Mindfulness Meditation · Resilience
This week’s meditation session is led by Elaine Retholtz and the theme is Resilience. The guided meditation begins at 6:56.
Mountain God Kula Kari; Tibet; 19th century; Painted terracotta; 9 7/8 × 8 1/4 × 4 5/8 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2002.7.3
Kula Kari is a deity associated with Tibet’s indigenous Bon religion. He was later absorbed into the Buddhist pantheon and is still revered in both traditions. Kula Kari is among a group of indigenous deities bound to serve as protectors of Buddhism. He dwells on a mountain in Lhodrak, south of Lhasa and near the border with Bhutan.
In this terracotta sculpture, Kula Kari appears in a teardrop-shaped mountain setting. A three-story temple with eaves frames him, and tiny animals roam near the base of his mountain abode. Kula Kari is dressed as a Tibetan warrior and riding a shaggy yak—an animal rarely given prominence in Tibetan Buddhist art, except in association with local protector gods.
Kula Kari has the enduring strength of the mountains, inspiring practitioners to garner stability and lead a life of balance. As we behold Kula Kari, may we be endowed with strength to face life’s challenges with determination and resolve.
Elaine Retholtz has been studying and practicing the Dharma since 1988. In addition to teaching Dharma at New York Insight Meditation Center, she is certified both as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and MBSR teacher trainer. Elaine has a deep interest in helping students integrate mindfulness practice into daily life.
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