Letting Go of Controlling: The Path of Freedom, Part 1 - Tara Brach

Letting Go of Controlling: The Path of Freedom, Part 1 - Tara Brach
While it’s natural to try to control our life experience, our chronic controlling cuts us off from presence and obscures the loving awareness that is our essence. This series of talks explores how we can let go in four key domains of controlling: clinging to thoughts, resisting feelings, holding tight to beliefs and armoring our heart.
We look at how egoic controlling manifests individually and as a society; the process of awakening from exclusive identification with a separate ego/self; what it means to die into a larger reality and the similarities of psychedelics and meditation in the process of letting go.
The gift of releasing the grip of controlling is true freedom; inhabiting the intrinsic beauty of our beings, and having our lives be an expression of creativity, wisdom and love.
Watch Part 2: kzbin.info_IiF8TGipwU
Listen to Audio: www.tarabrach.com/pt1-letting...
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[@yogawithpriyanka]

Thank you for this Tara, I just spent 15 days in india with my parents and am recalling a a wise person once said...everytime you want to see where you are in your spiritual journey - spend some time with your family ... sums it up perfectly 🙏🏽

[@andreejohnston516]

I must not be doing well then cause I’m really a total mess around them. It’s not changing other than I’m learning forgiving isn’t for them but for me.

[@zaydakebede3785]

You and millions of others. Don't let it hold you back.

[@ceebd8554]

​@@andreejohnston516perhaps you're a mess around your family because you're taking off your mask, and let go of your defenses developed in your young years. I'm in that place i describe. I understand I don't need to please them . I don't yet have a sense of what I need and prefer. Good stuff, baby steps : ) Me: "oh, I need to go to the bathroom' ' then finding refuge within. meditate, while enjoying a time alone with Spirit

[@princeofb7383]

*providing you don't have abusive family members but it's beautiful when people have a loving family

[@Zeitounah]

So true, Priyanka! When I stay with my mother, bless her, I call it the Ashram😄

[@jolfreire6948]

So much wisdom here. Thank you Tara

[@susansacco7583]

OMG! Thank you so much. Namaste 🙏

[@veraheyde6611]

Be empty of worrying Think of who created thought Why do you stay in prison When the door is wide open? Move outside the tangle of fear thinking. Live in silence. Flow down and down in always Widening rings of being. Rumi Thank you Tara 💖

[@maevemcinerney3084]

Thank you Tara for your beautiful contribution to the world. I'm so glad I found you recently - you have helped me greatly. Sending love 🙏❤️

[@kathryzebra831]

🧘‍♀️I can remember learning brahmacharya a civility (yama) as without controlling and without addiction. Letting go (with love) and moderation are helpful ways. The specificities of the ways of Eight-practices (Ashtanga) including yama, polite (niyama), posture (asana), breath (pranayama), holding-tension (pratyahara), attention (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and living-meditation (samadhi) are helpful to transcend. Thank you for the reminder🧘‍♀️

[@thesavannalady]

Thank you so much Tara. I cannot overstate how much these two videos have helped me in the past week. I have had them on a loop at times to help my racing, controlling mind. They have been so beneficial and have kept me alive. Thank you. (Ironically, this message is probably a form of control!)

[@lorriholt9680]

Thank you so much for this. Namaste…

[@captainbobsparrow9092]

My journal entry last night was realizing that the Universe is telling me I have to let it ALL go & me trying to wrap my head around the truth that all means ALL- even my tightest held beliefs. Then this shows up 💫

[@menubrothers]

Tara Brach you're a treasure. I'm grateful to have access to your talks, meditations and books

[@marianmarshall7026]

I always appreciate your input. This particular ‘session’ was stupendous for me. Deeply affirming of my own process, evolved over years, that I had, unconsciously, been judging as inadequate. It was also indescribably revealing regarding how much I was, again entirely unconsciously, holding regarding “what is to come”. (I doubled-over with the release). A sense floated wordlessly from within: that what has transpired today, will be life-changing for me. I have never before had such a sense. Thank you, Tara for the lifetime of work and wisdom you share with us. You make a beautiful difference. Blessings

[@humanbeing3337]

absolutely beautiful. Perfectly placed in this moment in time. Returning love and gratitude 🐛🦋 ☀️🧊

[@Theowlhawk]

Tara thank you, bless you, beautiful ❤

[@user-co9px5pl1q]

Tara Brach you are saving lives. Thank you is not enough gratitude.

[@joanmurphy1197]

Our wee sangha found your most recent talk very helpful. We engaged in lively discussion and look forward to the coming dharma talks on the subject of controlling.

[@Joyous765]

Thank you, dear sister, Tara, for entering my heart and soul and life with this awesome message. I want to keep listening to you and the wonderful lovingkindness and spiritual depth that come through you. Your beauty and wisdom are wonderfully inspiring. Deep blessings to you and to each and all! ❤❤❤

[@mom4peace919]

Thank you! Feel as though this talk was written for me. The timing is perfect. Letting go is my work.

[@nicoleramsey1446]

Thank-you. Thank-you. Thank-you. The melting of ice. A house with no roof. Letting go - letting go - letting go. Thank-you Tara 🌸

[@zaydakebede3785]

Thank you for reminding or making us aware that our ego is just trying to keep us safe and alive and that it is a natural thing not an aberration.

[@caroleseens607]

Tara - I love your reference to cartoons and stories..... I laughed so much that tears ran down my cheeks from the computer email message sent to the wrong 'wife' widow about how hot it was down here. LOL miscommunication happens so much with this texting generation..... spell correct confusing the meanings.... messages out of contect. Laughter is a balm and I laugh when I catch myself chastising myself over something I 'should' have done differently. Then tell myself "Sweetheart I love and respect you always" kindness starts with myself.

[@leonachanning]

Thankyou I detected the fear I must shift it so it cannot consume my life anymore I don't want anymore anxiety or horrid stress. Sending love x

[@JudithMathis-qb3qj]

This teaching really helps me to understand that my control is coming from fear

[@quilting]

your talk today really make a dent in my hard head thank you for this important realization tara

[@catherinebridges2541]

Thank you the mystery of life would be so wonderful for me. It would be so kind and I want that

[@tamaratardy]

Thank you, I’ve been having trouble with anxiety and heartbreak over the Gaza Genocide. This talk was very helpful ❤

[@jamesryan74]

Thank you, Tara. I was fortunate enough to experience the state of being you describe just recently. I never knew that space existed, or how beautiful it is. So much peace, so much beauty in that state of pure awareness. So thankful to have you articulate for me what this space is so I can share it with others.

[@uiktorion]

I have listened to Tara almost daily since 2018. Rarely have I heard something I don't agree with. But I heard her say here that world events are beyond our control. I have to disagree. I firmly believe that who we are has a direct effect on world events. It is in part Tara's teaching that helped me to know this.

[@uiktorion]

It is at 12:00

[@parisaforpeace]

We are not getting rid of thoughts, rather inhabiting a space larger than thoughts, we are not only noticing thoughts but also the space between and around thoughts. We are gently coming into a state of being and presence. Thank you for this.

[@KnottyToys]

Letting go…oh yes how I like many others welcome this opportunity to let go. Thank you✨💜

[@melissaludwig3314]

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom Tara. This talk came at the perfect time to help me interrupt my spiral of over thinking. Namaste.

[@melwills3822]

What a beautiful talk and perfectly timed for me to hear.... thank you so much Tara, your name fits the Buddha Tara’s role.. working swiftly and compassionately to help others. Thank you very much 🙏🏻

[@susansacco7583]

Thank you so much. Namaste 🙏

[@allanreyes6873]

"Awareness is our S U P E R P O W E R !" I want a shirt w that quote (NOW !) Love that Tara Brach

[@dianneschmid8129]

Dearest Tara thank u for reuniting us with our gentle and loving hearts ❤️ blessings and love to u 🍀🍀🍀👼🧿

[@user-ld6rb7uf4e]

Very nice 😊, thanks so much for your soul service ❤

[@carolpridgeon8200]

Thank you Tara!!!

[@Lotuslaful]

❤❤❤ I am in the actual desert at this moment purposely being present with my thoughts and space. This was such a blessed liberating gift. Missing pieces awakening though your excellent teaching Clenching was liberating to hear as is the story of the tiger pacing… Thank you so much Grateful and Thankful ❤❤❤

[@rubycrystal1]

Wow, I wish you an amazing journey!

[@terrykyan986]

Thank you, Tara. Beautiful. Just what I needed.

[@Rain9Quinn]

Sounds so opposite how i felt in the face of an overwhelming trauma, when i felt like the floor fell away & i had no place, safety, nothing to cling to… roof being gone instead is so much nicer!

[@bjfox620]

This talk has been a gift to me. The space around my thoughts I can recognize in this moment is a gift. Thank you 💜

[@pjhjdj]

Oh my, I so needed to hear this! Gratitude!

[@CXExcellencechatswithanjali]

thanks Tara! this talk was magical and led me to a personal breakthrough. heartfelt gratitude 🙏🙏

[@jacquelinegarvie800]

Thanks a lot. For keeping it simple 🎉

[@cuatrovientos8]

I love you Tara thank you so much ❤

[@cyp9484]

Thank you so much Tara, your words opened my being and freed me from some difficulties I was creating to myself lately. Deep gratitude for your life work, I am 25 and you are a true inspiration for me. Bowing deeply.

[@jodiecarter2745]

Thanks!

[@fennekieken3463]

Thank you...

[@susanswinny588]

You and Jonathan tell some similar stories 💛

[@suziq654]

Dear Tara, I m so grateful for this ❤, I m so happy that I found you.

[@dennishoogerman2255]

Thank you Tara

[@juleshacker]

Thank you so much, 🙏🙏🙏

[@susansacco7583]

Thanks so much. Namaste 🙏

[@paulburick1506]

Thank you. Nice presentation of great benefit.

[@NC-xl9dw]

Thank you, Tara, what an amazing hour I just spent! I learned so much and feel so at peace. I will try to carry this with me into my day and will do the practice of noticing my thoughts throughout the next week, instead of just during my daily meditation. What an epiphany!

[@lauraalexa2099]

Oh my. I have been trying to understand what I have to learn from feeling totally out of control regarding an ongoing situation which has quite literally traumatized me and my family for way too long. Trying to understand what is the meaning of it and the constant delays which keep it ongoing. Asking for a sign to lead me to understand, otherwise it's just too cruel. And here it is. The answer. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@caroleseens607]

felt spacious as I opened to the sky metaphor...... I will continue with this practice of letting go..... thank you Tara.

[@alayaheart7384]

Tara la, thank you so much. Such a blessing.

[@sklarmd]

Thanks so much

[@kympedicelli6396]

❤❤ Found myself laughing so much to your anecdotes and at myself through the teaching.. 🙏🏼 Thank you for that. 😅 Much better than self shaming. Case in point: The controlling contracted obsessive self “needs” to share: Butterfly 🦋 = chrysalis. 🐛 Moth = cocoon. Egoic regards, The Overthinking Ice Cube

[@noturbo]

i tried to stop drinking with my will and it got worse , i finally fell to my knees one day and went i give up i stopped fighting and i haven't had a drink for over 21 years now i wish i could apply the same thing to other areas of my life , just stop fighting Thank you for this 🥰

[@cosmicsalmons]

Thankyou💗

[@glenngoodman7272]

Let it be let it be. Thank you so much.

[@bronsonmcdonald5473]

Love the email story, brilliant 🤣

[@RhondaWimmOfficial]

Spirit brought this video to me in a very needed moment. Thank you for sharing this. Sometimes AI is in tune with the cosmos. ❤

[@mjcfsutton]

Beautiful!

[@PaintLooseWatercolors]

So good. Thank you for sharing yourself with others.

[@ML-kz5nx]

Thank you so much for your teachings, Tara❤

[@devanlaframboise8458]

Thank you Tara for this lovely segment on "un-clenching" and letting go ❤️ Looking forward to the next one!

[@andreejohnston516]

Thank you Tara. That was the best talk I’ve ever heard and really felt your pure intention to help us heal from our minds! Bless u! 🙏🙏

[@donna8916]

Thank you ❤

[@user-qe4oz3fz7h]

This is just what I needed to hear! Thank you ❤️

[@ingridbrudenell758]

Thank you. We needed thls blessing .

[@jeanninekelly4748]

Thank you so much, Tara! I truly needed this today!

[@thetokyodrafts813]

This is wonderfully insightful! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@jasonbecker4974]

This was super helpful. Thank you. 🙏🏼

[@alexismcguiness4931]

Thank you for sharing your light and your presence. Grateful !❤

[@monicaantonowitsch]

This talk was a key to freedom. Thank you Tara.

[@michalrivlin925]

Thank you Tara. I feel like I can rest better when I encompass these ideas ❤. I try to do it. I’m learning it slowly … I need to practice it! Not just listen to it. Ducca is part of life. Better to accept and not resist it. 😊😊 Thank you again 🤗

[@mpszonak]

thank you

[@maryennis9186]

Thank you x

[@snoozyq9576]

Thank you for this. I've been doing a better job lately of reminding myself to unclench throughout the day, but it's frustrating how often it keeps happening

[@EricanArtist]

Thank You Tara for who you are what a huge impact you have had in my life

[@susansacco7583]

Thank you💕

[@denisezayas3152]

Haha love that story !!

[@eftsoulpath333]

Our biggest clenching happens at night when we sleep. Teeth clenching is a huge issue even when you think your chill during the day. Not so!❤

[@user-oz8qp8ge1l]

When is part 2 coming out? I am watching for it as I found part 1 very helpful.

[@louisedandeneau8205]

I love the theory of all of this. I would love to become more loving and forgiving. I feel inadequate and incapable of forgiving a person who is still in my life but with whom I'm trying to cut ties. When I listen to this video (which I love, by the way), I feel like I'm supposed to forgive and accept everything. Perhaps I didn't understand the core message here and my thoughts are probably going in the wrong direction, but I'm so far from all of this... I'm disappointed and afraid I will never be free.

[@sidstar1001]

It is when we get caught (clench fist) on our thoughts - but they too shall pass... I understand what you mean, for I have been going through a similar thing in my life. I guess this talk gives some acute points we must work on. I think of the tiger story walking in circles even after being given a larger 'cage'... I guess we must keep our hopes up, after all, like Tara says, awareness is our powerhouse! Godspeed to us all.❤

[@TheMeaningfulWorkMaven]

🔥🔥🔥

[@peacefulisland67]

It is some of if not the most difficult work to be done - objectifying thought while in the throes of it. Not impossible but more challenging than stopping drinking while working in a bar or liquor store. We don't have to reach out and grab or make a decision to have a thought - they do just come.

[@papermoon1]

🙏🏻

[@user-qz4hh5ef5w]

When have are able to find that space while meditating, how do we maintain it when we go back out into life’s difficult situations that stir up those emotions/fears?

[@homegrown5793]

💐

[@loriann7989]

It's good stuff but if you're in danger? What then? Can you let that go? Some do I'm sure but I feel thinking is often my problem solving and my way out.

[@marniebable]

❤

[@Summerrose400]

How do I stop controlling when my life becomes chaos if I don’t? I have so many other people depending on me ie elderly confused parents, a daughter with mental health issues, a very dear friend dying of cancer and is frightened and my constant worry about my lack of finances. I’m not asking for sympathy I’m genuinely asking for help. I don’t know who I am….what I’ve become is a friend, mother , daughter but who am I? Thank you for any suggestions.

[@susansacco7583]

💕

[@mavenbraun5701]

I mentor others on confidence, love and sex appeal.

[@simpleshoemaking]

I am very sad that you imply that by "not asking the world to be different than it is" this man healed himself of cancer. Do you actually think everyone could be cured of cancer by not asking the world to be different? This thinking could cause a great deal of suffering for those with cancer who can't pull off what this man supposedly did.

[@SaffronHammer]

The story about the letter sent to the widow is so obviously made up as to be distracting, unhelpful. Better told as the joke it undoubtedly is.

[@davidwhite5438]

Is my being a Jehovah's Witness just a grandiose form of control? Trying to control my future, trying to control the present, trying to control my past, denying that dinosaurs existed, trying to believe in an pending apocalypse?

[@blissedbren]

They are a high control group so…