Mindfulness Meditation · Fear
This week’s meditation session is led by Rebecca Li and the theme is Fear. The guided meditation begins at 24:08.
Buddha Shakyamuni; Tibet or Bhutan; late 17th-18th century; Silk Embroidery, Appliqué; 50 3/8 x 29 5/8 x 3/8 in. (128 x 75.2 x 1 cm); Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2003.19.2
This thangka painting depicts Buddha Shakyamuni with monk-disciples. There is a story about the Buddha facing the temptation or influence of fear while meditating, before he achieved enlightenment. A demon named Mara (meaning “destruction”) confronted the Buddha and worked to instill fear in Siddhartha, hoping to scare him into submission, deterring his progress toward enlightenment.
In response, Siddhartha called on the earth to bear witness to his enlightenment, thereby defeating Mara, and becoming the Buddha Shakyamuni. This story reminds us that there will always be challenges in our lives that may tempt us to abandon our practice. Working through that fear or overcoming it can instill a sense of fearlessness that can be cultivated through meditation and reflection.
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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