Mindfulness Meditation · Reimagine
This week’s meditation session is led by Kimberly Brown and the theme is Reimagine. The guided meditation begins at 10:01.
Vajravarahi; Tibet; 19th century; Embroidery on silk; 17 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1/2 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2003.13.2
This exquisite scroll from 19th-century Tibet is embroidered with silk thread. It depicts Vajravarahi, the sow-faced goddess. She is one of the most well-known Tantric goddesses in Tibetan Buddhism.
Vajravarahi 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. Vajravarahi is both peaceful and wrathful. 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, which 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.
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. Her teachings provide an approachable pathway to personal and collective well-being through effective and modern techniques based on traditional practices. She studies in both the Tibetan and Insight schools of Buddhism and is a certified mindfulness instructor. Her book Navigating Grief and Loss: 25 Buddhist Practices to Keep Your Heart Open to Yourself and Others was published in 2022, and an updated edition of Steady, Calm, and Brave was released in 2023. Both are published by Prometheus Books.
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