Mindfulness Meditation · Emptiness
This week’s meditation session is led by Rebecca Li and the theme is Emptiness. The guided meditation begins at 13:26.
Vajra and Bell; late 19th century; silver and metal; Rubin Museum of Art; L2013.41.1.1
How do you visualize emptiness? The vajra and bell—the two most common ritual implements used in Tibetan Buddhism—are important symbols of liberation. The vajra, a type of scepter, represents compassion while the bell represents wisdom about the true, empty nature of reality. When the sound of the bell dissipates, it reminds practitioners of the impermanence of all phenomena.
Dr. Rebecca Li, a dharma heir in the lineage of Chan Master Sheng Yen, is the founder and guiding teacher of Chan Dharma Community. She teaches meditation and dharma classes, gives public lectures, and leads retreats in North America and Europe. Li is the author of Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times, and her book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method was published by Shambhala Publications in 2023. She is a sociology professor and lives with her husband in New Jersey.
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