Tara Brach, Ph. D., (b May 17, 1953) is a psychologist and internationally renowned expert on Buddhist meditation. She is also the founder and senior teacher of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, a spiritual community that teaches and practices Vipassana meditation. She has worked with Jack Kornfield and other prominent Vipassana Meditation experts.[1] Dr. Brach also teaches Buddhist meditation at many centers in the United States and Canada including Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts. A clinical psychologist, she has taught extensively on the application of Buddhist teachings to emotional healing.[2] In 2003, Dr. Brach authored the seminal work, Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha,which encapsulated Dr. Brach's application of Buddhist teachings such as mindfulness to the psychological process of accepting and healing trauma.[3] Dr. Brach is a peace activist, and an engaged Buddhist. As such, she co-founded the Washington DC Buddhist Peace Fellowship.
Educational and Professional Background[]
Tara Brach received a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. She wrote a dissertation analyzing how individuals with eating disorders can utilize meditation as a healing technique.
Tara Brach spent ten years living in an ashram -a yogic spiritual community- where she practiced and taught kundalini yoga and concentrative (breath and mantra) meditations. After being introduced to Buddhist meditation, she attended a number of silent vipassana retreats led by Joseph Goldstein and other senior teachers. She went on to participate in a five-year Buddhist teacher training program under the guidance of Jack Kornfield at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Subsequently, she received training in Dzogchen from Tsoknyi Rinpoche and has incorporated elements of Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism into her daily practice and teaching.[4]
Tara Brach has written numerous articles, and recorded numerous talks about the practical application of Buddhist meditation practices that are available through the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW), the Dharma Seed Tape Library and Sounds True.[5] True Refuge, by Dr. Brach, will be available in 2011.
Tara Brach presently resides in Virginia with her husband, Jonathan Foust, who is also a noted yoga and meditation teacher.
Bibliography[]
- Tara Brach (2003). Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha. ISBN 0-553-80167-8
- Kenny, M. (2008, July). Embodiment without body. Yoga Therapy Today, 1945-7235, 19-20. Abstract obtained from International Association of Yoga Therapists, 2008.
Notes[]
- ↑ Kornfield, J. (2003). Publisher's Weekly review of Radical Acceptance: Embracing your life with the heart of a Buddha [Publisher's Weekly Editorial Review]. Retrieved April 17, 2009, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553801678/ ref=dp_proddesc_1?ie=UTF8&n=283155
- ↑ Adelman, K. (2005, May 1). What i've learned: Tara Brach. Washingtonian Magazine.
- ↑ Brach, T. (2003). Radical acceptance: Embracing your life with the heart of a buddha. NY: Bantam.
- ↑ Tara brach biography at the Insight Meditation Center of Washington. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2009, from Insight Meditation Center of Washington Web site: http://www.imcw.org/tara-brach
- ↑ Tara Brach's online guided meditations and Dharma Talks http://www.imcw.org/audio/audioarchives.html
External links[]
- Articles and Online Talks/Meditations by Tara Brach
- Biography at IMCW
- Publisher's Weekly Article About Dr. Tara Brach's Conception of Buddhism in the following book :Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha
- Washington Magazine Interview with Dr. Tara Brach
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