Mindfulness Meditation Podcast · Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art

Mindfulness Meditation with Tracy Cochran 04/24/2025

·34 min·3 clips

Tracy Cochran reveals how her childhood elephant fantasies led to discovering the Buddha's story about blind men arguing.

This episode features a guided meditation session from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, hosted by Tashi Chodron and led by teacher Tracy Cochran. The practice is centered on the monthly theme of renewal and draws inspiration from a specific artwork in the museum's collection. Tracy Cochran is a longtime meditation teacher, author, and the editorial director of Parabola magazine. The session connects to an 11th-century sandstone sculpture of the deity Ganesha from Madhya Pradesh, India. Host Tashi Chodron shares a personal memory of her mother bringing home a Ganesha calendar in a Tibetan refugee camp, associating it with prosperity. Ganesha is described as a deity of new beginnings and a remover of obstacles, with devotees traditionally making offerings to him. The physical sculpture shows a darkened trunk and belly from centuries of devotees touching it for blessings. Tracy Cochran begins her talk by acknowledging her rough voice and inviting listeners to welcome any personal obstacles they are holding. She recounts a childhood desire for a "bigger story," imagining riding an elephant through India. Cochran references the ancient parable of the blind men and the elephant, which the Buddha used as a teaching about limited perception. She relates this to her own morning, feeling fragmented by worry, outrage, and defensiveness. A key insight is that meditation practice invites uncovering a "loving awareness" that sees the whole, unlike the blind men who only perceive parts. Cochran suggests that by letting go of grasping at painful parts of ourselves, a softer, greater awareness can appear. The guided meditation itself focuses on sensations, patience, and the possibility of beginning anew at any moment. The episode frames renewal as a constant process observable in nature, like tree buds in spring. The tone is contemplative, instructional, and gently reflective, blending personal storytelling with spiritual teaching. The style is a calm, spoken-word guide intended for direct participation in a meditation practice. Listeners interested in art-based meditation, Hindu and Buddhist teachings, or themes of renewal and overcoming obstacles would appreciate this episode. Those seeking a purely secular, scientific, or fast-paced discussion on mindfulness might find it less aligned with their preferences.

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