Mindfulness Meditation Podcast · Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art

Mindfulness Meditation with Lama Aria Drolma 06/12/2025

·29 min·2 clips

Lama Arya reveals why enlightenment is a direct realization that can't be grasped intellectually.

This episode features a guided meditation and teaching focused on the Buddhist deity Green Tara, led by host Tashi Chodron and teacher Lama Arya Drolma. The session is presented by the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in partnership with several meditation organizations. Lama Arya Drolma is an ordained teacher in the Karma Kagyu tradition with over a decade of monastic training. The meditation draws inspiration from a specific 14th-century gilt copper sculpture of Green Tara, described as being in the "royal ease" posture. The theme for June is "awaken," connecting Green Tara's symbolism to the path toward enlightenment. Tara is explained as a female Buddha known as the "mother of liberation," who helps overcome both outer dangers and inner spiritual obstacles. The host shares that Tara's ten-syllable mantra is memorized by Tibetans from childhood for protection and guidance. Lama Arya explains that awakening, or enlightenment, is the ultimate Buddhist goal, defined as liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. She states an enlightened being has transcended greed, hatred, and delusion to experience profound peace, compassion, and wisdom. Green Tara is presented as an "obstacle remover" who provides swift assistance and protection to practitioners. The teacher notes that in monasteries, morning prayers are often dedicated to Tara to seek guidance and remove obstacles on the spiritual path. A surprising insight is that Tara's active, dynamic energy is symbolized by her green color and her posture, with one leg extended ready to rise. Lama Arya introduces the concept of an "Ishta Devata," or a cherished personal deity, with whom a practitioner develops a close relationship. The guided meditation involves visualizing Green Tara's luminous form and light to dissolve fear and stress. Participants are invited to recite Tara's mantra, "Om Tare Tu Tare Ture Soha," during the practice. A memorable moment is the host's personal recollection of hearing elders recite Tara's mantra daily for protection. The host also mentions the recent opening of a Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room at the Brooklyn Museum as a positive event "in the midst of all the chaos." The tone is instructional, reverent, and calming, blending art historical description with spiritual teaching. The style is a structured, educational session that moves from artwork analysis to a philosophical talk and then into a guided practice. Listeners interested in Tibetan Buddhist art, deity visualization, or compassion-focused meditation would appreciate this episode. Those seeking a secular or purely scientific discussion of mindfulness might find the religious and ritual elements less aligned with their interests.

As heard by us

A steady guided sit on Green Tara, with awakening made practical and grounded.

This meditation follows Green Tara as a path into awareness, moving from Buddhist teaching into guided practice. The teacher sets out samsara, the three poisons, and the qualities of compassion and wisdom in plain language, then brings attention back to breath, posture,…

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Press play for a guided sit on awareness, Green Tara, and the path toward awakening.

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