Mindfulness Meditation · Focus
This week’s meditation session is led by Shanté Paradigm Smalls and the theme is Focus.
Three-Bladed Ritual Peg (kila, purba); Tibet; ca. 17th century; Iron and gilt brass; 13 × 2 × 2 in. (estimated); Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.66
One of the most important ritual implements in Tibetan Buddhism, the purba is a dagger with a triangular blade used for exorcisms and advanced meditational practices. Tibetan texts often describe the purba being used to pin demons and negative spirits to the ground as a means of subduing them. In practice, the purba will pierce the ground or a bowl of grain symbolizing the taming of these spirits. As with many things within the Tibetan tradition, not only does the purba tame demons of the lands, it also represents the focus and grounding needed to conquer the negative emotions that afflict us all.
Shanté Paradigm Smalls, PhD, is a teacher and meditation instructor in the Shambhala lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Smalls is a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and has been a member of Shambhala and the NYC Shambhala sangha since 2006. Dr. Smalls is an Assistant Professor of English at St. John’s University in Queens, New York.
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