Mindfulness Meditation · Gratitude
This week’s meditation session is led by Kate Johnson and the theme is Gratitude.
Vasudhara; Nepal; 13th century; Metal; 6 1/4 × 5 3/16 × 4 1/4 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2007.23.1
The goddess Vasudharais, whose name means “shower of wealth,” is associated with autumn in the Kathmandu Valley, where she is worshiped after the rice harvest. Depicted here in the lalitasana, or pose of royal ease, she sits with her lower right hand open and her palm facing forward in a gesture of offering while her middle left hand holds a rice stalk. After the rice is harvested, her image is placed upon piles of rice stalks as a means of expressing gratitude for the abundance of the season. Much like rice stalks, her body has a yellow hue, which is also the color of generosity.
Kate Johnson works at the intersections of spiritual practice, social action, and creativity. She has been practicing Buddhist meditation in the Western Insight/Theravada tradition since her early twenties and is empowered to teach through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She holds a BFA in dance from the Alvin Ailey School/Fordham University, and MA in performance studies from NYU.
Kate is a core faculty member of MIT’s Presencing Institute, and has trained hundreds of leaders and change-makers in using Social Presencing Theater, a mindfulness and dance improvisation methodology used to inform strategic planning and systems change in our complex world.
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