Standing Tara

[A brief explanation of the All-Accomplishing Tara]

There are many kinds of Taras. In addition to the twenty-one Taras that are commonly mentioned, there are many other Taras, such as Vajrapani, White Umbrella Goddess, Wealth Goddess, etc. They are all Taras. Many of the Buddha Goddesses in most of the mother tantras belong to the Tara method.

There are four major tantras in Tantra – the Kriya Tantra, the Charya Tantra, the Yoga Tantra and the Highest Yoga Tantra. Generally, the Tara Tantra belongs to the Kriya Tantra, but the Twenty-Tara Praises can be interpreted as the Yoga Tantra, or as the Highest Yoga Tantra, etc. There are many interpretations.

In the past, many Tara rituals of accomplished masters were written in the Kriya tantra. Therefore, when practicing Tara in Tibet, one should not eat meat and observe the pure precepts. The practice of Kriya tantra attaches great importance to Brahmacharya, which is very important.

The purpose, merits and activities of each Tara practice are somewhat different. Tara made countless wishes, and different wishes led to different practices. The practice of the standing Tara here is to eliminate the fear of death, increase blessings, longevity and wisdom, and achieve Buddhahood. It gathers all the merits of calming, increasing desire and destroying in one, and can achieve success quickly. It belongs to the practice of the Padmasambhava of the Supreme Tantra.

The Origin of Tara and the Dharma

“Tara” is the name bestowed by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas when Amitabha and Avalokitesvara transformed themselves into Princess Huiyue and their brave work and power to save sentient beings were fully manifested. It means the one who saves sentient beings. Tara’s body, speech, mind, merits and work are all for the purpose of saving sentient beings.

Seven kalpas in the past, there was a world called “Immovable”. Tara gave a Dharma lecture in this immovable world. At that time, all the Buddhas from the ten directions came to give empowerment and praised Tara as the mother who gave birth to all the Buddhas.

In the past great calamity, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Eight Classes of Heavenly Beings and Dragons gathered in the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s place of practice, preaching this fundamental Dharma of the Tara Dharani, and expounding millions of Dharma doors, all of which are manifested in the world and are wonderful Dharmas for saving sentient beings in the three worlds and six realms. In the past and present worlds, 600,000 Dharma treasures have flowed out, and in the future world, there will be 122,000 Dharma treasures flowing out. In this way, countless sutras have flowed in the heavenly palaces and dragon palaces, and are immeasurable and boundless.

For those who do not understand the law of cause and effect, she shows the law of cause and effect to guide them; for those who do not know the suffering of samsara, she shows the sufferings of samsara; for those who do not know how to practice, she shows them as a good teacher to guide them. She guides them by following the aptitude of sentient beings and accepting all kinds of worldly laws. She saves sentient beings through the three vehicles or the four tantras of the tantra. All these methods are taught by Tara to save all sentient beings. All sentient beings who hear or come into contact with the Dharma receive Tara’s blessings.

Origin of the Standing Tara Dharma

This special and unique standing posture of Green Tara with one face and two arms was taught by one of the Tibetan masters, Kathok Rinchen Chinpo II, Tsewang Norbu, not only once, but many times in different regions (Nepal’s Bodha Stupa, Ladakh, Monpa region, Changzhu Monastery, etc., where he personally saw Tara appear in a standing posture and taught him the Dharma.) During his stay in Nepal, on the day of Mahakala’s miracle, all believers personally saw the holy image of Tara appear in the rainbow curtain of sunlight. In the pure vision, the Venerable saw many Tara sutras and accomplishment rituals written in Sanskrit, and immediately wrote down the special Dharma in a natural large charnel ground next to the Bodha (Charong Kashu Bodhi) Stupa in Nepal. He also took out the original Sanskrit manuscript of this ritual from a dilapidated stupa in Nepal, practiced it and achieved accomplishment, and continued to spread this Dharma to this day.

Introduction to Standing Tara

The main deity has one face and two arms, standing with two parallel feet, with seven compassionate eyes (three eyes on the face, one eye on each of the two hands and the palms of the two feet), a clear smile, and the appearance of a 16-year-old girl. The right hand is in the mudra of giving, raining down treasures, and the left hand is in the mudra of the three treasures, holding a blue lotus. The female features are perfect, and the Maru (Ladakh) top is decorated with precious silk. On the top is the image of the guru Amitabha, and the top of the longevity treasure bottle is Vajra standing on it. Avalokitesvara is in the vajra of the self-heart, holding a garland and a treasure bottle in his hands. On the sun and moon wheel in the heart, the black Hayagriva holds a sword and a donation rope in each hand, and the three sounds of the horse’s cry shake the ten directions.

Merits

This is a complete and complete practice of pacifying, increasing, attracting and destroying in one session. It is a special, blessed and rapid method of achievement, whether in worldly affairs or in the unique path of liberation and transcendental affairs. The merits of the four practices are briefly described:
In the part of pacifying, external disasters such as offending the Tai Sui and offending villains, unfavorable luck in the year, lawsuits and kings, disasters of the four elements of earth, water, fire and wind, disasters of beasts, and wars are reduced or eliminated, turning misfortune into good fortune, and staying away from all fear, confusion and terror. Internally, the obstacles of the four elements and the five poisons are calmed down, and the merits of physical and mental peace and freedom are quickly obtained.

Increase karma, such as the increase of merit and authority, the achievement of fame and fortune, the increase of life and wisdom, the abundance of wealth, the avoidance of all poverty and famine, the smooth career, and the fulfillment of all wishes. Internally, the merit and resources can be quickly completed, ignorance can be quickly eliminated, wisdom can be opened early, and the sutras and blessings can be deeply understood.

The karma of having good karma means that one’s popularity increases, good relationships are found, interpersonal relationships are harmonious, family and marriage are happy, the desire to have a boy or a girl is fulfilled quickly, and business is booming. Internally, adverse conditions do not arise, and favorable conditions are found, so it is easy to get good friends and good teachers to follow you.

The merits of killing karma include the prevention and treatment of external harms such as lawsuits, constant presence of villains, evil spells, non-human beings, the Eight Divisions of Heaven and Dragon, ghosts and goblins, etc.; the prevention and treatment of various diseases of the mind and body caused by the inattention and lack of wisdom of school-age children; and the prevention and treatment of various diseases of the mind and body caused by various infectious diseases, epidemic diseases, five poisons and troubles. Internally, by staying away from various external obstacles, internal obstacles, drowsiness, restlessness and other troubles, one can quickly accomplish various undertakings.