Cittamani Tara Puja (PRACTICE ALONG)

Arya Tara is the manifestation of the buddha’s compassionate activity, and this ceremony is particularly helpful in removing obstacles, receiving help in emergencies, resolving conflicts and energising spiritual practice. 

Arya Tara liberates from all fears – including anxiety, stress, and trauma. This practice works on the deep inner causes of many of our problems and helps shift the disturbing emotions that so often sabotage our practice and derail our life.

We chant praises to the 21 Taras, make long mandala offerings, strew flowers and present offerings with the traditional hand gestures (mudras). This offering ceremony is chanted in both English and Tibetan. It is rich in symbolism.

Tara, whose name means “star” or “she who ferries across” is a bodhisattva of compassion who manifests in female form. In Tibetan, Tara is known as Drolma, or “She Who Saves.” In particular, Green Tara represents the archetype of compassion in action, since she is depicted in the process of stepping from her lotus throne in order to help sentient beings.

Tara is quick to grant success in obtaining the ultimate happiness of enlightenment. You receive much good merit, or cause of happiness; it prevents a suffering rebirth in your next life; you receive initiation from millions of buddhas; and you achieve enlightenment.

If you pray to Tara, Tara is particularly quick to grant help. There are also many temporal benefits from Tara practice. Tara can solve many problems in your life: liberate you from untimely death; help you recover from disease; bring you success in business; help you to find a job; bring you wealth. By doing Tara prayers and mantras, couples with difficulty having a child can have a child—and whichever they want, a son or a daughter. Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that these are very common experiences. Through Tara practice, you can obtain any happiness of this life that you wish.

There will be an opportunity in the puja to make a personal dedications for the sick and vulnerable, for healing the planet and the end of the pandemic, as well as dedicating for the long life of our holy gurus, success in our studies, and the flourishing of all our Dharma aspirations.