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; Tibet; 14th century; Gilt copper alloy; 17 3/4 × 15 5/8 × 10 1/2 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; 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 been a student and teacher of meditation and spiritual practice for decades. She is the founder of the Hudson River Sangha. In addition to offering meditation online, Tracy has taught mindfulness meditation and mindful writing at the Rubin Museum and the New York Insight Meditation Center, as well as in schools, corporations, and other venues worldwide. She is also a writer and the editorial director of Parabola, an acclaimed quarterly magazine that seeks to bring timeless spiritual wisdom to the burning questions of the day.
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