Mindfulness Meditation · Middle Way
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Middle Way.
Fasting Buddha, 700s. India, Kashmir, 8th century. Ivory; overall: 12 × 9.5 × 1.5 cm (4 3/4 × 3 3/4 × 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1986.70
This incredibly detailed 8th-century ivory carving from Kashmir depicts a starving Siddhartha surrounded by demons and distractions as he attempts to achieve his realization. At this point in his story Siddhartha has been practicing very extreme ascetic traditions leading him to only eat one grain or rice a day (or one hemp seed according to some sources). However one day while bathing in a river he almost passes out fr because he was so weak from starvation (which is depicted to the right of the main figure). He realizes he is no closer to enlightenment, so Siddhartha decides to eat some yogurt in a bowl offered to him by a maiden (that appears to the left of the main figure in the sculpture). It’s at this moment that he decides the true path to enlightenment is not a path of extremes, but rather a middle way between extreme asceticism and extreme luxury. From here he goes to Bodhgaya to achieve enlightenment.
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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