Mindfulness Meditation · Reawaken
This week’s meditation session is led by Michel Pascal and the theme is Reawaken. The guided meditation begins at 25:22.
Tibetan Shrine Cabinet (Chosham); New York, New York; 2012-2013; Wood, pigments and varnish; 36 1/2 × 46 × 17 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; SC2013.1
These shrine cabinets are also known as dharma displays. They are meant to house deities and usually resemble small temples. Shrine cabinets can be relatively simple in design or ornately carved and painted. This elaborate example was specifically commissioned for the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room at the Rubin. It has three niches framed by decorative carvings of foliage. The crown of the cabinet is carved with symbols representing the Three Jewels of the Dharma: Buddha (teacher), Dharma (teachings), and Sangha (the community of practitioners). The crown also contains the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Tibetan Buddhism.
The outer columns of the shrine cabinet feature the elephant, monkey, rabbit, and bird from the tale of the Four Harmonious Friends. Beholding the shrine cabinet is a powerful visual reminder to adhere to the teachings and integrate them into one’s essence.
Michel Pascal, a meditation teacher for 25 years, has led successful programs for prisoners, which help prevent suicides and reduce reoffending. He’s written 20 books on spirituality, including Meditation for Daily Stress: 10 Practices for Immediate Well-Being. Known as “The Medicine Voice,” he’s performed at Carnegie Hall and played at the Peace Day Concert in Times Square in September 2023. In December 2023 he presented his methods at the United Nations.
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