About the MeditationAbout the Meditation

This week’s meditation session is led by Phakchok Rinpoche and the theme is Unity. The guided meditation begins at 28:37.

Related ArtworkRelated Artwork

Guhyasamaja with Consort; Tibet; 15th century; Gilt copper alloy with inlaid semiprecious stones; 11 1/8 × 9 × 6 in. (estimated); Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.23

Sitting crossed-legged holding his consort in a sexual embrace, Guhyasamaja represents the union of wisdom and compassion. While seemingly erotic, the bliss experienced through sex is meant to be a metaphor for the bliss of enlightenment and has little to do with romantic love. By achieving the state expressed in this sculpture, the practitioner achieves something much greater than mere romantic love, but rather a love for all sentient beings.

Phakchok Rinpoche is a popular and beloved spiritual teacher with a style that is at once unique, dynamic, and engaging. Born in 1981 in Kathmandu, Nepal, Rinpoche was recognized soon after birth—at the early age of one—as the seventh Phakchok Rinpoche, the reincarnation of a great meditation master. He completed traditional Tibetan Buddhist education at age 23 and has taught Buddhist philosophy, theory, and practice in centers and universities worldwide. He also directs several monasteries and practice centers in Asia, North America, and South America. Rinpoche’s sharp insight into contemporary global culture makes his teachings accessible and relatable to our everyday lives and concerns. He works diligently to preserve Buddhist scholarship through the administration of Samye Translations (cofounded with his father, Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche) and oversees humanitarian projects that include running a free health clinic, offering education to monastics, and providing emergency relief for victims of natural disasters.

Published April 1, 2023
PodcastsMindfulness Meditation

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