Mindfulness Meditation · Impermanence
This week’s meditation session is led by Jon Aaron and the theme is Impermanence. The guided meditation begins at 9:50.
Vajrabhairava; Mongolia; ca. 19th century; Clay with pigments; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2006.52.8
Vajrabhairava is considered to be the wrathful emanation of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took on this form by reflecting back the terrifying nature of the Lord of Death, Yama, thus overwhelming and subduing Yama, who then became a protector of the Buddhist faith.
Vajrabhairava is a prominent deity in both the Sakya and the Geluk Tibetan Buddhist traditions. He is one of the most significant meditation deities in the Geluk tradition, which is prevalent in Mongolia, this sculpture’s place of origin.
In depictions of Vajrabhairava, Yama’s form is topped by the head of Manjushri, signifying the deity’s true nature. Vajrabhairava is also known as Yamantaka, the Destroyer or Slayer of Yama. This refers to his power to transform even the Lord of Death.
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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