1st Tara of the 21 Taras, Heroic Red Tara Who Saves Us from Obstacles Mantra — by Yoko Dharma

: “ Heroic Red Tara, the first Tara of the 21 Taras, is “Tara who saves us from obstacles“ in the Surya Gupta tradition, also known as Pravita Tara. This is the first of 21 new mantra videos with mantras according to the Surya Gupta tradition. (There will also be a 21 Taras in 21 Weeks series of 21 videos with the streamed teachings that go along with the mantra.) The mantra is: OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SARVA TRE DATU VASHAM KURU SVAHA The mantra does not require permission, although it is ’effective’ to have “lung“ from an authorized teacher. (Lung will be transmitted at the live zoom events, link below.) Her name in Sanskrit is Pravita Tara and Rabtupa We Drolma in Tibetan. Chant along with the magnificent voice of Yoko Dharma, visualized with images from Thangka artist Angeli Lhadripa Shkonda. While chanting her mantra you can visualize her in front of you (you do not visualize yourself as Red Heroic Tara unless you have empowerment). She is visualized as red — the nature of light — with one face and four sets of arms. From “Tara in the palm of Your Hand“ by Venerable Zasep Rinpoche, she is visualized in this way (we substituted “My“ for “Her“ since without empowerment you should only visualize her in front of you.): “Her body is red in color with one face and four pairs of arms. Her first two hands hold a vajra and bell and are joined at her crown to proclaim the Dharma in the mudra of great joy. The second pair holds an arrow and a bow. The third pair holds a Dharma wheel and conch. The fourth pair holds a wisdom sword and a noose. She has a peaceful expression.“ Information and mantra courtesy of Tara in the Palm of Your Hand (book) by Venerable Zasep Rinpoche, available on Amazon. 21 Taras for 21 fears, dangers, and obstacles. In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, Tara is the Savioress, the Mother of the Buddhas. She has 21 famous forms, each with their own mantra and visualization. In the Surya Gupta tradition, each Tara has different attributes — colors, arms, expressions — symbolic of the fear and obstacle she helps us overcome. In addition to her mantra, devotees of Tara chant the 21 praises of Tara daily. The verse dedicated to the first Tara in English is: Homage to you, the Swift One, the Heroine, Whose eyes are like an instant flash of lightning, Who arose from the open corolla Of the lotus face of the Lord of the Three Worlds. PRACTICE NOTE: Venerable Zasep Rinpoche advises that you may chant the mantra of without empowerment — although it is always more effective if you do have “lung“ transmission or empowerment. If you do not have empowerment, you visualize Tara in front of you (not yourself as Tara) and chant the mantra. MANTRA Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva Tre Datu Vasham Kuru Soha Ven. Zasep Rinpoche also approved of a “verse“ form of English for chanting: Homage to You, the Swift One, the Heroine, Your gaze is as quick as flashes of lightning Who arose from the majestic Carolla From the Lotus face of the Lord of Three Worlds. IN SANSKRIT Namas Tare Ture vire ksha nair dyuti nibhek shane trail okya nat ha vak trab ja vik a sat kesh a rob have Buddha Weekly’s special section on Tara (over 30 features:) For more on the artist, see an interview on Buddha Weekly with her art featured: #21Taras #RedTara #Tara #Suryagupta #Buddhism #BuddhaWeekly #Vajrayana #Mahayana #Mantra #BuddhistMantra #YokoDharma “ full description on @BuddhaWeekly