Mindfulness Meditation · Fierce Compassion
This week’s meditation session is led by Jon Aaron and the theme is Fierce Compassion. The guided meditation begins at 10:11.
Vajravarahi; Tibet; 19th century; Embroidery on silk; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2003.13.2
This exquisite scroll from 19th-century Tibet is embroidered with silk thread. It depicts Vajravarahi, one of the most well-known tantric goddesses in Tibetan Buddhism. Vajravarahi is both peaceful and wrathful, helping us to strike a balance between these forces and exercise fierce compassion.
Vajravarahi is known as the sow-faced goddess. She derives her name from the small sow head atop her own. According to ancient Indic traditions, pigs are adept at uprooting things. Hence, Vajravarahi is a meditational deity who assists practitioners with uprooting ego.
Vajravarahi is usually portrayed as red in color. The color of this silk thread may have faded over time. In her right hand she grasps a knife for severing mental afflictions. In her left hand she holds a skull cup close to her heart.
The relatively small scale of this sacred work of art indicates that it was intended for personal devotional use. Vajravarahi is typically depicted dancing atop a corpse. This represents her defeat of the ego. She is surrounded by the flames of pristine awareness. As we gaze upon her, may we gain greater clarity regarding how we can rise above the trappings of our own ego.
Jon Aaron is a Dharma and mindfulness teacher in New York, Chicago, and online. Since 2006 he has taught at the New York Insight Meditation Center, offering Dharma and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes. He regularly leads retreats around the US.
Jon is primarily grounded in the Theravada tradition, alongside non-dual and Mahayana approaches. His teaching emphasizes integrating Dharma and mindfulness into daily life to foster clarity in addressing personal and social challenges. His teachers include Matthew Flickstein and, more recently, Kittisaro and Thanissara through their Dharmapala program. Jon also studied contemplative care at the Zen Center for Contemplative Care and completed the Integrated Study and Practice program at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. He is a certified MBSR teacher and teacher trainer and a Somatic Experience Practitioner®.
Since moving to Chicago in 2024, he has served as an advisor with the Spiritual Life Office at the University of Chicago and started an Insight Sangha in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Jon is a founding member of the Global Mindfulness Collective. With his partner, Upayadhi, he launched the Space2Meditate community, offering daily meditation since March 2020. Additionally, he co-hosts the podcast Diggin’ the Dharma with scholar Doug Smith.
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