This week’s meditation session is led by Kimberly Brown and the theme is Lasting Happiness. The guided meditation begins at  9:14.

This large 12th-century sculpture has withstood the test of time—and even China’s Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). Despite the severe damage inflicted during the upheaval, including several prominent bullet holes, the elegance and beauty of the bodhisattva are still apparent.

Bodhisattvas vow to remain in the cycle of rebirth until all sentient beings gain liberation from suffering. This work of art bears the scars of immense tragedy and repression, yet the grace of the bodhisattva shines forth.

This sculpture, created with a single hollow casting, was likely made by Newar craftsmen as part of a large set of bodhisattvas for one of the great monasteries of central Tibet. It is comparable to similar works preserved in the Shalu and Sera Monasteries.

Newar craftsmen, from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, were highly regarded throughout the Himalayas for their artistic talent, especially in metal work and painting. They were often recruited by wealthy monasteries in Tibet for major commissions such as this one.

While the crown of the bodhisattva is now damaged, the sculpture remains a symbol of endurance, reminding us that lasting happiness is possible, even in the most arduous of circumstances.