Mindfulness Meditation · Gratitude
This week’s meditation session is led by Tracy Cochran and the theme is Gratitude.
Buddha Vajradhara; Nepal; 14th century; Gilt copper alloy with inlays of semiprecious stones; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.43
This 14th-century sculpture of Vajradhara is from Nepal. He sits in full lotus pose wearing an ornate crown with his hands crossed above his chest holding a vajra and bell. This hand gesture, with the combination of the vajra and bell, represents the unification of compassion and wisdom, the two aspects of enlightenment. Vajradhara is a primordial buddha, meaning he is a personification of the innate qualities of enlightenment that pervade all beings. Essentially, he represents how we can all be buddhas just like him, and that’s certainly something to be grateful for.
Tracy Cochran has taught meditation and spiritual practice for many years. She is a speaker and author whose most recent book, Presence: The Art of Being At Home in Yourself, was published by Shambhala Publications in 2024. Tracy is the founder and leading teacher of the Hudson River Sangha and has taught mindfulness and mindful writing at New York Insight, the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, and many other venues. In addition to serving as the editorial director of the acclaimed spiritual quarterly Parabola, her writings have appeared in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Psychology Today, The Best Spiritual Writing series, Parabola, and many other publications and anthologies. For more about Tracy, please visit tracycochran.org and parabola.org.
Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work.