Mindfulness Meditation · Wise Effort
This week’s meditation session is led by Kate Johnson and the theme is Wise Effort.
Manjushri; Tibet; 19th century; Metal alloy; 38 1/4 × 30 1/2 × 19 3/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2013.9a-c
This Manjushri sculpture from the 15th century is a bit unusual. The deity doesn’t hold a sword or a book as is typical, and he sits in the pose of royalty his with his right leg extended. Though he doesn’t have his sword to sever attachments, he is still actively dispelling ignorance. His hands rest in front of his heart in a gesture of “turning the wheel,” a metaphor for expounding universal truth. In Buddhism, teaching is the best thing one can do since ultimately you are helping all beings alleviate their pain.
Kate Johnson works at the intersections of spiritual practice, social action, and creativity. She has been practicing Buddhist meditation in the Western Insight/Theravada tradition since her early twenties and is empowered to teach through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She holds a BFA in dance from the Alvin Ailey School/Fordham University, and MA in performance studies from NYU.
Kate is a core faculty member of MIT’s Presencing Institute, and has trained hundreds of leaders and change-makers in using Social Presencing Theater, a mindfulness and dance improvisation methodology used to inform strategic planning and systems change in our complex world.
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