Mindfulness Meditation · Story
This week’s meditation session is led by Tracy Cochran and the theme is Story.
Padmasambhava in His Pure Realm, the Copper-Colored Mountain; Kham Province, Eastern Tibet; 19th century; Pigments on cloth; 37 1/2 x 24 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation; F1997.8.2
This painting depicts Padmasambhava in his abode, the Pure Land Copper-Colored Mountain. According to his story, before Padmasambhava went to Tibet he achieved the power of immortality. Upon arriving in Tibet, he subdued the indigenous spirits and converted the region to Buddhism. This subjugation of the local deities allowed Buddhism to flourish there. After he was done, he went to the Copper-Colored Mountain, where Tibetans believe he still lives today. This story demonstrates the strong connection they feel to Padmasambhava as a defining figure in their culture and identity, and hints that if needed Padmasambhava could return to the Himalayas again.
Tracy Cochran has been a student and teacher of meditation and spiritual practice for decades. She is the founder of the Hudson River Sangha. In addition to offering meditation online, Tracy has taught mindfulness meditation and mindful writing at the Rubin Museum and the New York Insight Meditation Center, as well as in schools, corporations, and other venues worldwide. She is also a writer and the editorial director of Parabola, an acclaimed quarterly magazine that seeks to bring timeless spiritual wisdom to the burning questions of the day.
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