting go of our desire for control and certainty Cultivating a forgiving heart for ourselves and others When we seek comfort and relief from stress, Tara Brach teaches, we often unconsciously turn to false refuges such as material wealth, approval from others, or a preoccupation with the past and future. Yet by cultivating true refuge in this moment, we not only find reliable and trustworthy shelter from the storms of life, we also open ourselves up to fully experiencing joy and fulfillment. With Finding True Refuge, Tara brings you essential practices for awakening to the aliveness within you, and discovering that you can love this life - no matter what.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Audiobook

Audiobook

Published March 1, 2013

About the author

Tara Brach is a leading western teacher of Buddhist meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening. She has practiced and taught meditation for over 40 years, with an emphasis on vipassana (mindfulness or insight) meditation. Tara is the senior teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. A clinical psychologist, Tara is the author of Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha, True Refuge: Finding Peace & Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart and Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of R.A.I.N. (Viking, Dec. 31, 2019).

Tara is nationally known for her skill in weaving western psychological wisdom with a range of meditative practices. Her approach emphasizes compassion for oneself and others, mindful presence and the direct realization and embodiment of natural awareness.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This meditation practice made me cry. Tell no-one.

[Kiruthicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me of the true refuges of Buddha dharma and sangha and meditations to connect with these!

[Myoho2000 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very valuable book because it gives plenty of examples of situations in life which could be helped by meditation. The author is a VERY experienced person in both meditation and teaching (and also psychotherapy!)

[Davina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like her work, and I found it a useful audio program. I found, given some things in my personal life, that her call for compassion was, at times, difficult, yet, when I looked underneath what she said, it was an important message that has been quite helpful.