Mindfulness Meditation · Renewal
This week’s meditation session is led by Kimberly Brown and the theme is Renewal. The guided meditation begins at 6:56.
Shezad Dawood; Wrathful Activity, Fierce Energy; 2018; Neon on black painted board; 112 5/8 × 66 15/16 in.; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; SC2020.1.1
Buzzing with energy, this contemporary artwork offers a contemporary twist on depictions of wrathful deities that protect Buddhist practitioners and destroy obstacles on the path to enlightenment. Their ability to transcend negativity fosters a spirit of renewal.
Artist Shezad Dawood (b. 1974) blends cultural heritage with references to popular visual culture and materials—like the neon of this sculpture—to reexamine how we tell and perceive history.
Skull crowns often adorn the heads of wrathful deities. In this work, six small skulls and enveloping flames above the central figure’s elongated face represent the power to transform ferocious activity into positive energy. The glowing neon gives the sculpture a playful quality, and reveals the goodwill beneath the figure’s tough exterior.
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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