Mindfulness Meditation · Transformation
This week’s meditation session is led by Venerable Losang Gendun and the theme is Transformation. The guided meditation begins at 12:35.
Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon (Durga Mahisasuramardini); Nepal; 12th-13th century; Gilt copper alloy; 11 × 13 1/8 × 7 1/2 in.; Rubin Museum of Art; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.11
The narrative of the Hindu goddess Durga—her assembling the weapons of all the gods and overcoming the demigod Mahisha, who endangered the order of the world—is represented here at the moment of her victory. Having chopped off the bull’s head, Durga pulls the body of the demigod from the animal by the hair and stabs him before he can even draw his sword. His two companions kneel before her, their weapon-bearing arms dropped in defeat, have a vajra (left) and a disk (right) piercing their chests.
This outstanding sculpture perfectly combines the dynamic with the static. The goddess’s powerful stance and arms are balanced by her otherwise delicate features and calm expression. Her fan of arms is magnificently conceived of in three dimensions; the natural positioning of each arm to her arched back is as if the arm is captured in a different position along an arc.
Venerable Losang Gendun has practiced Buddhism for nearly four decades and has been a Bhikshu (Buddhist monk) in the Tibetan tradition for the past 18 years. Before ordination he worked in palliative care, tech, refugee organizations, and commercial management. He studied Buddhist philosophy and practiced for 10 years before spending over four years in retreat, training in Tibetan sutra and tantra, as well as in the Burmese Theravada Forest Tradition. For the past 15 years, Venerable Gendun has been teaching Buddhist philosophy, psychology, and meditation across the world. In 2023 Venerable Gendun founded The Buddha Project for the long-term guidance of Buddhist meditators, scientific research, art projects and inter-contemplative social engagement.
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