Mindfulness Meditation · Equanimity
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Equanimity.
Panjarnatha Mahakala; Central Tibet; early 18th century, ca. 1720; Pigments on cloth; 54 5/8 × 34 3/8 × 1 3/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2001.1.4
Throughout Himalayan art, people often encounter not only majestic peaceful deities but also demonic looking wrathful deities as well. In fact each peaceful deity has a wrathful opposite. Though they look evil in nature, they are actually meant to scare away anything that could possibly harm you. Dynamic in their posture doing what is essentially a warriors pose, they also represent the innate power within us all to harness negative emotions and use them to produce a state of equanimity. Lastly many Wrathful Deities can be seen trampling on figures representing an active destruction of the ego.
Sharon Salzberg, Cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, has guided meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. Her latest books are Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom and Finding Your Way: Meditations, Thoughts, and Wisdom for Living an Authentic Life. She is a weekly columnist for On Being, a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, and the author of several other books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Ms. Salzberg has been a regular participant in the Rubin’s many on-stage conversations and regards the Rubin as a supplemental office.
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