How To Do Green Tara Practice

How to Do Green Tara Practice
BY LAMA PALDEN DROLMA| OCTOBER 3, 2017
Lama Palden Drolma teaches how to visualize the deity Green Tara, who
embodies one’s buddhanature. Illustrations by Tomi Um.
Tara, the savioress, is the most beloved by Tibetans of all the female awakened beings.
Tara is known as “she who ferries beings across the ocean of samsara.” She is fully
enlightened and is inseparable from genuine reality, or true nature, the dharmakaya.
She rushes to the aid of beings when we call upon her with heartfelt devotion.
Peaceful and wrathful, beautiful and powerful, Tara is the actuality of wisdom and
compassion. She is sensual and sexual, empty yet fully manifest, and as real as we are.
She transcends dualistic limitations and leads us beyond duality to the infinite bliss and
emptiness that is our true nature.
Tara is the Mother of all the Buddhas, the essence of compassion in action. Her right
foot is slightly extended, because she is ready to leap to the aid of beings. Her right hand
is opened out on her right knee, in the gesture of generosity. Her left hand holds the
stem of a lotus flower, which is blossoming next to her left ear.
Meditating on Tara helps us awaken our buddhanature. Through continued meditation

practice on her, we can establish a relationship in which we are able to trust and rely on
her. It is like getting to know a new friend — we have to invite her over to our home
many times until we get to know her. The more we are able to open to her, the more she
is able to benefit us.
Like all Vajrayana practices, Tara visualization can be very elaborate. Here is a basic
version you can do that contains all the essential steps of deity practice:
Let the mind settle, resting in natural open awareness. Then take refuge in the
awakened ones and generate the supreme motivation to awaken yourself for the benefit
of all sentient beings. Recite “Until awakening I take refuge in Buddha, dharma, and
noble sangha / By the merit of my acts of generosity and other awakening qualities /
May I attain full awakening for the benefit of all beings.”
Think that everything dissolves into emptiness/openness. Then visualize that in

the sky in front of you, from her seed syllable TAM, Green Tara instantly appears, sitting
on a full open lotus and moon seat. She is blue-green, the color of a mountain lake. She
is arrayed in silks and jewels, symbolizing the six transcendent perfections and full
awakening.
Radiate light from your heart center. Imagine that it purifies the phenomenal world,
makes offerings to the enlightened ones, and invites Tara’s actual wisdom awareness to
be present with you. Visualize that this happens by numerous small forms of Tara
raining down into the form you have visualized. Think that the Tara you have imagined
becomes inseparable from her actual wisdom awareness.
While you are repeating her mantra, Om Tare Tu Tare Ture So Ha, visualize that
from her outstretched right hand comes a river of wisdom elixir, turquoise-green in
color. This removes all fear, gives protection, removes obstacles and obscurations, and
transmits enlightened awareness to you. Make prayers to Tara, and receive her blessing.
Then Tara dissolves into light and that light dissolves into you. Think that your mind
is inseparable from Tara’s enlightened mind. See yourself in the form of Tara, appearing
as a body made of light, emptiness and form inseparable. In your heart area is a blue-
green TAM. From it, light radiates out joy, compassion, loving-kindness, strength, and
equanimity to all beings. Keep repeating her mantra.
When you have finished repeating the mantra, gradually dissolve the visualization
until there is just a drop of turquoise light left in your heart area, the essence of your
buddhanature. Then this dissolves into space, like a rainbow disappearing into the sky.
Rest your mind naturally for a few minutes or longer. Dedicate the merit of the
practice to all beings: “Through this goodness may awakening spontaneously arise in
our streams of being / May all obscurations and distortions fall away / May all beings be
liberated from suffering, and the stormy waves of birth, sickness, old age, and death.”

How To Do Green Tara Practice - Lion's Roar

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

How To Do Green Tara Practice - Lion's Roar

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

How To Do Green Tara Practice - Lion's Roar

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BY LAMA PALDEN DROLMA| OCTOBER 3, 2017

Meditating on Tara helps us awaken our buddhanature. Through continued meditation

Think that everything dissolves into emptiness/openness. Then visualize that in

You might also like