This week’s meditation session is led by Lavina Shamdasani and the theme is Loving Future. The guided meditation begins at 8:20.

This painting depicts the renowned master, Namkhai Nyingpo, performing a long life ritual on behalf of others. The painting reminds us to deeply value each day of our life and to set the intention of creating a loving future.

This painting honors one of the twenty-five disciples of Padmasambhava, Namkhai Nyingpo. Padmasambhava is revered for bringing the wisdom of Buddhism to Tibet in the eight century of the Common Era. Namkhai Nyingpo and his fellow disciple, Gyelwa Jangchub, transcribed and concealed the biography of Yeshe Tsogyel, Padmasambhava’s consort and foremost disciple. This biography was revealed in the 17th century by Taksham Nuden Dorje.

Namkhai Nyingpo is dressed in monastic robes and holding an arrow symbolizing longevity in his right hand. To his right is a ritual space arrayed with the materials he will use while performing a long life ritual. This assemblage centers on a sacred circle, or mandala. A long-life vase adorned with peacock feathers rests atop the mandala. Emanating out of this divine structure is an array of immortality deities invoked in the long life ritual, as depicted on the upper left register of the painting. This style of painting was popular in the Kham region of eastern Tibet in the 19th century.