Mindfulness Meditation · Perception
This week’s meditation session is led by Tracy Cochran and the theme is Perception.
Zanabazar; Goddess of the Dawn, Marichi; Mongolia; late 17th century or early 18th century; Gilt copper alloy; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.26
Made in Mongolia during the late 17th or early 18th century, this sculpture of Goddess Marichi shows her on a double lotus throne in the pose of royal ease. In her right hand she holds a vajra up to her chest while grasping the branch of an ashoka tree in her left hand. As the goddess of the dawn, her light dispels the darkness of ignorance. She also represents the dawn of awakening or the moment when one realizes that they must escape samsara.
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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