For this brief Tara meditation,
We first find a comfortable stationary position,
Take some time to adjust all the key parts of the body comfortably,
Allow our breath to move naturally,
And then establish a very vast and positive motivation for this practice,
Thinking of our wish to bring benefit and happiness,
Not just to ourselves,
But in the long run to all sentient beings.
And then with that motivation as the foundation for this practice,
First allowing our mind to rest in a state of spaciousness,
Where our awareness is not directed towards any specific objects,
Thoughts,
Or current experiences,
Other than the clarity and spaciousness of awareness itself.
Out of that simplicity aspect arises the clear,
Visible,
And radiant appearance of Tara's pure land,
A pure dimension full of natural beauty,
Where we find ourselves sitting in practice,
Sitting on a vast field,
Perhaps,
Together with many other sentient beings who need Tara's assistance in their life,
With all of us focusing our mind on the enlightened qualities that Tara represents and can help us cultivate or uncover in ourselves.
And for this practice,
We imagine ourselves as sort of a chant master,
Someone who guides others in calling out to Tara for help,
Assistance,
And refuge.
And so we imagine that in front of all of us,
In the spacious blue sky,
Appears a fragrant,
Fresh lotus flower with numerous petals,
A shining moon-disk cushion on top of that lotus flower,
And on that,
The radiant form of Green Tara herself,
Vibrantly energetic,
Wise,
Compassionate,
Active,
Ready to help all beings with fierce compassion and also gentleness.
We,
Along with all sentient beings,
Are looking at Tara,
And Tara's compassionate gaze is on us.
And in mentally connecting to Tara as a window to our own enlightened nature like this,
We are gradually building a strong bridge,
A powerful connection to the enlightened qualities of wisdom and compassion in union.
To represent those,
Tara's left hand is at her heart,
Holding the stem of a lotus flower.
Tara's right hand is on her knee,
Palm up,
In the gesture of supreme giving.
Tara's right leg is extended,
And her left leg is tucked in,
Because she is at the same time resting in meditative equipoise and is ready to help all beings.
She's helping all beings all the time,
Acting through the strings of interdependence and from within,
From the depths of our own buddha nature.
And in this specific case,
To use both of these types of assistance,
Through outer interdependence,
Through inner inspiration,
We,
Along with all sentient beings,
Call out to Tara's qualities and her influence by using Tara's shortest mantra,
Her two-syllable mantra of Tara Ray.
And so we imagine a shower of enlightening or awakening blessings falling all over us and all the beings that right now might need help,
Protection,
Assistance,
Healing,
Support,
Or guidance.
Those who are alive,
Those who are in the process of passing away,
Those who are currently in the transitory state between one lifetime and another,
All of these beings receiving Tara's tender,
Loving,
Protective energy.
With this,
We spend a few moments chanting Tara's two-syllable mantra,
Calling out to her.
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Tara,
Taking a few moments to imagine and feel Tara's qualities pervading our own body,
Speech,
And mind and the overall network of interdependence within which we all exist.
Harmonizing this interdependence so that everything is beneficial,
Harmonious,
Auspicious,
Wholesome,
And infused with both wisdom and love.
And then allowing Tara's form in front of us to melt into a cloud of light which then absorbs into us through our crown,
Resting in the state of union and clarity.
And then taking some time to dedicate the energy of this practice to all who need it and to the eventual awakening of all sentient beings to their happiness,
Freedom,
And well-being at all times.
Then bringing our awareness back to the body,
Introducing some movement to the body,
And slowly concluding this practice as we invite the bell.
