Teachings on “Praises to Twenty-One Taras”
Maha Tare Buddhist Centre will begin its weekly teaching on Praise to Twenty-One Tara (Drolme Töpa) from 16 September 2016 (Friday). The teaching will mainly elaborate on the meaning of the prayer and significance of Tara practice in both secular and spiritual life.
Goddess Tara (Drolma, Duolu busa) remains one of the most powerful female deities within Buddhist pantheon in Tantrayana tradition. Invoked as “Mother of Saviors”, Tara appears in twenty-one major forms and thousand other secondary manifestations, all aimed at alleviating pain and suffering of sentient beings. Considered an emanation of Buddha Amitabha (Opakme, Amituofo), Goddess Tara is said to have appeared in this Samsaric world through the compassionate tears of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Chenresig, Guanyin). Tara generally symbolises untainted compassion and enlightened activities that eliminate sufferings and bring joy and contentment in lives of samsaric beings.
In worldly terms, Goddess Tara is invoked for many purposes such as curing illness, prolonging life, amassing wealth, pursuing education, ensuring fertility, and so forth. White Tara, for example, remains one of the three principal deities of longevity in Mahayana Buddhist rituals, while Green Tara helps avoid dangers of accidents and calamities. On a spiritual level, a practitioner prays to Tara for protection of his or her life and for guidance in the paths and stages to enlightenment.
During these sessions, Geshe Lama Konchok will explain the meaning and significance of Praise to Twenty-One Taras, which is supposedly composed by Buddha Vairochana (Namnang, Piluzhenafo). This prayer remains as one of the most widely recited Samgitis, which include invocation of deities by way of chanting their many names. Many Tantric practitioners rely on Tara as their prime tutelary deity for guidance. To this day, Goddess Tara, most widely known for her immediacy of response and efficacy of her help, remains one of the few Buddhist deities that devout followers call upon in time of panic and danger.
Maha Tare Buddhist Centre hopes that this teaching will help one gain better understanding of Tara practice. We are pleased to invite everyone to attend these precious teachings.
Date: Every Friday starting on 16 September 2016
Time: 8pm
Venue: 512A Sims Avenue
Language: Teachings will be translated in English.