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Theme: Hope

About the Mindfulness Meditation Podcast

The Rubin Museum of Art presents a weekly meditation session led by a prominent meditation teacher from the New York area, with each session focusing on a specific work of art. This podcast is recorded in front of a live audience, and includes an opening talk, a 20-minute sitting session, and a closing discussion. The guided meditation begins at 18:25.

If you would like to attend Mindfulness Meditation sessions in person or learn more, please visit our website at RubinMuseum.org/meditation.

This program is presented in partnership with Sharon Salzberg, the Interdependence Project and Parabola Magazine.

Related Artwork

Goddess Marichi; Mongolia; late 17th century or early 18th century; gilt copper alloy; Rubin Museum of Art; C2005.16.26 (HAR 65449)
Goddess Marichi; Mongolia; late 17th century or early 18th century; gilt copper alloy; Rubin Museum of Art; C2005.16.26 (HAR 65449)

The Goddess of the Dawn is depicted in many different forms. Sometimes she rides a white horse through the sky, banishing the darkness and driving back the night with the orb of the sun in her outstretched right hand. More commonly she is yellow in color, with three faces and six arms, seated on a chariot drawn by seven pigs, removing all obstacles to happiness and well-being. The metaphor for Meditation and spiritual practice are symbolized by light overcoming darkness. This form of the goddess, seated in a relaxed pose, is likely an attendant figure, one of two flanking a larger sculpture of Tara. The round face, jewelry, patterned etching on the garments, and the multileveled lotus base are all characteristic of Mongolian sculpture from the 17th century.

Notions of hope and faith in the world are entwined. The Goddess of the Dawn is a reminder that the world keeps moving, the dawn will come, and there will be light to drive out darkness. As we work on mindfulness and meditation, our practice can give us hope–or faith–that we can overcome the darkness in our lives and worlds.

About the Speaker

Kimberly Brown is the executive director of The Interdependence Project and a graduate of its Meditation Teacher Training Program. She leads mindfulness and compassion classes, workshops, and retreats for groups and individuals in New York City. Kim studies American and Tibetan Buddhism and practices loving kindness meditation. Her teaching methods integrate depth psychology, compassion training, and traditional Buddhist techniques as a means to help everyone reconnect to their inherent clarity and openness.


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