The Barriers to Loving Presence (Part 1A) - Tara Brach

Key Takeaways

• Love is not something to be sought externally, but rather an intrinsic quality to be uncovered by removing internal barriers.
• The spiritual practice involves identifying and bringing awareness to the self-imposed barriers that prevent us from experiencing loving presence.
• Our natural inclination to avoid harm, seek pleasure, and grasp onto perceived rewards can create unconscious barriers to loving.
• Core beliefs such as unworthiness, flaw, or distrust in the world can lead to armoring our hearts and creating emotional distance.
• Blaming, judging, and fixating on what is wrong in relationships are common ways we create distance and erect barriers to connection.
• Perceiving oneself as a victim is another significant way individuals create barriers, often stemming from a history of perceived manipulation or disadvantage.
• The practice of inquiry, asking 'what is between me and loving presence?', helps to shine light on unnoticed patterns of separation.
• Recognizing our own patterns of creating distance allows for conscious choice and the potential to soften these barriers.