Mindfulness Meditation · Ritual
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Ritual. The guided meditation begins at 19:00.
Prayer Wheel; Tibet; 19th - 20th century; Wood, metal, and pigments; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Thomas Isenberg; SC2010.32a-h
This is a large-scale version of a common Buddhist ritual object, the prayer wheel. Prayer wheels—which range in size from handheld versions to ones that sit on tabletops to those so large they require multiple people to spin them—contain mantras written on paper rolled up tightly to fit inside the cylindrical case. Practitioners spin these wheels to accumulate wisdom and merit while purifying themselves of negative qualities.
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.
Get the latest news and stories from the Rubin, plus occasional information on how to support our work.