Red Swift Liberating and Courageous Tara

Feelings from the Garden - Saturday, December 14, 2024

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Let us slowly begin to cast a Green Tara Mandala.

I experience Tara and her twenty-one emanations as if I’m sitting at the center of a vast mandala. Before me, I envision Tara. Sometimes she is seated on her throne in lotus position, with her right leg extended — ready to spring into action at any moment. Other times, she is already in action, standing or dancing. Her left hand is raised in the protection or Three Jewel mudra, in which she also holds a lotus. Her right hand is lowered in the mudra of bestowing blessings. Depending on the tradition, she is either holding a vase or another object. The object is sometimes said to rest at the center of the lotus flower she holds in her left hand.

Aside from Kuan Yin, who is often depicted holding a vase, I don’t recall ever seeing a depiction of Tara holding a vase (the same color as her) or with any object inside the lotus flower. So, let your imagination run wild. There was also a time when my prayers didn’t specify her color, vase, or object.

Ever since day one, no matter how I experience her, she is always naked — adorned only with her jeweled crown, necklaces, and other jewelry. This detail has always stood out for me when she is present. When I was searching for a Tara statue, she insisted it be one where her breasts were not covered. Hey girl, I get it — I like being shirtless too. It’s an essential part of how I connect with the divine. They communicate with me through feeling, and when I am shirtless, I feel their messages more clearly. I receive so much more, especially when I’m outside in the sun or moonlight, or feeling the rain, mist, or fog. My skin also feels the song of birds more intensely.

I recognize that, as a man, I have the privilege of being able to walk shirtless in public. It’s deeply disappointing that women are denied the experience of feeling the song of a mockingbird on their bare breasts or the warmth of the sun on their nipples. To my ladies: if you ever have the rare opportunity to be bare-breasted in nature, I encourage you to do so.

But I digress. Back to Tara’s Mandala.

I usually visualize or sense a large Tara, sitting or standing, facing me. I then imagine a square shape around us, with one point behind Tara, one behind me, and a point on either side of us — like a diamond. Surrounding this square are the other 20 emanations of Tara, with five Tara’s positioned between each of the four points. As I pray, I visualize each Tara taking her place within the mandala. When my prayers are complete, I sit and take a moment to feel held and encompassed within the mandala by all twenty-one Tara’s.

Sometimes, at the end of my prayers, I imagine the outer circle of Tara’s dissolving into the one before me. I then visualize her dissolving into my body. Other times, I leave the mandala up like a shield. It really depends on how I feel that day.

Today, I will kick off the Tara Mandala with the first emanation of Green Tara. Her name translates to “Liberator, Swift One, Heroine.” I’m not going to dive into her Tibetan names because I don’t use them. She is depicted as red and is often shown holding either a red vase or a self-sounding conch shell. Her expression is semi-wrathful — a concept that tends to confuse people. “What does ‘semi-wrathful’ even mean?” The only explanation I’ve found comes from Tara’s Enlightened Activity by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, who write, “That means she is smiling, but fiercely, with her teeth showing.”

Rather than listing her attributes and superpowers, I will share my prayers, where I have tried to incorporate all that information.

The first prayer is inspired by Rachael Wooten’s book TARA: The Liberating Power of the Female Buddha. The second prayer is based on Tara’s Enlightened Activity by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal

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Hail to Red Swift and Courageous Tara, Blessed is your semi-wrathful expression, and blessed is your red vase, which holds the power to prevent, and transform negativity. You connect with our situations through your compassion.

Homage to Noble Lady Tara, quick one, Heroine, Your eyes flash like lightning. You appear from a flowering water lotus as great protectress of the world.

Holy Lady, Red Swift and Courageous Tara, give us the courage to keep our hearts open in difficult circumstances

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

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Hail Red Swift Liberating and Courageous Tara,

Fill us in this moment with your love and compassion. Liberate me, and all beings from the suffering, fear, and the sorrows of existence. Lead us to joy, peace, and an enlightened state — no matter what difficulties may arise.

Holy Red Tara, You appear from a flowering water lotus as great protectress of the world. Blessed are your eyes that flash with fire and lightning; and your semi-wrathful expression mixed with attachment; Blessed is the soothing melody of your self sounding conch shell, which fills us with hope; helps us understand our troubles; and holds the power to prevent and transform all negativity.

Holy Red Tara, Swift One Heroine, in this moment, connect with our situations through your compassion. May we experience deep healing as you dissolve all of our anger, fear, stress and anxiety. Grant us your courageous qualities to help our hearts remain open, and liberates us from difficult circumstances.

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

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Now that we have set the Mandala of Tara’s emanations in motion, I hope you feel inspired to work with Red Swift Liberating and Courageous Tara until the next emanation of Tara is ready to be shared. Mind you, I have a very rich spiritual practice, so I’m sure we will eventually move through all 21 Tara’s. However, be aware that you might also see posts about other deities, practices, and reflections that are completely unrelated to Tara mixed in.

For those of you who may have an established Tara practice — or even those who are new to Tara — I would love to hear from you:

• How do you experience Tara in your life?

• How has she helped (or is helping) you in your life and spiritual journey?

• How do you work with Tara?

• How does this first emanation of Tara resonate with you?

Thank you being on this journey with me. Until next time, may you all be surrounded with Tara’s blessings, compassion, and grace.

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

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