Summary of Awakening from the Landlocked Self, with Tara Brach

00:00:00 - 00:50:00

In the video, Tara Brach discusses the idea of awakening from the landlocked self. She explains that this self is one that is stuck in patterns and lacks trust. However, with practice, this self can be dissolved. Prayers or trust in the possibility of change can help to manifest this change. Compassionate witnessing is essential in overcoming the landlocked self, and it is important to be aware of the patterns that make room for it.

• 00:00:00 In the above poem, the author describes a mystical experience in which he becomes one with the sky, comets, sons, and galaxies. He recalls a similar experience from when he was very young, in which he asked his mother about God. The experience resonates with the Buddhist teaching that Suffering is a result of forgetting our connection to something larger. This talk provides a guide for deepening one's understanding of this theme.
• 00:05:00 The speaker discusses the theme of "wakefulness" in different religions and spiritual paths, and how it is a way of reconnecting to our larger self. She also points out that this journey can be a challenging one, but ultimately is a journey to love and happiness.
• 00:10:00 Tara Brach explains that in Buddhist psychology, the landlocked self is formed by the ways in which we try to resist or grasp on to experience. She gives examples of how this manifests in our day-to-day lives and how self-judgement can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. She encourages the audience to start paying attention to their own patterns, and to recognize how what they are really wanting may be something that they are not enjoying.
• 00:15:00 Tara Brach discusses the experience of aversion, which can include feeling angry, fearful, or judgmental. She encourages people to experiment with this experience to better understand themselves.
• 00:20:00 The video discusses how the self can be awakened from the "landlocked self." This self is one that is stuck in patterns and lacks trust. However, with practice, this self can be dissolved. Prayers or trust in the possibility of change can help to manifest this change.
• 00:25:00 The video discusses the practice of compassionate witnessing, which is the process of noticing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and then forgiving them. This is essential in overcoming the landlocked self, or the self that is trapped in thoughts and feelings of negativity.
• 00:30:00 Tara Brach discusses the concept of somebody hood and how it can be experienced when traveling or in different situations. She also offers an example of somebody who is incompetent and how the person copes with the situation.
• 00:35:00 The video discusses the concept of " Somebodyhood ," or the idea that someones presence in one's life can be overwhelming and difficult to ignore. Tara Brach discusses a personal experience of being with a person who was addicted to drugs, and how this Somebodyhood became very solidified and took over her life. She advises that in order to deal with Somebodyhood effectively, it is important to be aware of the patterns that make room for it, and to be willing to work through the pain it causes.
• 00:40:00 Tara Brach explains how somebodyhood can be created through a process of surrendering to a larger power. This somebodyhood allows for creativity and compassionate witnessing. It is important to remember that the somebodyhood is without a story or identity, and is simply present, alive, and aware when we are fully here in the present moment.
• 00:45:00 In this video, Tara Brach discusses the importance of stepping out of our habitual ways of living in order to experience more of life. She reads a poem called "Talk about Walking" in which the speaker contemplates where they are going and what they are seeking. Brach encourages the viewer to practice this kind of awareness in order to live more fully in the present moment.
• 00:50:00 Tara Brach discusses the idea of awakening from the landlocked self and how to do so. She says that wisdom tells us that we are nothing, but love tells us that we are everything. Between the two, our lives flow. Namaste is the Sanskrit word for "hello" or "goodbye."