Mindfulness Meditation · Light and Dark
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Light and Dark. The guided meditation begins at 14:20.
Wheel of Life, attributed to Lhadripa Rinzing Chungyalpa (b.1912, Sikkim - d.1977); Sikkim; c. 1930; Pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2004.21.1
The Wheel of Life depicts Yama, the god of death, holding within his grasp the five realms where all beings exist. The realms (from the top, moving clockwise) are home to gods, humans, hungry ghosts, hell beings, and animals. The three poisons—ignorance, hatred, and desire, symbolized by the boar, snake, and rooster—cause continuous rebirths among the realms. While the wheel represents the endless suffering that defines existence, the Buddha stands outside of the circle pointing towards a moon and wheel, suggesting that ultimately there is a way out of the Wheel of Life.
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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