About the Mindfulness Meditation Podcast
Meditation session led by Tracy Cochran.
The guided meditation begins at 17:12.
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.
This program is supported in part by the Hemera Foundation with thanks to our presenting partners Sharon Salzberg, the Interdependence Project and Parabola Magazine.
Related Artwork
Theme: Facing Chaos
Buzzing with energy, Shezad Dawood’s abstracted fierce figure is a contemporary twist on depictions of Buddhist deities who help practitioners transcend obstacles. Dawood blends cultural heritage with references to popular visual culture and materials””like the neon of this sculpture””to re-examine how we tell and perceive history. The Buddhist gods seen here, known as wrathful deities, are a positive force despite their demonic appearance. The six small skulls and enveloping flames above the central figure’s elongated face represent the embodiment of wrathfulness and the power to transform ferocious activity into positive energy. Skull crowns often adorn the heads of wrathful deities, with many examples in the Museum’s collection, including Dorje Drolo.
Wrathful Activity, Fierce Energy has been guarding the Rubin Museum’s main entrance for the past two years. The bright, colorful neon lights permeate the lobby, casting a glow over the surrounding surfaces and people. The sculpture illuminates how there can be beauty amid chaos.
About the Speaker
Tracy Cochran has been a student and teacher of meditation and spiritual practice for decades. She is the founder of the Hudson River Sangha, which is now virtual and is open to all. The link for her weekly meditations can be found on her website:tracycochran.org.
In addition to the Rubin Museum of Art, Tracy has taught mindfulness meditation and mindful writing at the New York Insight Meditation Center, as well as in schools, corporations, and other venues nationally and internationally. She is also a writer and the editorial director of Parabola, an acclaimed quarterly magazine that seeks to bring timeless spiritual wisdom to the burning questions of the day. Her writings, podcasts, and other details can be found on her website and at parabola.org.