Download The Tara Mantra
Rochell Estrello
I found in a number of places online saying that if we are doing any Tara mantra work (especially Green Tara), that we must not eat meat or drink alcohol. I wanted to get some insight about this and while I see that the common response is to not stress over it here in the forum by leaving it in the hands of the Divine, I am just trying to understand what a group of regular chanters would say here about meat and Tara.
I am quite scared. I thought Tara mantra was supposed to be helpful. She being the mother of compassion, and the mother of all buddhas. But I just feel absolutely horrible. Like I am being judged for everything with great judgement by a very black entity, instead of a loving mother.
This White Tara mantra was carved from a 92 x 16 x 2 cm piece of reclaimed mahogany. I mainly used 0.8 and 1.6 mm Foredom carbide burrs along with some old needle-point burrs (essentially worn down carbide burrs that are approximately 0.5 mm or less).
Once the mantra was carved, I applied two coats of yacht varnish to the wood. After this had fully cured, the symbols were enamelled with two coats of metallic gold 1-Shot. Following the curing of the enamel, I hand sanded the wood (down to 1200 grade) and the piece received a final coat of yacht varnish.
The teaching centered around the meaning of the mantra, which refers explicitly to ingrained behaviors operating outside of consciousness that wreak havoc in interpersonal relationships. Negative energies transferred from one individual to another are potent and destructive, and often have lasting effects.
This mantra sheds more light on the meaning of the practice, when you might need to use it, and how to align your own intentions with those of Tara. It insists that Tara remove mental obstacles that block insight into your complexes or the emotional forces that obscure your understanding. Avarana refers to the causes underlying negative tendencies in yourself or others. These instincts, imprints, or potencies are ingrained, influencing behavior outside of awareness. They are unconscious, unquestioned, and unprocessed. They have been denied, repressed, or avoided. You or others around you might struggle to bring them to consciousness or have no wish to do that whatsoever.
Recite the mantra, Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva Vidya Avarana Ye Bhye Phat Soha, at least 21 times or 108 times whenever possible. Then rest in the subtle vibration created by the mantra recitation. Notice the qualities of the energy around you. Remember and be grateful for the inherent goodness in the universe that is continuously giving birth to positive impulses inside of you and other beings in the world.
When you recite the mantra of Golden Tara, you are urging (kuru) Tara to increase (pushtam) your life energies (ayur) and merit (punye), your contributions to adding positive energy to beings around the world, near and far. Mantra recitations need not be limited to formal practice. Use them throughout the day to slow down and focus on whatever task is at hand.
As you recite her mantra, Om Tare Tuttare Ture Sarva Ayur Punye Pushtam Kuru Soha, imagine that you are absorbing this light and that other beings and other places are receiving the light of Tara as well.
Recite the mantra at least 21 times or 108 times whenever possible. Then rest in the vibrational field created by your chanting. Allow frustration and doubt to dissolve, releasing energy for healing. You become richer in inner resources, which leads to enriched outer resources as well, both material and spiritual. Affirm your connection to all life forms in the universe. Know that the benefits of your heartfelt wishes and efforts will flow from you into the world.
The Sanskrit Green Tara Mantra, Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha, is a prayer for a clear mind and true liberation. The Green Tara, known as the "Mother Buddha," is the rescuer from bad dreams, illness and war.
The earrings and pendant are designed in a beautiful Tibetan script. The mantra repeats twice with OM at the top and the bottom. These fine jewelry pieces are created in 18K gold and white diamonds pave and made to order.
In the new book The Power of Mantra: Vital Practices for Transformation, Lama Zopa Rinpoche guides students through understanding the power and benefit of mantras. Rinpoche explains many popular mantras, giving specific instructions for practicing them, including Shakyamuni Buddha, Chenrezig, Manjushri, Tara, Medicine Buddha, Vajrasattva, and more. In an excerpt from the chapter on Tara mantra, Rinpoche discusses Mother Tara:
The benefits of practicing Tara are uncountable. By reciting the Praises to the Twenty-One Taras with devotion, at dawn or dusk, and remembering Tara and reciting her mantra at any time of the day or night, we are protected from fear and danger, and all our wishes are fulfilled. If we pray to Tara, Tara will grant help quickly.
White Tārā's mantra is the basic Tārā mantra with an extra phrase inserted. In Magic and Ritual in Tibet : The Cult of Tārā Stephan Beyer describes how various phrases can be inserted into the mantra depending on the needs of the person working the magic. In this case we are asking for [long] life (ayuḥ), merit (puṇya), and wisdom (jñāna). See also below.
The mantra can be modified by replacing the mama 'mine' with the name of a person whom you wish to benefit - like a transference of merit. (see below for an example of this).I have seen the mantra written in Tibetan with jñāna spelt dzñāna - similar to the way vajra is written badzra. There must be a phonetic nuance in Tibetan pronunciation of the ja in combination with another consonant that pushes it towards dza (the two are quite similar). It does rather obscure the Sanskrit unless you know this.Other forms of the mantraThe "White Tārā" mantra is the Tārā mantra with some extra words which request long life, merit and wisdom for the practitioner. A variety of other forms of the mantra are given to request other qualities or perform particular actions.I've indicated the most likely grammatical forms because they are clear in my sources, but don't worry if you don't know Sanskrit grammar just insert the word as you know it - mantras seldom stick to Classical grammar in any case.For mantras of increase simply insert the Sanskrit word for the quality you want to increase into the mantra oṃ tāre tuttāre ture mama [______] puṣṭiṃ kuru svāhā. For example to increase life use: oṃ tāre tuttāre ture mama āyuḥ puṣṭiṃ kuru svāhā.
- puñya - merit
- jñāna - wisdom
- karunā - compassion
- vīrya - energy, vitality, or courage.
- kṣānti - forebearance, forgiveness
- grahān - evil spirits
- jvarān - fevers
- upadravān - injuries
- akālamṛtyūn - untimely death
- duḥsvapān - bad dreams
- cittākulāni - confusions
- grahebhyo - evil spirits
- śatrubhyo - enemies
- yuddhebhyo - battles
- akālamṛtyubhyo - untimely death