Mindfulness Meditation · Ritual
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Ritual. The guided meditation begins at 20:00.
Butter Lamp; Tibet; 18th century; Metal, silver; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Ralph Redford; C2008.27
Rituals can serve as powerful vehicles for us to connect to others and play a role in mindfulness practice. Butter lamps are essential ritual objects in Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries. Although these lamps traditionally burned clarified yak butter, Buddhists now use ghee or vegetable oil. By providing lamp oil or offering lamps themselves, pilgrims gain merit, which serves them in their quest for enlightenment. Burning the oil creates light and illumination, which also translates to the search for enlightenment. Light symbolizes the awakened mind, as light combats the darkness of mental obscurations. Butter lamps remove the darkness of ignorance in the quest to attain wisdom.
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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