Mindfulness Meditation · The Unexpected
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is The Unexpected.
Stories of Previous Lives of the Buddha (Jataka); Tibet; 18th century; Pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2007.33.1
One of the key moments of the Buddha’s enlightenment was him seeing all the previous lives he had lived. Not only did this experience give him an understanding of how he reached enlightenment, it also taught him the inner workings of karma, allowing him to see precisely what actions lead to what results. Karma can produce unexpected results in life. Meditation may not stop the unexpected from happening, but it helps us prepare for those moments so that we don’t become completely bound to our habitual reactions.
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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