Mindfulness Meditation · Election Exhale
This week’s meditation session is led by Kate Johnson and the theme is Election Exhale.
Eleven-headed, Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara; Central Tibet; early 20th century (before 1935); Pigments on cloth; 54 3/4 x 37 3/4 in. (139.1 x 95.9 cm); Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation; F1997.1.6
The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara stands with 11 heads and one thousand arms fanning out like a white halo around him. On each palm there is an eye so that he can see and help all beings with their suffering. Avalokiteshvara’s spiritual “father,” Buddha Amitabha, gave him this form after the bodhisattva broke his vow to never have a selfish thought again, causing him to explode. After coming back together, Avalokiteshvara could help more beings than ever before, demonstrating the power of unity in the face of doubt. His compassion does not discriminate and extends to all beings, regardless of their political leanings.
Kate Johnson works at the intersections of spiritual practice, social action, and creativity. She has been practicing Buddhist meditation in the Western Insight/Theravada tradition since her early twenties and is empowered to teach through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She holds a BFA in dance from the Alvin Ailey School/Fordham University, and MA in performance studies from NYU.
Kate is a core faculty member of MIT’s Presencing Institute, and has trained hundreds of leaders and change-makers in using Social Presencing Theater, a mindfulness and dance improvisation methodology used to inform strategic planning and systems change in our complex world.
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