Mindfulness Meditation · Impermanence
This week’s meditation session is led by Jon Aaron and the theme is Impermanence. The guided meditation begins at 11:14.
Six-armed Mahakala; Mongolia; 18th century; Silver and gilt copper alloy with semiprecious stones; 18 3/4 × 14 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2006.70.1a-f
Mahakala, the swift acting Lord of pristine awareness, is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Mahakala appears in many forms, depending on the school of Tibetan Buddhism. This six-armed form of Mahakala in this dynamic pose is one of the principal protectors of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, to which most Mongolians have adhered since the late 16th century. Mahakala has been a special object of veneration in Mongolia since the 13th century, when he served as the state protector of the Mongolian Empire.
One of Mahakala’s primary roles is to overcome obstacles to reaching enlightenment. This is visually manifested in this sculpture by his defeating the elephant-headed god, who represents wealth in Tibetan Buddhism. Wealth if not used properly can be one of the biggest obstacles in reaching enlightenment.
Jon Aaron is a Dharma and mindfulness teacher based in New York and Chicago. Since 2006 he has taught at the New York Insight Meditation Center, offering Dharma and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes. He regularly leads retreats around the US. He is primarily grounded in the Theravada tradition, alongside non-dual and Mahayana approaches. His teaching emphasizes integrating Dharma and mindfulness into daily life to foster clarity in addressing personal and social challenges. His teachers include Matthew Flickstein and, more recently, Kittisaro and Thanissara through their Dharmapala program. Jon also studied contemplative care at the Zen Center for Contemplative Care and completed the Integrated Study and Practice program at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. He is a certified MBSR teacher and teacher trainer and a Somatic Experience Practitioner® In response to the pandemic, he and his partner, Upayadhi, launched the Space2Meditate community, offering daily meditation since March 2020. Additionally, he co-hosts the podcast Diggin’ the Dharma with scholar Doug Smith.
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