White Tara Mantra - White Tara - The 21 Bodhisatvas

OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA AYURPUNYE JNANA PUTIN KURU SVAHA

This is a great write up about the Buddhist deity called White Tara.  The reason I have decided to publish this is not because I am telling everyone to take up this religion or indeed worship this deity but to highlight the strengths of this archetypal power or energy and in the esoteric fashion of the rest of this blog you can utilise this energy whether or not you are inclined to follow or believe in her.
white Tara mantra
By calling in this being using the White Tara Mantra, you are actually calling in a very specific energy allowing the qualities and virtues to heal any associated imbalances within your being and thus an extremely powerful tool to have at your disposal.
White Tara Mantra
White Tara

Tara's name translates roughly as One Who Saves. She is compassionate towards all living beings and has a heartfelt desire to prevent further suffering which has been described as stronger than a mother's love for her children. Tara is the Bodhisattva (one who has pledged to put the suffering of others before her own release from suffering) and encompasses the qualities of all Buddha's past, present, and future.

It is said that Avalokiteshvara, (the Lord of the World) was looking down from his realm and wept to see the suffering of all worldly beings.  He was frustrated at the fact that no matter how many beings were saved from suffering their seemed to be more and more who were still in pain. It is stated that from the tears he shed two Taras were born, from the left a peaceful being of white and from the left a fierce being of green.
White Tara Mantra
As these two beings encompassed all the qualities of the Buddha's, Avalokiteshvara was encouraged to never give up his near endless task. In the Tara Tantra it is stated that Tara is the female companion of Avalokiteshvara, "Mother of Buddhas of all three times," Intent on saving all beings from suffering. The special qualities of Tara are to overcome unharmonious conditions and destroy external threats and obstructions. She resides in the ultimate reality, and the true body of the Buddha's. Tara shakes the three worlds, dispels the effects of poison, eliminates conflicts and nightmares, cures diseases, and overcomes ghosts and demons.

Tara Specifically focus's on the eight dangers. 1) lions and pride; 2) wild elephants and delusions; 3) forest fires and hatred; 4) snakes and envy; 5) robbers and fanatical views; 6) prisons and avarice; 7) floods and lust; and 8) demons and doubts. It is said that by merely calling to her for help she will intercede.  Her left hand shows the gesture of granting refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism (the Buddha (Teacher), the Dharma (Teaching), and the sangha (Community)).
White Tara Mantra
Tara has been worshipped throughout the Buddhist world although some have differing names, In Tibet she is called Drolma, in China Kuan Yin or Kuan Shi Yin. In the Chinese tradition Avalokiteshvara and Tara are combined together and have become a female figure. In the Tibetan tradition and in the Sanskrit tradition in India Avalokiteshvara is seen as a male figure and Tara as a female figure [both being the embodiment of all Buddha's]. The Japanese tradition calls her Kannon, and is in fact the namesake of the popular company Canon.
White Tara Mantra
The second verse of The praise in twenty-one homages, a praise to Tara, you find, ‘Homage! Tara, swift, heroic! With regard like instant lightning!’ This refers to the speed in which calling upon her works "it is quick as lightening".
White Tara Mantra
There are different manifestations of Tara; some are green, some are white, some are yellow, some are red and they carry different aspects of the whole. one of the 21 manifestations of Tara is White Tara "the swift one", This does not mean that the others are not fast but merely other traits are focussed upon, such as Wrathful Tara, Powerful Tara, Peaceful Tara, etc.  These manifestations are all Tara but focusing on different qualities and a different effect on the individual practitioner.
White Tara Mantra
White Tara is an emanation of Tara who is connected with longevity. One calls on her for health, strength, and longevity.

Her white colour indicates purity, but also indicates that she is Truth complete and undifferentiated.

She wears the Bodhisattva ornaments.

She has seven eyes: the two usual eyes, plus an eye in the centre of her forehead and eyes in her hands and feet. These indicate that she sees all suffering and all cries for help, even in the human world, even in the worlds of pain, using both ordinary and psychic or extraordinary means of perception. She carries day lotuses.

White Tara is also known as Samaya Tara, meaning Vow Tara. This refers to Tara's vow to save all beings and also to our vow, which is a Bodhisattva vow like Tara's.

Whereas the Green Tara is a young girl and has a mischievous or playful nature, the White Tara is represented as a mature woman, full-breasted and wise.

Some practitioners comment that the energy of the two main Taras feels a little different. Green Tara is very immediate and quick. She primarily focus's on physical and material assistance, as well as spiritual assistance. She can feel very close.
White Tara Mantra
White Tara seems to help more with longer-term problems, of physical or mental health. She can seem more distant, harder to contact at first. Then it is as if she sends us healing energies and mystical power and understandings.
White Tara Mantra
In Imagery
Often in pictures of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig), the two Taras in front of him - the White Tara to his right, and the Green to his left.
White Tara Mantra
Similarly, Padmasambhava (Tibetan: Guru Rinpoche) is depicted with two of his consorts. The Indian princess Mandarava, with whom he accomplished; the Rainbow Body practice, is identified with White Tara. The Tibetan princess Yeshes Tsogyal, his consort and a source of many important lineage teachings (for example the Kandro Nyin-thig), is identified with the Green Tara.
White Tara Mantra
White Tara Mantra
White Tara Mantra. long version is:
White Tara Mantra

OM TARE TUTARE TURE MAMA AYURPUNYE JNANA PUTIN KURU SVAHA.

White Tara Mantra
White Tara Mantra. short version is:
White Tara Mantra

om tare tuttare ture soha

White Tara Mantra
Which roughly translates as: Quickly with boldness, clearing away all fear, distress, and suffering of all beings, complete victory of truth over all negativity, in all accomplishments.
White Tara Mantra
Mantra Recitation and Visualization
From the red hri at Amitayus' heart, rays of red light shine out into the ten directions, hooking back the essence of long life from all samsaric and non-samsaric beings and from the four elements and also hooking back all the life previously stolen by black magic and so forth. All this is drawn into the nectar in the long life vase in Amitayus' lap. The nectar increases endlessly and overflows into my crown and completely fills my body
White Tara Mantra
At my heart, in the tigle on the white tam, sits my own guru (or anyone whose long life you want to pray for). Surrounding him on a moon disc, are all sentient beings: enemies, friends and strangers. Surrounding them, on the edge on the moon disc, are the letters of the mantra:
White Tara Mantra
om tare tuttare ture mama ayur punye jnyana
White Tara Mantra
pushtim kuru ye soha
White Tara Mantra
The nectar flowing through my body completely elminates from my guru (or for whomever you are doing this practice) all hindrances to his/her long life, (which are in fact my own karmic vision*). The nectar also purifies the hindrances to life and the black karmic vision of all sentient beings. At the same time, light from the letters of the mantra fills my own Tara body and the bodies of all the sentient beings at my heart, especially of those practicing virtue in the three worlds
White Tara Mantra
*This applies only to the appearance of sickness in regards to the guru.
White Tara Mantra
While doing this visualization, repeat the mantra
White Tara Mantra
21 times: om tare tuttare ture mama ayur punye jnyana pushtim kuru ye soha
White Tara Mantra
Then as often as you like: om tare tuttare ture soha
White Tara Mantra
Think strongly: the hindrances that cause my guru to appear sick or that prevent his holy wishes from being fulfilled are all purified. All sentient beings are purified, and all human beings who are accumulating virtue by just even taking refuge or by repeating om mani padme hum achieve long life.
White Tara Mantra
Upon seeing the signs of untimely death instantaneously, by clearly beholding the holy body of the Wish-Fulfilling Wheel Tara, may I intrepidly conquer the lord of death and swiftly attain the rank of an immortal master of knowledge.

If you wish to read about someone who is currently very advanced on the path read Palden Dorje

 

Rob Lightbearer