Green Tara at The Goddess House

Tara means “star” or “The one who ferries across”, or “She Who Saves”.  She represents compassion in action, since she is in the process of stepping from her lotus throne in order to help the suffering sentient beings. Tara’s name is said to derive from the verb meaning “to cross” or “to traverse” or “to get to the other side”.  Like a star she shines and helps us guide our lives in a safe direction.  A third meaning of Tara is “the pupil of the eye”, suggesting her as the watching presence, who watches over those who navigate the treacherous waters of life in search of the further shore of liberation.

 

Tara is known to protect from fear and danger, heal illness, increase longevity and increase prosperity.  On the ultimate level, she awakens our wisdom so that we can realize the true nature of reality.  In Mahayana Buddhist tradition it is believed that practice of Tara mantra or reciting sacred Tara Mantra brings Green Tara’s instant help to overcome all problems and help actualize all our material needs and heartfelt wishes.  Tara is the embodiment of enlightened activity.  She is a bodhisattva, rather Buddha, who, although totally free from the imperfections of Samsara, remains in samsara to help all those that suffer.  

 

Tara is the “rescuer”.  She rescues us from the eight outer fears (lions, elephants, fire, snakes, thieves, water, bondage, and evil spirits/demons) which symbolize the eight corresponding inner fears (pride, ignorance, anger, jealousy, wrong views, attachment, miserliness, and deluded doubts).

 

As the “mother”, Tara protects us from immediate dangers, provides us with all our temporal needs, and guides and encourages us in our learning and personal development.  We can also turn to Tara for refuge as she will protect us from all internal and external dangers by providing us with all the necessary conditions for our spiritual training.  She also guides us and inspires us with her blessings as we progress along the spiritual path.

 

Tara saves us from the dangers of rebirth in the three lower realms, and ultimately she saves us from the dangers of samsara and solitary peace.

 

Over the next few weeks, The Goddess House will be focusing on Green Tara through our Monday Night Meditations which are held every Monday evening, commencing at 7:30pm (except for public holidays).  As this is an open group held at a private residence, please contact our Priestess in Residence for more details. 

 

If you have a set of rosary beads, please feel free to bring them with you.  Alternatively, various sets can be purchased from The Goddess House or our online etsy store LunaNoire Creations.