Mindfulness Meditation · Generosity
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Generosity. The guided meditation begins at 17:21.
Green Tara as Protectress from the Eight Fears; Tibet or Mongolia; 19th century; Pigments on cloth; 39 x 31 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (99.1 x 80 x 5.7 cm); Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2012.4.7
The goddess Tara is accompanied by three figures of Gelug teachers, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Hayagriva. In the lower composition and surrounding the lotus seat of the central Tara are seven further Taras, all green and all identical in form to the central figure. As a group they represent the eight Taras Protecting from the Eight Fears. They represent protection from wrongful imprisonment, elephants, bandits, ghosts, water, snakes, fire, and lions. A depiction of each object of fear is found below each of the Tara forms.
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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