Mindfulness Meditation · Liberation Through Listening
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Liberation through Listening.
Mandala of Manjushri Dharmadhatu Vagishvara; Tibet; 16th century (ca. 1500); Pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation; F1996.15.2
Resting in the center of this magnificent mandala sits Manjushri, the glorious one with a melodious voice. He has eight arms and four heads and is surrounded by 219 other gods making up his retinue. One of a complex system of mandalas, this form of Manjushri is meant to be used as a yidam, a deity for meditation. When practitioners get advanced enough in their meditation, they can talk to the god and ask them questions. Listening to the god’s answers reveals the innate wisdom within a practitioner that we all have the potential to receive.
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She was among the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 50 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of 14 books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Sharon’s podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed eight million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond.
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