Mindfulness Meditation · Liberation Through Listening
This week’s meditation session is led by Tracy Cochran and the theme is Liberation through Listening.
Vajra and Bell Tibet or China; Ming dynasty, ca. 1425″“1450 Copper and gilt copper alloy Long-term loan from the Pritzker Collection Collection #: L2013.41.1.2
The vajra and bell—the two most common ritual implements in Tibetan Buddhism—are also important symbols for liberation. The vajra, a type of scepter, represents compassion or skillful means, while the bell represents wisdom of the true nature of reality. Tibetan Buddhists seek to perfect these two aspects, compassion and wisdom, in order to achieve liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. Ultimately these tools should be used to help all beings achieve liberation.
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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