A SHORT PRACTICE OF GREEN TARA
Including Praises to the Twenty-One Taras
Oṃ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā
Oṃ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā
GREEN TARA
Arya Tara is the female one who releases (liberates). She can help prevent hindrances and help to generate quickly the steps of the path to enlightenment.
From her side there is nothing left to be released as she has removed every single obscuration and received enlightenment ages ago by following the path.
She wished to receive enlightenment in a female body and in that way to benefit sentient beings. We are the object whom she helps. She releases us.
This is the purpose and function of the mantra.
Most mantras contain OM. Between OM (at the beginning) and SVAHA or HUM (at the mantra's end) is the deity's meaning, which signifies the path. It contains the method and wisdom of the path; we actualize the method and wisdom by purifying our body, speech, and mind and becoming oneness with Tara. OM signifies Tara's holy body, speech, and mind, and the TARE TUTTARE TURE contains the essence of the Four Noble Truths.
Mantra
Oṃ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā.
Om: signifies Tara’s holy body, speech and mind
Tare: signifies release from samsara. The female one who releases. The help she gives us to release us from samara thus freeing us from suffering.
Tuttare: dispelling fears.
A Glance Meditation on the Graduated Path Refuge
I take refuge in the holy guru, essence of all buddhas, original grantor of all holy teachings and lord of all supreme beings.
Prayer for Success in Dharma Practice
Please, Guru-Buddhas, bestow on me the ability to unify my mind with the Dharma and be successful in practicing Dharma in order to achieve the graduated path. May no hindrances occur while achieving this path.
Prayer of the Practitioner of Lower Capability
Please bless me to realize that I have received a perfect human rebirth, which is highly meaningful, for many reasons difficult to obtain, but perishable, transient, and fragile, decaying in the shortest moment because of its changeable nature. Thus, my death is definite but its actual time is most indefinite, and after death I am far more likely to be reborn in the lower suffer- ing realms, having created infinitely more negative than positive karma in this life and all previous lives.
Please bless me to comprehend how incredibly unendurable is the suffering of the lower realms, that I might take refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha with all my heart, and realize the evolution of karma in all its profundity, that I might perform only virtuous actions and abandon all negative creations.
Prayer of the Practitioner of Middling Capability
By practicing in this way I will be reborn in the upper realms but will still have to experience unlimited samsaric suffering because of uncontrolled delusion and karma. Please bless me to realize fully the evolution of samsara, from uncontrolled rebirth to death to rebirth, and to follow day and night the three higher trainings of the path: higher conduct, high- er concentration and higher wisdom, which are the main methods to release me from samsara.
The Prayer of the Practitioner of the Highest Capability
The Sutra Path:
But as each sentient being has been my mother and as most of them are in extreme suffering, please bless me to bring success to all by renouncing the perfect happiness of self and practicing the bodhisattva’s deeds of the six perfections with a bodhisattva’s mind of exchanging self with others, on the basis of the equanimity meditation. Thus shall I have no sorrow in experiencing the samsaric suffering of all other sentient beings for no matter how long, having trained my mind in the general path.
The Vajrayana Path:
Please bless me to follow the quick Vajrayana teachings, by feel- ing sentient beings’ suffering, very unimaginably unbearable for even the shortest moment, as my own, and to achieve the attainment of Shakyamuni Buddha immediately, at this very moment, by keeping my ordinations and the instructions of the guru with the best and highest care in life for the sole purpose of enlighten- ing all sentient beings.
The Actual Practice
Visualization
Above the crown of my head I visualize a lotus and a moon disc. Upon these is the great treasury of compassion, Arya Tara, moth- er of all enlightened beings, who is oneness with my kind root guru. My guru is seated in the full lotus position within a transparent bubble of rainbow-colored light, is pink in complexion, and wears saffron robes and a pandit’s hat. His right hand is at his heart in the gesture of teaching the Dharma and holds a vajra and the stem of a white lotus that blooms beside his right ear. His left hand rests on his hip; it holds a bell and the stem of another white lotus that blooms beside his left ear.
Refuge and Bodhichitta
I go for refuge until I am enlightened
To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly.
By my merit from giving and other perfections,
May I become a buddha in order to benefit all sentient beings.
(3x)
Seven-Limb Prayer
With my body, speech, and mind I devoutly prostrate.
I offer all offerings, both real and imagined.
All sins and offences amassed from beginningless time I confess; I rejoice in all virtuous actions of holy and ordinary beings.
O gurus and buddhas, please remain until samara ends
And turn the wheel of the Dharma for sentient beings.
All my virtues and those of all others I dedicate to the great enlightenment.
Mandala Offerings (outer and inner)
This ground, anointed with perfume, strewn with flowers, Adorned with Mount Meru, four continents, the sun, and the moon: I imagine this as a buddhafield and offer it. May all living beings enjoy this pure land!
The objects of my attachment, aversion, and ignorance – Friends, enemies, and strangers – and my body, wealth, and enjoyments:
Without any sense of loss I offer this collection. Please accept it with pleasure and Bless me with freedom from the three poisons.
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAYAMI
At my guru’s heart is Arya Tara in female aspect, green in color and seated in the dancing posture within a rainbow bubble. Her left leg is bent up, and her right leg is outstretched. Her left hand is at her heart in the mudra symbolizing the Triple Gem and holding the stem of a blue utpali flower. Her right hand extended over her right knee is in the mudra of granting sublime realizations. She is beautifully adorned with jeweled ornaments and scarves and at her three places bears the syllables OM, AH, HUM. At her heart is a lotus and moon seat on which stands a radiant green syllable TAM. Rays of green light radiate in all directions from the TAM and invoke all the enlightened beings of the ten directions. They are all absorbed into Arya Tara and become one.
.Visualize:
Red light emanates from the AH at Arya Tara’s throat and curves in an arc to enter my throat. My speech is purified completely of all obscurations and becomes one in essence with Guru Tara’s holy vajra speech.
Request:
Please bless me to purify all obscurations (non-virtues) of my body, so that it will become one in essence with Guru Tara’s holy vajra body.
Purification
Visualize:
White light emanates from the OM at Arya Tara’s brow and curves in an arc to enter my brow. My body is purified completely of all obscurations and becomes one in essence with Guru Tara’s holy vajra body.
Request:
Please bless me to purify all obscurations of my speech so that it will become one in essence with Guru Tara’s holy vajra speech.
Request:
Please bless me to purify all obscurations of my mind so that it will become one in essence with Guru Tara’s holy vajra mind.
Visualize:
Blue light emanates from the HUM at Arya Tara’s heart and curves in an arc to enter my heart. My mind is purified of all obscurations and becomes one in essence with Guru Tara’s holy vajra mind.
Visualize:
Now the three-colored beams emanate simultaneously from the OM, AH, and HUM syllables, curving in an arc and entering my three places, completely purifying all my delusions and subtle obscurations to omniscience. My body, speech, and mind become one in essence with Guru Tara’s holy body, holy speech, and holy mind.
My root guru dissolves into Arya Tara who melts into green light, which flows into me. Instantly, my wrong conception that I and all other phenomena are self-existent, together with my dualistic mind and its views, disappear, becoming completely empty – not even a trace of them remains.
I concentrate one-pointedly in this empty state, with the wisdom that is indistinguishably one with Guru Tara’s blissful omniscient mind.
Then, out of that emptiness, my wisdom manifests instantly as Arya Tara’s holy body seated upon a lotus and moon cushion. At my heart is another lotus and moon, upon which in the center stands the syllable TAM surrounded in a clockwise direction by the syllables of the mantra:
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA
The TAM and the mantra are manifestations of Guru Tara’s holy mind, with which my mind is totally united.
Green light radiates from all the letters. Spreading in every direction, it purifies the negative karmas, gross delusions, and subtle obscurations to omniscience of all sentient beings, who become Tara.
Again light radiates, bearing manifold offerings to the six transcendental senses of all the buddhas and sentient beings who have be- come Tara.
The enlightened beings are extremely pleased, and shower down the superlative qualities of Buddha Tara’s holy body, holy speech, and holy mind – omniscient wisdom, supreme power, and infinite compassion, in the form of a great shower of light rays. As I recite the mantra, I absorb and am blessed by this rain.
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA
Request:
Please bless me to purify all delusions and subtle obscurations to omniscience so that my body, speech, and mind will become one with Guru Tara’s holy body, speech, and mind.
Dedication
May I quickly become Guru Arya Tara (Phagma Drölma) and lead each and every sentient being into her enlightened state because of these merits.
May the supreme jewel bodhichitta that has not arisen, arise and grow; and may that which has arisen not diminish, but increase more and more.
Colophon:
This daily meditation practice of Green Tara is based on The Essential Nectar - A simplified condensed yoga practice of Tara by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. The Glance Meditation on the Lam-Rim was written by Sera-je lama, Purchog Jampa Rinpoche, said to be an incarnation of Maitreya Buddha. It was translated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and edited by Ven. Thubten Dondrub, February, 2001.
The practice in its entirety has been edited and designed Ven Constance Miller, FPMT International Office Education Services, November 1998. Revised version, March 2001. Additional corrections, August 2002 and November 2003. This practice was revised by FPMT Education Services and enhanced with the Praises to the Twenty-One Taras sections, February 2014.
May all beings find kindness and joy in their hearts.
Praises to the Twenty-One Taras
Invocation
PO TA LA YI NÄ CHHOG NÄ
From your sublime abode at the Potala,
TAM YIG JANG KHU LÄ THRUNG SHING
O Tara, born from the green letter TAM
ÖPAG ME KYI U LA GYÄN
Your crown adorned with Amitabha,
DÜ SUM SANG GYÄ THRIN LÄ MA
Acton-mother of the buddhas of the three times,
DRÖL MA KHOR CHÄ SHEG SU SÖL
Tara, please come with your attendants.
Prostration
LHA DANG LHA MIN CHÖ PÄN GYI
The gods and demigods bow
ZHAB KYI PÄ MO LA TÜ DE
To your lotus feet, O Tara;
PHONG PA KÜN LÄ DRÖL DZÄ MA
You who rescue all who are destitute.
DRÖL MA YUM LA CHHAG TSHÄL LO
To you, Mother Tara, I pay homage.
Praises
MA LÜ PHA RÖL CHHIN PA THOB PÄI
Relied on by conquerors’ children,
GYÄL WÄI SÄ KYI SHIN TU TEN MA
Having reached every perfection!
CHHAG TSHÄL TUTTARA HUM YI GE
Homage! Filling with TUTTARE,
DÖ DANG CHHOG DANG NAM KHA GANG MA
HUM, desire, direction, and space!
JIG TEN DÜN PO ZHAB KYI NÄN TE
Trampling with her feet the seven worlds,
LÜ PA ME PAR GUG PAR NÜ MA
Able to draw forth all beings!
CHHAG TSHÄL GYA JIN ME LHA TSHANG PA
Homage! Worshipped by the all-lords,
LUNG LHA NA TSHOG WANG CHHUG CHHÖ MA
Shakra, Agni, Brahma, Marut!
JUNG PO RO LANG DRI ZA NAM DANG
Honored by the hosts of spirits,
NÖ JIN TSHOG KYI DÜN NÄ TÖ MA
Corpse-raisers, gandharvas, yakshas!
CHHAG TSHÄL TRAD CHE JA DANG PHAT KYI
Homage! With her TRAD and PHAT sounds
PHA RÖL THRÜL KHOR RAB TU JOM MA
Destroying foes’ magic diagrams!
YÄ KUM YÖN KYANG ZHAB KYI NÄN TE
Her feet pressing, left out, right in,
ME BAR THRUG PA SHIN TU BAR MA
Blazing in a raging fire-blaze!
CHHAG TSHÄL TURE JIG PA CHHEN PO
Homage! TURE, very dreadful!
DÜ KYI PA WO NAM PAR JOM MA.
ZHE PA RAB ZHÄ TUTTARA YI
Mirthful, laughing with TUTTARE,
DÜ DANG JIG TEN WANG DU DZÄ MA
Subjugatng maras, devas!
CHHAG TSHÄL SA ZHI KYONG WÄI
TSHOG NAM
Homage! She able to summon
THAM CHÄ GUG PAR NÜ MA NYI MA
All earth-guardians’ assembly!
THRO NYER YO WÄI YI GE HUM GI
Shaking, frowning, with her HUM sign
PHONG PA THAM CHÄ NAM PAR DRÖL MA
Saving from every misfortune!
CHHAG TSHÄL DA WÄI DUM BÜ U GYÄN
Homage! Crown adorned with crescent
GYÄN PA THAM CHÄ SHIN TU BAR MA
Moon, all ornaments most shining!
CHHU KYE ZHÄL NI THRO NYER DÄN DZÄ
She with frowning lotus visage
DRA WO THAM CHÄ MA LÜ SÖ MA
Who is slayer of all enemies!
CHHAG TSHÄL KÖN CHHOG SUM TSHÖN
CHHAG GYÄI
Homage! At the heart her fingers,
SOR MÖ THUG KAR NAM PAR GYÄN MA
Adorn her with Three Jewel mudra!
MA LÜ CHHOG KYI KHOR LÖ GYÄN PÄI
Light-ray masses all excited!
RANG GI Ö KYI TSHOG NAM THRUG MA
All directions’ wheels adorn her!
CHHAG TSHÄL RAB TU GA WA JI PÄI
Homage! She so joyous, radiant,
U GYÄN Ö KYI THRENG WA PEL MA
Crown emittng garlands of light!
THRO NYER CHÄN DZÄ YI GE HUM GI
Scowling, with the letter HUM the
RIM PA DÜN PO NAM NI GEM MA
Seven levels she does conquer!
CHHAG TSHÄL DE MA GE MA ZHI MA
Homage! Happy, virtuous, peaceful!
NYA NGÄN DÄ ZHI CHÖ YÜL NYI MA
She whose field is peace, nirvana!
SVAHA OM DANG YANG DAG DÄN PÄ
She endowed with OM and SVAHA,
DIG PA CHHEN PO JOM PA NYI MA
Destroyer of the great evil!
CHHAG TSHÄL KÜN NÄ KOR RAB GA WÄI
Homage! She with joy surrounded
DRA YI LÜ NI NAM PAR GEM MA
Tearing foes’ bodies asunder,
RÄL PÄI KHUR NA Ö PAG ME LÄ
Amitabha in her hair-knot
TAG PAR SHIN TU Ö RAB DZÄ MA
Sending out much light eternal!
CHHAG TSHÄL KÄL PÄI THA MÄI ME TAR
Homage! She ’mid wreath ablaze like
BAR WÄI THRENG WÄI Ü NA NÄ MA
Eon-ending fire abiding!
YÄ KYANG YÖN KUM KÜN NÄ KOR GÄI
Right stretched, left bent, joy surrounds you
DRA YI PUNG NI NAM PAR JOM MA
Troops of enemies destroying!
CHHAG TSHÄL SA ZHII NGÖ LA CHHAG GI
Homage! She who strikes the ground with
THIL GYI NÜN CHING ZHAB KYI DUNG MA
Her palm, and with her foot beats it!
TARA NYI JÖ PHAT KYI YI GE
With twice spoken TARA and PHAT,
DUG NAM MA LÜ PA NI SEL MA
Totally dispelling poison!
CHHAG TSHÄL LHA YI TSHOG NAM GYÄL PO
Homage! She whom gods and their kings,
LHA DANG MI AM CHI YI TEN MA
And the kinnaras do honor!
KÜN NÄ GO CHHA GA WÄI JI GYI
Armored in all joyful splendor,
TSÖ DANG MI LAM NGÄN PA SEL MA
She dispels bad dreams and conflicts!
CHHAG TSHÄL NYI MA DA WA GYÄ PÄI
Homage! She whose two eyes bright with
CHÄN NYI PO LA Ö RAB SÄL MA
Radiance of sun and full moon!
YI GE CHU PÄI NGAG NI KÖ PÄI
Frees with HUM and knowledge mantra,
RIG PA HUM LÄ DRÖL MA NYI MA
Arrangement of the ten letters!
CHHAG TSHÄL TURE ZHAB NI DEB PÄ
Homage! TURE! With seed letter
HUM GI NAM PÄI SA BÖN NYI MA
Of the shape of syllable HUM!
RI RAB MANDHARA DANG BIG JE
By foot stamping shakes the three worlds,
JIG TEN SUM NAM YO WA NYI MA
Meru, Mandara, and Vindhya!
CHHAG TSHÄL LHA YI TSHO YI NAM PÄI
Homage! Holding in her hand the
RI DAG TAG CHÄN CHHAG NA NAM MA
Hare-marked moon of deva-lake form!
HARA NYI JÖ TUTTARA YI
With twice HARA and TUTTARE
SHIN TU DRAG PÖI RIM NÄ SEL MA
She dispels severe contagion!
CHHAG TSHÄL DE NYI SUM NAM KÖ PÄ
Homage! Full of liberating
ZHI WÄI THÜ DANG YANG DAG DÄN MA
Pow’r by the set of three natures!
DÖN DANG RO LANG NÖ JIN TSHOG NAM
Destroys hosts of spirits, yakshas,
JOM PA TURE RAB CHHOG NYI MA
And raised corpses! Supreme! TURE!
TSA WÄI NGAG KYI TÖ PA DI DANG
These praises with the root mantras
CHHAG TSHÄL WA NI NYI SHU TSA CHIG
And prostrations thus are twenty-one!
Oṃ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā
Oṃ tāre tuttāre ture svāhā
Praises to the Twenty-One Tara’s
Abbreviated Version
This abbreviation in a single verse of the Praises to the Twenty-One Taras was received directly from Arya Tara by the great teacher, Jowo Atisha, for the swift collection of meritorious energy.
OM CHOM DÄN DÄ MA LHA MO DRÖL MA LA CHHAG TSHÄL LO
OM I prostrate to the goddess foe destroyer, liberating lady Tara.
CHHAG TSHÄL DRÖL MA TARE PÄL MO
Homage to TARE, savioress, heroine,
TUTTARA YI JIG KÜN SEL MA
With TUTTARE dispelling all fears,
TURE DÖN NAM THAM CHÄ TER MA
Granting all benefits with TURE,
SVAHA YI GER CHÄ LA RAB DÜ
To her with sound SVAHA, I bow.
Tara’s Mantra
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA