Tara Practice

On one wednesday of the month from 9:30 to 11 we recite together the Tara Sadhana.

The Tara practice differs from the Tara Puja by reciting a Sadhana in German.

The structure of the Sadhana is as follows: refuge, the 4 immeasurable thoughts, the 7 branches practice and an offering of the short mandala.

The main part of the practice consists of visualizations in which we specifically clean karmic impressions of our negative actions of body language and mind, together with the reasons for our negative emotions.

Then comes the mantra recitation, OM TARE TURE SOHA TUTARE, where we create the positive potential in order to realize our projects.

Tara helps especially in times where we are anxious and oppressed. We open up for the fully awakened energy of Mother Tara, in order to awake and  promote our own potential.

The practice can also be done without initiation or refuge, and there will be a thorough introduction for people who are not familiar with the practice.

Tara (Tib. Drolma), the "liberator", stands for the resolution of obstacles on the path to Buddhahood. She frees us from the various kinds of suffering and fears of Samsara and serves as an inexhaustible source of joyful inspiration along the path of the Dharma.

It is said that Tara had once emerged from a tear of Chenrezig, which he shed from his boundless compassion towards all living beeings. Therefore, Tara is also referred to as the "essence of compassion." Another story tells of Tara, who was born as Princess Yeshe Dawa in the world "manifold light". She practiced in great devotion to the teachings of the Buddha and then brought up numerous offerings to all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Arhats from the purest intentions over an infinite long time. Through these merits she realized Bodhicitta. One day, monks approached Yeshe Dawa and taught her that she would reach the full Buddhahood if she would express request prayers for a rebirth in a male body. She answered: "Many are working in a masculine body for the welfare of living beings, but few in a female. Therefore, I shall act as a woman for all living beings to the end of Samsara! "She practiced meditation joyfully and attained the state which is also known as" liberation of all sentient beings". Through this power Yeshe Dawa freed every day hundreds of millions of living beings from their worldly thoughts and led them to the same auspicious state. She changed her name to "Tara" - the liberator - and the Buddha prophesied that she will be known as the Tara Bodhisattvi who will tirelessly rush to help for all living beeings, until each individual has attained Buddhahood.

Many of the great Indian scholars and realized Yogis such as Tilopa, Naropa, Kandhapa and Atisha, reached Buddhahood through their trust and devotion to Tara. Many Tibetan Lamas owe their realizations in the paths of Sutra and Tantra from their Tara practice. There is no doubt, that Tara with her perfectly pure qualities will rush to help us and leads us to Buddhahood, as long as we are in the endless cycle of rebirth.