Mindfulness Meditation · Interconnectedness
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Interconnectedness. The guided meditation begins at 15:04.
Vajradhara with Eighty-Five Great Adepts (Mahasiddhas); Western Tibet; 15th century; Pigments on cloth; 36 1/4 × 24 5/8 × 1/4 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation; F1998.17.3
An elaborately crowned Vajradhara, primordial guru of Tantric lineages, sits in the center of the composition surrounded by the 85 great tantric adepts (mahasiddha), the exemplary practitioners of those teachings. Each of these adepts is engaged in a different activity and is identified by an inscription, following the verse eulogy attributed to the Indian master Vajrasana (about 1,100). An interesting feature of this painting is the large number of adepts shown in strenuous yogic poses. Vajradhara is seated on an elaborate throne with wide pillars and adorned with multicolored scrolling sea monster (makara) tails. Such features identify it as art of the ancient kingdom of Guge in western Tibet.
Sharon Salzberg, Cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, has guided meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. Her latest books are Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom and Finding Your Way: Meditations, Thoughts, and Wisdom for Living an Authentic Life. She is a weekly columnist for On Being, a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, and the author of several other books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Ms. Salzberg has been a regular participant in the Rubin’s many on-stage conversations and regards the Rubin as a supplemental office.
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