Mindfulness Meditation · Seeking Refuge
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Seeking Refuge. The guided meditation begins at 14:20.
A parcel-gilt silver ritual ewer; Tibet or Mongolia; 19th century; Parcel-gilt silver; 11 1/8 × 6 3/4 × 4 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2011.11
Ritual ewers are commonly found in both public and private shrine rooms. These ewers hold ambrosia, a blessed water dyed yellow with saffron, which is offered to visitors during special times of the year. As guests enter the shrine, some of the liquid is poured into their hands. They then take a small sip of the water and rub the rest on their head as a blessing. This offering welcomes guests into the refuge of the shrine, forming a karmic connection between them and deities represented by the art.
Sharon Salzberg, cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, has guided meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. Her latest book is Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World. She is a weekly columnist for On Being, a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, and the author of several other books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Ms. Salzberg has been a regular participant in the Rubin’s many on-stage conversations and regards the Rubin as a supplemental office.
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