Mindfulness Meditation · Joy
This week’s meditation session is led by Sharon Salzberg and the theme is Joy. The guided meditation begins at 13:14.
Avalokiteshvara in his Potala Pure Land; Tibet; late 18th–early 19th century; Pigments on cloth, silk brocade, cotton backing; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2012.4.5
At the center sits Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion and the patron deity of Tibet, depicted with four arms and adorned in silks and jewels. His upper right hand holds a crystal rosary, symbolizing the continuity of compassionate action, while his upper left holds a lotus blossom, representing purity. His lower hands are folded in front of his chest in a gesture of devotion.
The supporting figures enhance the scene’s joyful energy. Green Tara, known for offering protection from fear, sits in her own paradise (the Sandalwood Grove) at the lower left. To the right is Padmapani, another compassionate form of Avalokiteshvara. Together, they reflect the boundless expressions of compassion and spiritual joy.
The silk brocade surrounding the painting echoes the vibrancy within, extending the thangka’s invitation outward, welcoming viewers to contemplate and connect with the joy of awakening.
Sharon Salzberg, Cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, has guided meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. Her latest books are Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom and Finding Your Way: Meditations, Thoughts, and Wisdom for Living an Authentic Life. She is a weekly columnist for On Being, a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, and the author of several other books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Ms. Salzberg has been a regular participant in the Rubin’s many on-stage conversations and regards the Rubin as a supplemental office.
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