Mindfulness Meditation · Intention
This week’s meditation session is led by Kimberly Brown and the theme is Intention. The guided meditation begins at 11:45.
Tsherin Sherpa; Wish-fulfilling Tree; Nepal; 2016; bronze cast mandala, found objects, and rubble; 59 × 27 × 27 in. (Estimated); Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2019.1.1a-j
This artwork was created by contemporary artist Tsherin Sherpa in response to the catastrophic earthquake that devastated Nepal in April 2015. Sherpa was inspired by the concept of the wish-fulfilling tree, which signifies the granting of desires. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism have a shared notion of a wish-fulfilling tree.
Sherpa intentionally chose an uplifting symbol to represent the hopes of individuals in the wake of the destruction. He invited members of the Kathmandu community who were impacted by the earthquake to contribute their treasured mementos to the sculpture, which he intermingled with rubble from the disaster.
The central motif of the sculpture is a bronze-cast mandala. The mandala symbolizes the universe as a whole. Through this piece, Sherpa reminds us of the cyclical nature of existence and the possibility of regeneration after periods of destruction.
Kimberly Brown is a meditation teacher and author. She leads classes and retreats that emphasize the power of compassion and kindness meditation to reconnect us to ourselves and others. She studies in both the Tibetan and Insight schools of Buddhism and is a certified mindfulness instructor. Her latest book is Happy Relationships: 25 Buddhist Practices to Transform Your Connection with Your Partner, Family, and Friends. You can learn more about Kimberly at meditationwithheart.com.
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