Mindfulness Meditation · Resilience
This week’s meditation session is led by Michel Pascal and the theme is Resilience. The guided meditation begins at 17:59.
Mahakala and Protector Deities; Central Tibet; early 19th century; Pigments on cloth; 2 x 71 1/4 x 44 3/8 in. (5.1 x 181 x 112.7 cm); Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2007.21.1
Mahakala is a fierce protector deity known for his ability to dispel obstacles, and his example helps us foster unshakable resolve on the path to enlightenment. Although Mahakala is portrayed as fierce, his role is that of a guardian, protecting practitioners from negative forces.
This vibrant scroll painting (thangka) is dedicated to nine wrathful deities particularly important to the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism, with the six-armed Mahakala the most prominent among them. At the top center of the painting, the founder of this school, Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), is flanked by the important religious hierarchs: the Fourth Panchen Lama, Tenpa Nyima (1782–1853) and the Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso (1805–1815).
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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