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About the Meditation

Meditation session led by Lavina Shamdasani.

The guided meditation begins at 10:16

For centuries Himalayan practitioners have used meditation to quiet the mind, open the heart, calm the nervous system, and increase focus. Now Western scientists, business leaders, and the secular world have embraced meditation as a vital tool for brain health.

Whether you’re a beginner, a dabbler, or a skilled meditator seeking the company of others, join expert teachers in a forty-five-minute weekly program designed to fit into your lunch break. Each session will be inspired by a different work of art from the Rubin Museum’s collection and will include an opening talk, a twenty-minute meditation session, and a closing discussion.

Presented in partnership with Sharon Salzberg and the Interdependence Project. This program is supported in part by the Hemera Foundation.

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RELATED ARTWORK

Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara; China; 18th century; silk embroidery and gold thread; Rubin Museum of Art, gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.5 (HAR 106)
Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara; China; 18th century; silk embroidery and gold thread; Rubin Museum of Art, gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.5 (HAR 106)

Theme:Unity

The deity shown here is another form of the idea of compassion. Here he shows commitment to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. His many heads see in every direction; and his eight hands hold objects (attributes) that signify his generosity, capacity to teach, his ability to overcome obstacles, and his recognition of the Buddha-nature in all sentient beings.

A notable feature of tantric art is the multiplication of arms, heads, legs, eyes, and implements to deal with impediments to enlightenment. Adding more parts is perhaps best understood by the principle that more is more. More arms mean more capacity for providing aid; more attributes mean more powers. Specific numbers can carry particular messages within a line of teaching. Rainbow light emanates from this compassionate being, attended by the sun and the moon stilled in a timeless sky and flanked by two sturdy plants on earth””one like a lotus,the other like an iris.

About the Speaker

Lavina Shamdasani

Lavina Shamdasani studied the neuroscience, philosophy, and pedagogy of compassion at the Compassion Instituteâ„¢. She has taught Compassion Cultivation Training and self-compassion classes and led book club discussions and meditations at Tibet House US and The Trinity School. She has a degree in pre-med and Biomedical Engineering and has worked in the healthcare industry for several years. Having lived in Kenya, India, and the U.S., Lavina has firsthand experience with a multitude of different religions and cultures and has an international and diverse background. CCT had a transformative impact on her and brought about a positive shift in the overall quality of her life and relationships that inspired her to teach within her community. Lavina has a passion for travel and design.

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