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Rubin Care Package

Art and Practices for Navigating Our World

In this time of great instability, our global community is experiencing change at a rapid pace and encountering fear, loss, isolation, and growing stress. When faced with uncertainty and turmoil, Buddhists rely on traditional practices developed over two thousand years to harness the mind and help change perspectives, manage emotions, and cultivate compassion.

Inspired by the practices reflected in Buddhist visual culture, these resources may help you handle stress and foster peace of mind wherever you are.

Consider making a gift to support the Rubin in making these resources widely available to others.

Meditation programs are presented with the support of the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism.
General operating support of the Rubin Museum of Art is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, as well as by generous donations from the Museum’s Board of Trustees, individual donors, and members.


Image credit:

Detail of Tara Protecting from the Eight Fears; Kham Province, Southeastern Tibet; late 19th–early 20th century; pigments on cloth with silk brocade; Rubin Museum of Art; gift of Dr. Michael Henss, Zurich; C2014.8


Resources to Support Asian Communities

Resources to Support Asian Communities

The Rubin stands in solidarity with the AAPI community in New York City and globally. We’d like to take this opportunity to call out organizations doing important work to support and ally with those affected by anti-Asian discrimination and hate.


Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion

Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion

Avalokitesvara reminds us of the compassion that transcends nations or identities and reminds us to center concern for others in our quest for enlightenment. This standing depiction of Avalokitesvara from 13th-century Nepal depicts the deity of compassion. It features traditional iconography from Northern India that traveled to different regions and became part of a larger Asian art historical context.


Awaken to Activism

Awaken to Activism

Meditation and activism can work together to help us navigate a chaotic world. Kate Johnson writes about how the two reinforce one another in “Waking Up to Power Is a Spiritual Practice.” “I thought I needed a refuge from the troubles of the world,” she writes. “What I got was a refuge where I could process the troubles of the world, a place where I could cultivate enough well-being to reengage with it.”


Tune in to The Rubin Daily Offering

Tune in to The Rubin Daily Offering

This video series provides art, ideas, and practices inspired by our collection to help us achieve greater balance. Watch these 10-minute episodes and learn to navigate a shifting world and discover the transformative power of art.


Take Refuge in the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room

Take Refuge in the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room

The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room is a quiet space for contemplation in an immersive art setting. Experience the calm atmosphere of the Shrine Room in your home with this video.


Cultivate Connection

Connect with yourself and others through hands-on creative activities meant to stimulate the heart and mind at all ages. Use art in your everyday life by downloading our Rubin background images for Zoom calls.

Engage with Change

Feel empowered to create change in your own life and the world around you with the help of these Buddhist teachers and thought leaders as they examine social justice, providing meaningful actions to take as individuals and communities.
From Introspection to Action: Thich Nhat Hanh and Engaged Buddhism
Engaged Buddhism means connecting individual meditation practice to global ethics.

Learn to Harness Your Emotions

These articles and blog posts share techniques for quieting the mind and managing anxiety for both families and adults.
How to Meditate for Beginners: The Foundation of Mindfulness
A brief introduction on how to start a meditation practice…
Assess Your Inner State: 3 Calming Meditations from Mindfulness Experts
Three inspirations to dispel unwelcome anxiety and harness mental clarity
How to Use the Body to End Stress and Tantrums
Five steps to help busybody parents manage negative emotions
Art as Meditation: A Lesson in Mindfulness
Viewing art can be a way to practice meditation. Learn…
How to set healthy boundaries for your child
5 steps to mindful rule-setting and disciplining

Control the breath

Listen to meditations designed to focus your mind and control your breath.
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