In this episode we present excerpts from the recent conversation (June 2024) between Dr. Gabor Maté  and Tara Brach as part of SAND’s “Conversations on Palestine” around the premiere of the film Where Olive Trees Weep hosted by the directors of the film and co-founders of SAND, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo.

You can watch this full conversation and 22 others. SAND has created a program with leading historians, spiritual teachers, trauma therapists, poets and performers to complement the themes explored in the film and provide a larger historical, cultural and social context to the plight of the Palestinian people.

Purchase Conversations on Palestine

In this conversation, Gabor Maté and Buddhist teacher Tara Brach explored the harrowing situation in Gaza through the Bodhisattva path. They discussed the meaning of spirituality in the face of injustice and suffering, questioning the silence of many spiritual leaders regarding the Gaza crisis. Drawing from the Bodhisattva commitment to alleviate all beings’ suffering, they emphasized the importance of compassion, solidarity, and engaged spirituality in addressing the oppression and trauma faced by the Palestinian people. Their conversation served as an invitation to reassess our spiritual practices and embody the Bodhisattva spirit today, encouraging active solidarity with the suffering.

We appologize for any audio distortions from this conversation. This episode was recorded live on Zoom with some bad connection sounds throughout. 

Gabor Maté, M.D. is a specialist on trauma, addiction, stress and childhood development. After 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, Dr. Maté worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. Gabor is also the creator of a psychotherapeutic approach, Compassionate Inquiry, now studied by thousands of therapists, physicians, counselors, and others in over 80 countries.

Tara Brach is a meditation teacher, psychologist and author of several books including international bestselling Radical Acceptance, Radical Compassion and Trusting the Gold. Her teaching blends Western psychology and Eastern spiritual practices, mindful attention to our inner life, and a full, compassionate engagement with our world. Tara is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington and, together with Jack Kornfield, has co-founded Banyan and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Program, which serves participants from 74 countries around the world.

Resources from the Episode

• The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi
• “What is Love Asking from Us: Reflections on Gaza, the West Bank and Israel” (Dec, 2023) by Tara Brach

Topics

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 02:50 - Tara’s History with Israel
• 06:26 - The Jewish Buddhist Connection
• 07:10 - Silence on Palestine
• 15:42 - Truth and Boddhisvata Path
• 17:38 - History of Buddhism and Social Justice
• 25:10 - What Does Love Demand at this Time?
• 33:18 - Deepening Our History Understanding
• 40:59 - Noble Eight Fold Path
• 49:17 - Jewish Critique of Zionism
• 50:26 - Grief
• 52:38 - Closing Thoughts

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