Growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home where his mother thought he might be the Messiah while his father was convinced he was a luftmensch (air head), Rami Shapiro has had only one idea in his entire life: alles iz Gott, everything is God, the Happening happening as all happening. Growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home where his mother thought he might be the Messiah while his father was convinced he was a luftmensch (air head), Rami Shapiro has had only one idea in his entire life: alles iz Gott, everything is God, the Happening happening as all happening. He earned rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College in order to preach this idea in synagogues, and a PhD in contemporary Judaism from Union Graduate School in order to teach this idea in universities. Along the way he’s taken Bodhisattva vows in Zen Buddhism, become a 32° Mason in the Scottish Rite, been initiated into the Ramakrishna Order of Vedanta Hinduism, joined the Theosophical Society, published three dozen books, has had his poems included in prayer books and hymnals around the English speaking world, and has walked the 12 Steps of Overeaters Anonymous more times than he can count. His books fall into three categories: Biblical translations that make the Bible say what he wished it would say; spiritual explorations that make spirituality all about practice rather than feelings; and recovery that reveals the central addiction of all humans—playing God—and the way to free oneself from it: realize God is playing you. Rami currently co-directs the One River Foundation devoted to sharing the Perennial Wisdom at the mystic heart of the world’s religions This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Facing Pandemic Fears with an Awake Heart, with Tara Brach [2020-03-18] While it’s natural to feel fear during times of great collective crisis, our challenge is that fear easily takes over our lives. This talk explores how the mindfulness and compassion of the RAIN meditation can help us find an inner refuge in the face of fear, and deepen our loving connection with each other. Audio version: https://www.tarabrach.com/facing-pandemic-fears/ ********************************************************* You can now order Tara's new book, Radical Compassion, at the following link: https://www.tarabrach.com/radical-com... Subscribe to Tara's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Join Tara's email community to receive exclusive updates, events, meditations, and get a free download of Tara’s new 10 min meditation: “Mindful Breathing: Finding Calm and Ease": http://eepurl.com/6YfI Your support will enable us to continue to offer these talks freely. If you value them, I hope you will consider offering a donation at this time. Visit: https://www.tarabrach.com/donation/ With thanks and love, Tara

The 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise is utterly simple, takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. Although you can do the exercise in any position, sit with your back straight while learning the exercise. Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth, and keep it there through the entire exercise. You will be exhaling through your mouth around your tongue; try pursing your lips slightly if this seems awkward. 1) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound. 2) Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four. 3) Hold your breath for a count of seven. 4) Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight. 5) This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths. Note that you always inhale quietly through your nose and exhale audibly through your mouth. The tip of your tongue stays in position the whole time. Exhalation takes twice as long as inhalation. The absolute time you spend on each phase is not important; the ratio of 4:7:8 is important. If you have trouble holding your breath, speed the exercise up but keep to the ratio of 4:7:8 for the three phases. With practice you can slow it all down and get used to inhaling and exhaling more and more deeply. Learn more about the breathing exercises that Dr. Weil recommends: 3 Breathing Exercises To Try: https://weil.ws/2zjg5dx