Dancing Dakini Wisdom

anhonestdrug:

dancingdakini:

serendipitybylee:

The eighth day of every month, today included, is Buddha Tara Day. Tara is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Tibetan Buddhism. She represents the virtues of success in work and achievements, and is known as the “Mother of Liberation.”

According to legend, she became a Bodhisattva during her life as a princess, when she had devoted herself to the teachings of the Buddha. She eventually attained the “Thought of Enlightenment” in order to save all beings. Prior to, it was unheard of for a woman to perform this deed, so the monks (called bhiksus) advised her to pray to be reborn as a male in order to properly fulfill the teachings. Tara told the bhiksus that in the realm of Bodhisattva there is neither male nor female but only androgynous being (androgynous meaning ‘partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex’).

 Tara made a promise:

“There are many who desire Enlightenment in a man’s body, but none who work for the benefit of sentient beings in the body of a woman. Therefore, until samsara is empty, I shall work for the benefit of sentient beings in a woman’s body.”

Samsara is a result of the accumulation of bad karma. It is the endless cycle of death and rebirth, forever bounding that person to the material world. Tara’s main purpose is to free us from this suffering, liberating us and getting us closer to reaching full enlightenment. She acts as a spiritual facilitator, guiding us through potentially difficult times and helping us to overcome samsara.

“Tara is the power to transcend all things.”

Isn’t it amazing how, even so many years ago, there were women who stood up for themselves and denied that men were superior? This story can be so inspiring, especially if you look deep.

Don’t forget to always believe in yourself. Stand strong when you know you’re right, and stay poised even when you’re not.

(read more on tara here)

Thank you for adding Tara’s story; I was thinking of doing the same thing today and you beat me to it :) Her story is one of my favorites, and I credit Mother Tara with bringing me to the Buddhist path.

I have so much respect for Buddhism. I remember distinctly the story of a buddhist teacher (I unfortunately can’t remember the name of his role) who was asked about the lack of female buddhist teachers. He apologised, stating that it wasn’t the fault of Buddhism or in the teachings of the Buddha that this occurred, but a result of the cultural influences on people themselves and serious issue.

That was Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, my Guru/Spiritual Guide, who gave that reply to a woman who asked him that question. He’s done a lot to remove the sexism within Mahayana Buddhism, or within the New Kadampa Tradition at least, which is one big reason why myself am in the NKT.

(Source: self-assassin)

serendipitybylee:

The eighth day of every month, today included, is Buddha Tara Day. Tara is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Tibetan Buddhism. She represents the virtues of success in work and achievements, and is known as the “Mother of Liberation.”

According to legend, she became a Bodhisattva during her life as a princess, when she had devoted herself to the teachings of the Buddha. She eventually attained the “Thought of Enlightenment” in order to save all beings. Prior to, it was unheard of for a woman to perform this deed, so the monks (called bhiksus) advised her to pray to be reborn as a male in order to properly fulfill the teachings. Tara told the bhiksus that in the realm of Bodhisattva there is neither male nor female but only androgynous being (androgynous meaning ‘partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex’).

 Tara made a promise:

“There are many who desire Enlightenment in a man’s body, but none who work for the benefit of sentient beings in the body of a woman. Therefore, until samsara is empty, I shall work for the benefit of sentient beings in a woman’s body.”

Samsara is a result of the accumulation of bad karma. It is the endless cycle of death and rebirth, forever bounding that person to the material world. Tara’s main purpose is to free us from this suffering, liberating us and getting us closer to reaching full enlightenment. She acts as a spiritual facilitator, guiding us through potentially difficult times and helping us to overcome samsara.

“Tara is the power to transcend all things.”

Isn’t it amazing how, even so many years ago, there were women who stood up for themselves and denied that men were superior? This story can be so inspiring, especially if you look deep.

Don’t forget to always believe in yourself. Stand strong when you know you’re right, and stay poised even when you’re not.

(read more on tara here)

Thank you for adding Tara’s story; I was thinking of doing the same thing today and you beat me to it :) Her story is one of my favorites, and I credit Mother Tara with bringing me to the Buddhist path.

(Source: self-assassin)

Happy Tara Day and International Women’s Day!

White Tara is a female Buddha who increases the lifespan, wisdom, and good fortune of living beings. If we pray to her with faith, she has special abilities to protect us from contagious diseases, and the dangers of fire, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters. White Tara’s blessings are immensely powerful – they can even destroy the terrible Lord of Death who arrives to steal away our life!

White Tara is the kind and compassionate Buddha Mother of all living beings. And just like Green Tara, we receive White Tara’s help as swiftly as the wind moves. - “Meeting the Buddhas”, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUR PUNAYE GYANA PUTRIM KURU YE SÖHA

Happy Tara Day!

the-jolly-geek:

Homage to Tara, the Swift One, the Heroine

(Source: self-assassin)

Arya Tara

(Source: )

self-assassin:

White Tara
The female enlightened being of long life, wisdom and good fortune

When I see the signs of untimely death,
May I immediately receive the blessings of Arya Tara;

And, having destroyed the Lord of Death,
May I quickly attain the deathless vajra body.

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUR PUNAYE GYANA PUTRIM KURU YE SÖHA
OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SÖHA

Tharpa has produced a new art card of White Tara.

Offerings to Arya Tara for the 24-hour Tara chanting retreat.

Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha