MEDITATION ON THE TARA MANTRA

NOVEMBER MEDITATION, 2006

One of the most widespread forms of meditation is the use of a mantra. You can have a mantra given to you by your teacher or guru, or you can choose one from the many world traditions that there are. The Buddhist and yoga traditions are very rich in mantra and you can buy cds of them to help with the pronunciation of unfamiliar words. There are also many Christian prayers and affirmations that can be used. If you don’t have a teacher or guru, you can read and listen to mantras until you find one you feel comfortable with. One we have recently been using in my meditation group is a mantra about the Tibetan Goddess Tara. It is the second most important Buddhist mantra after the well known Om Mani Padmi Hum.” There are different forms of this goddess, but two of the most popular ones are White Tara, the Divine Mother and Green Tara, the Saviour and Protector. Her name means “Star.”

Among the legends of Tara, one is that she was a good and virtuous being, who spent millions of years meditating in other dimensions before coming to Earth. When she did, her virtue was so admired that monks advised her to seek an incarnation as a male in order to achieve enlightenment, as women could not. She was so angry with this that she said, “Many wish to gain enlightenment in a man’s form. Therefore, may I, in a female body, work for the enlightenment of all beings.” She vowed always to be born as a woman.

Tara can be seen as an archetype of our own inner wisdom. She guides and protects us as we work with the depths of our unconscious and reminds us of our oneness with all creation. She is an appropriate archetype or goddess for female yoginis, women who practice yoga and women who are seeking enlightenment. She brings long life, protects travellers and guides her followers on the path to enlightenment. For other information about Tara, a Google search for “Buddhist Goddess Tara” on the Internet brings up a mine of information and beautiful illustrations.

Her mantra is Om Tara Tutara Ture Swaha, often pronounced Om Tare Tu Tare Ture Soha. It means
“Homage to you, Tara, Divine, Radiant Mother of Compassion and Great Protector.”

For protection, enlightenment and guidance, repeat the mantra daily in meditation. A traditional practice is to chant or repeat the chosen mantra for 20 minutes, twice a day, for 40 days. If you have the internet, you can print her picture.

You can listen to the mantra on the cd “Sacred Chants Of Buddha,” by Craig Pruess, Heaven and Earth Music Ltd, (UK) available from us, £14.99 + £2 p&p.

© Kathleen Pepper 2006

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