Mindfulness Meditation · Generosity
This week’s meditation session is led by Rebecca Li and the theme is Generosity. The guided meditation begins at 27:36.
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara; Nepal; 13th - 14th century; Gilt copper alloy with semiprecious stone inlay; 16 1/8 × 6 1/2 × 2 7/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.8
Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is one of the most popular deities in Nepal, where 108 forms of him are known. In his simplest form, extending his right hand in the gesture of giving and holding the stalk of a lotus (now broken) in his left, he is often called Padmapani, or “Lotus-in-Hand.”
Two recognizable characteristics identify this as sculpture as Nepalese. The first is a reddish color that is visible where the gilding has worn away (noticeably evident on one of the legs). This indicates a very high copper content in the mixture of metals that was used to cast the sculpture. The second is a hawk nose, which is more obvious when seen from the side.
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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