Mindfulness Meditation · Compassion
This week’s meditation session is led by Rebecca Li and the theme is Compassion. The guided meditation begins at 18:57.
Avalokiteshvara; Tibet; 12th century; Copper alloy, silver inlay, traces of pigment; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2002.24.1
The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is the most revered deity in Tibetan Buddhism, personifying the compassion of all the buddhas. Om mani padme hum, one of the most recognizable mantras in the world, is associated with him.
Avalokiteshvara has countless forms, both peaceful and wrathful, red and white, with thousands of arms, or just two. Here he is depicted in his simplest form, seated in the posture of royal ease while holding the stem of a lotus bud. The exquisite details of the sculpture, including the ornate crown and intricately knotted belt, attest to the mastery of the sculptor, who closely followed Indian conventions.
May Avalokiteshvara inspire us to cultivate compassion and awaken our true nature.
Dr. Rebecca Li, a dharma heir in the lineage of Chan Master Sheng Yen, is the founder and guiding teacher of Chan Dharma Community. She teaches meditation and dharma classes, gives public lectures, and leads retreats in North America and Europe. Li is the author of Allow Joy into Our Hearts: Chan Practice in Uncertain Times, and her book Illumination: A Guide to the Buddhist Method of No-Method was published by Shambhala Publications in 2023. She is a sociology professor and lives with her husband in New Jersey.
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