Mindfulness Meditation with Sharon Salzberg 01/04/2021
About the Mindfulness Meditation Podcast
The Rubin Museum of Art presents a weekly meditation session led by a prominent meditation teacher from the New York area, with each session focusing on a specific work of art. This podcast is recorded in front of a live audience, and includes an opening talk, a 20-minute sitting session, and a closing discussion. The guided meditation begins at 15:49.
If you would like to attend Mindfulness Meditation sessions in person or learn more, please visit our website at RubinMuseum.org/meditation.
This program is supported with thanks to our presenting partners Sharon Salzberg, the Interdependence Project and Parabola Magazine.
Related Artwork
Theme: Renewal
Padmasambhava
With a steady composure gazing on all beings, white in colour with a reddish hue, one face adorned with a moustache and goatee, the right hand holds to the heart an upright gold vajra. The left hand placed in the lap holds a white skull cup filled with nectar, jewels and a long-life vase. The ornate katvanga staff of a Vajrayana mendicant decorated with white streamers rests against the left shoulder. Adorned with gold earrings and a necklace, the head is covered with a lotus hat, a gift of the King of Zahor, of silk brocade topped with a half-vajra and a single vulture feather. Attired in various robes of different colours reflecting the disciplines of the Vinaya, Bodhisattva and Mantra Vehicles, he sits atop a sun and moon disc above a multi-coloured lotus blossom rising from the blue waters of Dhanakosha lake; encircled by a rainbow sphere. Seated to the viewer’s left is the consort Mandarava holding the long-life symbols of an arrow with a mirror and streamers in the right hand and a vase in the left. At the viewer’s right is the consort Yeshe Tsogyal holding up a skull offering bowl with the left hand.
At the top center is the primordial buddha Samantabhadra, associated with the practice of meditation, black in colour, naked, with the two hands placed in the lap and seated in vajra posture.
To the left is Buddha Amitabha who is known as the great saviour of Buddha, red, holding a begging bowl in the lap with both hands; attended by two bodhisattvas, orange Manjushri on the proper right and blue Vajrapani on the left.
To the right is Padmapani (Lotus Holder) Avalokiteshvara who embodies compassion is white with one face and two hands. The right hand performs the mudra of generosity while the left hand pressed against the seat holds the stem of a lotus blossom; attended by two bodhisattvas.
At the bottom left is the Great Abbot Shantirakshita, wearing the robes of a monk and a red pandita hat performing the mudra of explication. Seated with the legs pendant in a western style he is attended by two monks presenting offerings. The monk holding the golden flask is Namkha’i Nyingpo and the other holding the begging bowl is Dorje Dudjom. They are two of the famous Twenty-five disciples of Padmasambhava. (Both names are inscribed with fine gold lettering).
To the right is King Trisong Detsen performing the Dharma Teaching mudra while holding the stems of two lotus blossoms supporting a wisdom sword and book. The prince Mutri Tsanpo sits to the lower right while in front is the minister Lhazang Lhupal and Bami Trizheng presenting offerings.
In between, the ground is strewn with heaps of multi-colured wishing jewels, elephant tuskd, precious objects and a gold Dharma Wheel.
“Miraculous buddha arising from a lotus, unborn, undying, possessing a vajra body, performing the activity of all buddhas of the three times; homage to Padmasambhava.” (Nyingma liturgical verse).
About the Speaker
Sharon Salzberg, cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, has guided meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. Sharon’s latest books are Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connections and Real Happiness at Work: Meditations for Accomplishment, Achievement, and Peace. 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 best-seller Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience, and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Sharon has been a regular participant in the Rubin’s many on-stage conversations.
