Hybrid - Tara Practice with Archana Bharatee

Tara PracticeTara (Tibetan Drolma, “the one who liberates”) is a female bodhisattva who is widely honoured in Tibetan Buddhism. She is known as a swift protector who helps practitioners overcome fears and obstacles, both outer and inner, and who supports them on the path to awakening.Who Tara isTibetan tradition describes Tara as arising from a tear of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, and as the embodiment of his compassionate activity. She appears in many forms. The two most common in practice are Green Tara, associated with swift action and protection, and White Tara, associated with long life, healing and peace. Tara is also a deity of the Tantric path, and in Tibetan practice she is often approached as a meditational deity (yidam) whose qualities the practitioner gradually takes on.What the practice involvesTara practice usually includes:Refuge and generating bodhicitta, the motivation to benefit all beings.Visualisation of Tara in front of oneself, radiating light and blessing the practitioner.Recitation of Tara’s mantra, most commonly OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA.Praise and offerings, often the Praises to the Twenty-One Taras (Drolma Chudrug), a widely used text that praises her many qualities and enlightened activities.Dedication of merit at the end, so that the benefit extends to all beings.Practitioners often do Tara practice for protection, for removing obstacles, for healing and for the wellbeing of others. In the Gelug tradition it is commonly practised as a group puja, with chanting led by a teacher.At CKSLThe Tara Practice is on Saturday, 28 November, 6 to 8 pm, online. Archana Bharatee leads it. It is listed under Puja in the schedule. The October programme also included a Tara teaching, “Who is Tara and the Benefits of Relying on Tara”, followed by the practice.