Mindfulness Meditation · Happiness
This week’s meditation session is led by Tracy Cochran and the theme is Happiness. The guided meditation begins at 18:23.
Buddha Shakyamuni; Central Tibet; 14th century; Gilt copper alloy; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2001.10.2
This sculpture of the Buddha shows him wearing a crown and monk’s robes. With the developments in Buddhist thought and practice during the Pala period (8th–12th century), images of the crowned Buddha became prominent in eastern India and across Asia. In Tibet, this convention became known as Vajrasana Buddha, referring to the famous image at Vajrasana (present-day Bodhgaya, India) that commemorated the Buddha’s enlightenment.
The Buddha is seated with his right hand in the earth-touching gesture and the left hand in the meditation gesture. His broad face, with slightly downcast eyes, shows a faint smile. The crown and earrings are decorated with turquoise, and his monastic robe is engraved with designs. The Buddha’s face and body are painted with gold, while his hair is painted blue, which is a typical Tibetan convention.
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.
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