Holy Mother Tara comes to KFR!
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/KFRHolyMotherTara.mp4
This image of Green Tara was drawn by Tsem Rinpoche when he was a very young boy. Tsem Rinpoche has always loved Tara. Even as a child, Rinpoche would draw her image and pass them to his friends and family to wear, instinctively knowing she is a great protectoress.
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
One of the most popular deities and practices in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon is that of the female Buddha Tara. There are varying legends about her origins and how she arose. In some traditions, Tara is said to have emanated from the tears of Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig). He had been working for a long time to alleviate sentient beings’ sufferings. One day however, Avalokiteshvara came to realise that there were still countless beings to help and he manifested despondency at the apparent hopelessness of the task at hand. He began to cry and from the pool formed by his tears, a lotus arose and inside the lotus was Tara. She spoke to Avalokiteshvara, telling him not to worry and reassuring him that he would have her assistance.
Another tradition tells that many aeons ago, during the time of Buddha Dundubhisvara, there lived a princess named ‘Moon of Wisdom-knowledge’ (Tibetan: Dawa Lhamo). She was a very devoted disciple of the Buddha and Sangha, making offerings to the Three Jewels every day. Eventually the princess herself generated bodhicitta. Upon hearing this, some monks (bhikshus) went to visit her to pay homage. During their visit, they encouraged her to dedicate her merits towards being reborn as a male.
Pastor Niral in front of the 9-ft Stone Tara at Kechara Forest Retreat
Their encouragement may sound strange to modern ears but these bhikshus were well-meaning. They were not speaking to degrade women in any way, but really believed (as was the norm at the time) that women were not equal to men. Since women were considered not equal to men, it was also believed that their bodies must be inferior too and an impediment to achieving enlightenment. Thus the bhikshus spoke to the princess in this way, out of concern for the physical difficulties associated with being female and wanting her to avoid them.
The princess firmly and politely refused, telling them that there is no difference between men and women. She explained that women are just as capable as men in achieving enlightenment because Buddhist practices are concerned with the transformation of the mind, and not the physical form. Then she made a vow that when she became fully enlightened, she will do so in the form of a female to demonstrate her point. In that very lifetime, she fulfilled her vow and became fully attained, thereafter predominantly manifesting in the female form to benefit sentient beings.
The newly-completed Tara area in Kechara Forest Retreat! Come and pay homage to the great female Buddha Tara!
Regardless of which origins story we subscribe to, the common theme is that this holy goddess arose out of her compassion to benefit sentient beings. She is extremely popular in the Tibetan Buddhist world, regardless of sect or tradition, because her practice is a gentle one that, although simple, still confers great benefits and protection. According to His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Tara is so holy that images of her are automatically sacred and blessed, and need not be consecrated. Thus most Tibetan Buddhist altars and Dharma centres will have some depiction of Tara, and Kechara is no exception.
On May 24, 2016 Kechara was very fortunate to welcome the arrival of our 9-ft stone Tara statue, placing her at the start of Tara Walk. It had been many months in the making, with regular visits to the workshop and craftsmen to ensure her iconography was absolutely perfect. With one face and two arms, and a gentle motherly smile, Tara is depicted as a young girl adorned with the six ornaments – her crown, necklace, armlets, anklets and her body itself which is said to be so beautiful, no woman in samsara can compare. These ornaments represent Tara’s attainment of the six paramitas.
The new Tara statue area, with our beautiful 9-ft Mother Tara statue on her stone platform. To the left is the candle-offering grotto and in the background, the water feature with gently flowing water.
In the following weeks since her arrival, the Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) team have been hard at work beautifying the area surrounding Tara by planting trees, shrubbery and flowering plants. Many of these plants were personally selected and purchased by His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche, who wanted to make sure the environment around her would be lush and beautiful, as a splendid offering to Mother Tara. The KFR team also constructed a natural-looking water feature, to fill the air with the soothing sounds of running water.
Next to Tara a grotto was built for offering candles. Made of stone, it was designed to match Tara’s pedestal, and to be weatherproof and fireproof. The grotto itself was inspired by grottoes that Rinpoche saw during his trip abroad.
A closer look at the grotto for offering candles to Tara
The KFR team also built two circumabulation paths around Tara – a short and long one – so that pilgrims might circumambulate around her holy body, performing supplications of the body, speech and mind. The paths take you on a gentle sloping walk around Tara, with the longer one going past the water feature. Immediately opposite Tara is a low stone bench, so practitioners can sit in front of Tara and recite their prayers.
Tara gazes compassionately on all, and blesses the environment with her divine presence and energy.
As work on the Tara area neared completion, Rinpoche himself visited the site to do a consecration puja. Rinpoche recited A Song Of Longing For Tara The Infallible as well as A Gem to Increase Life and Wisdom, which is a praise of White Tara composed by the 1st Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gendun Drub. Rinpoche also recited the mantras of the 21 Taras, inviting the holy Mother Tara to reside in the statue and enthroning her thus. In doing so, Rinpoche requested for Tara’s wish-fulfilling energies, as well as her healing, protection and long life energies to abide in the statue and the surrounding area.
Rinpoche said that his wish is for everyone who comes to pay homage to Tara to experience healing of the body and mind, and for them to come away blessed and protected and their wishes fulfilled. 200 candles were offered and the merits of creating the shrine was dedicated to the sponsor, as well as to all beings in need of Tara’s assistance. As the consecration ritual came to an end and Rinpoche and his entourage started to recite dedication prayers, it began to drizzle very lightly. The rain stopped a short while later. Rinpoche took it as a good sign and an auspicious omen that whatever prayers made to Tara will come true, and that those who come on pilgrimage to visit her will have their wishes fulfilled.
We would like to invite you to visit her, and pay homage to the Mother Goddess who frees us from the eight fears and fulfils our wishes. Come and connect with this female Buddha and offer a candle (or two!) to her. For more information on how to get to Kechara Forest Retreat or to arrange to visit, please check out our website or call the Kechara House Front Desk at +603 7803 3908.
Kechara Forest Retreat’s Stone Tara
What a sight to behold at the start of Tara Walk!
The newly-completed Tara area, where Tara sits amidst lush vegetation and flowering trees and bushes.
Rinpoche made prayers that all who invoke upon Tara’s assistance will receive her blessings, and that all beings who lay eyes on her will have the seeds of enlightenment planted in their mindstream.
The end of the shorter circumbulation path around Tara
The end of the longer circumbulation path takes pilgrims past the water feature.
The two circumambulation paths converge behind Tara, next to the water feature.
Tara glows as the sun sets around her graceful form
Come and connect with Mother Tara, who sits with her right leg outstretched, ever ready to come to your assistance.
Where we are located
Kechara Forest Retreat is located 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. For more information, visit our website or call the Kechara House Front Desk at +603 7803 3908 to arrange a visit.
Black Tara, a wrathful manifestation of the Goddess Tara. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
For more interesting information:
- Information about Tara on my official website
- Tara Blesses The Land
- Tara
- Spectacular White Tara…
- A Song of Longing for Tara the Infallible
- Praises to the 21 Taras
- A Gem to Increase Life and Wisdom
- Green Tara
- White Tara
- Shize: A practice for healing and long life
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Mantras in the waters of Kechara Forest Retreat-Malaysia
Mantras represent the blessings of the enlightened beings in the form of sound. When we recite mantras they stimulate the various parts of our body to heal itself, to clear itself, to purify itself and to gain higher states of consciousness. Therefore, mantras are very powerful. They can be written, visualised or recited out aloud. The mantras of enlightened beings bless ordinary beings, animals, ethereal or formless beings and everyone in the environment.
In Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia, we have a koi fish pond, on which sits a magnificent statue of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. When the fish circumambulate around Manjushri they are blessed by his divine presence. At the same time, people who come to visit the pond and circumambulate around Manjushri receive the same blessings.
Along with the Manjushri fish pond, we also have a lake in Kechara Forest Retreat. In the middle of this lake is a Shakyamuni Buddha statue. In both these places we have placed Manjushri mantra stones underneath submerged under the water so that the animals, humans and beings who circumambulate these holy statues, not only circumambulate the images of the Buddhas but also sacred mantras. The is done in order to plant the seeds of enlightenment in their mindstreams so that in the future they are able to realise Bodhicitta, the realisation of Emptiness and higher states of consciousness. So, I thought I would share this little video with everyone. Thank you.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542840739.mp4
This video, narrated in Chinese, features Manjushri mantra stones. These are stones carved with the sacred mantra of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. The mantra of any Buddha is basically the manifestation of the enlightened being in the form of sound. Therefore, Manjushri’s mantra embodies the special qualities of his transcendent wisdom. Offering of these mantras stones is likened to an offering of Manjushri-like speech to the Three Jewels.
Sponsoring and offering such stones has the benefit of gaining deeper insight into spiritual practice, improving one’s memory, critical thinking, creativity, language and the purification of negative karma related to speech. It also promotes the development of powerful speech that has a positive impact on others.
In the video we see mantra stones placed at the majestic Four-armed Manjushri statue in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia. The more stones are offered there, the more benefit it brings to the person circumambulating and paying homage to Lord Manjushri. These stones are available at Naropa’s Cave in Kechara Forest Retreat and can be offered to the statue of Manjushri here just as you see in the video.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542838906.mp4
This incredible White Tara was discovered in Indonesia. It is said to be 800 years old and made by Nagarjuna. A local person Mr. Supriyono dreamed of a bluish red dragon surrounding the village and splashing down into the well before finding Her. This beautiful White Tara was discovered in Indonesia. See video: – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96dW0Ms1oR0
so many Big Buddha statues outdoors – what provision is made to clean them? (bird droppings, bad weather etc) & how to go about making offerings to them?
Je Atisha’s meditational deity was Tara, and she helped him, and advised throughout his life. Tara advised Je Atisha before he went to Tibet and also told him that his lifespan would be shortened by heading to Tibet, but would be very much more beneficial. Tara also was also the one who advised Lama Atisha who was bringing the dharma to Tibet, to make Wealth Vases attract the necessary resources for the growth of Buddha Dharma in Tibet.
So Tara’s role is to clear obstacles pertaining to the spread of Buddha Dharma.
We are so fortunate to be blessed by Mother Tara when we visit her in KFR. I feel peaceful gazing at Mother Tara in KFR. May all be blessed and wishes fulfilled _/\_
With folded palms,
Vivian
It’s really great and very blessed to have Mother Tara in KFR. I always love her. I feel very strong affinty with Tara through my personal experience calling her to help me clear my Hives because i didnt have any medicine late at night.The next morning it was really cleared. Amazing healing powers Tara has shown me!And I’m sure Mother Tara will also bless and benefit many others too. This Mother Tara statue is lovely.Thank you very much Rinpoche to have Tara in KFR for everyone to pay homage.
I have finally set my eyes on the ever alluring Mother Tara on August 27th, this inner feelings of meeting Mother Tara for the first time at Kechara Forest Retreat was something magical hard to describe in words. The feeling is like floating in the midst of a realm where time stood still, her gentle sweet smile, her majestic face radiates a sense of peacefulness that soften and energies every cell in my body. The lush green surrounding, cascading water fountain mingling with birds chirping away, the gentle hill breeze soothes my being and elevates one to a timeless long forgotten era of peace.
O, Mother Tara I prostrate with folded hands in front of my heart wishing that you would continually bless all at Kechara Forest Retreat and all who have the affinity to meet you and be blessed by your compassionate and loving care.
Kechara Forest Retreat at Bentong really beautiful,, great hardworking people are creating such peaceful and clean place for the everyone.. Every few moths there is something new in KFR.. The statue of mother Tara is soo stunning and surrounding landscape beautifully done.. kechara Forest Retreat is growing and lots people are visiting the holly place ..such a great place..
Holy Mother Tara!
She is the most holy! So much so, Zong Rinpoche said “Tara is so holy that images of her are automatically sacred and blessed, and need not be consecrated.”
I remember a story told by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche that in ancient times, Tibetans use to call upon Mother Tara to save their house when it was on fire. Those time there were no fire brigades. After calling upon Tara, rain will come and the fires will be put out. Funny, but it illustrate the efficacies and the swiftness of Mother Tara. That is why, Mother Tara is the most revered Deity in Tibetan Buddhism.
Holy Mother’s presence in Kechara Forrest Retreat will appeal to many.
Years ago, when KFR was only beginning, Tsem Rinpoche had already conceptualised ‘Tara Walk’ and here she is, gracing the start of the beautiful walking path named after her. I think this breathtaking stone Tara statue is just perfect for the place and blends in so well with the forest as the backdrop. It looks magical.
Tara has such a significance to our lineage and to Kecharians. She is one of Rinpoche’s favorite deities (not that there are any deities that Rinpoche is not fond of). The Cittamni practice is so close and dear to the Tsem Rinpoche lineage.
This great presence of Tara on KFR is the ongoing manifestation of Rinpoche’s plans to fill every nook and cranny of this hallowed land with sacred images so that visitors will be richly blessed any way they turn when on KFR.
Tara is really beautiful and kudos to the KFR team for doing such a wonderful job of landscaping the area around her. It is certainly a nice offering to Tara who is also known to dwell in the forests amongst medicinal plants and herbs.
I am most excited that the Tara statue dots another area of KFR and thus bringing her powerful presence and blessings to KFR. From what I know, Tara along with Lama Tsongkhapa statues are the most prone towards displaying miraculous signs. For some reason, Tara is very quick to action and hence, one of the most popular deities for her swiftness.
Magnificent 9 feet mother Tara statue has arrived at KFR located next to Tara walk entrance. Few Tara puja has done instructed by H.E.Tsem Tulku Rinpoche to KFR team to blessed the location to place the mother Tara. Rinpoche also requesting us when we do the pujas, request mother Tara to bless people who enter into tara walk can find peace and calm their mind from suffering. Blessed the environment and have good weather condition for plants to grows well.In addition request to mother Tara to bless KFR sangha community grow in future and many practitioner will come here to practice and gain attainment.
Welcome! Mother Tara! May every sentient beings who able to see the images of Buddhas in Kechara Forest Retreat are planted with Dharma seed in their minds and free from suffering and its’ causes of sufferings and ultimately find enlightenment!
Magnificent Tara is now gracefully welcoming us to Tara walk. It is such a blessing to be in Kechara Forest Retreat and Buddha Tara is definitely not to miss.
Tara is a female Buddha and proves that women can become enlightened. Tara is know to be swift in assisting. I pray that many come to be blessed here in Kechara Forest Retreat.
Thank You Rinpoche for creating this holy place for all of us.
Here is the link to the red Tara article. Enjoy and be blessed by holy Tara. _( )_
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/heroic-red-tara-suryagupta-lineage.html
And another link to the Kechara Forest Retreat homepage http://retreat.kechara.com
Do visit Kechara Forest Retreat at Bentong to get the blessing from the Holy Mother Tara and all Buddhas to experience the healing of body and mind. Come and connect with the Holy Mother Tara by offering candles and anyone relying upon her will be blessed. I always feel peaceful where the place has Tara Statues around. Thank you to the sponsors to bring this Holy Mother Tara to Kechara Forest Retreat.
It is a privilege for us in Kechara Forest Retreat with the help of the sponsors and many others to invite Mother Tara and built a beautiful surrounding for Her. Most privilege to have our Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche to personally do the consecration puja for Mother Tara statue. Many have came to KFR amd personally felt the healing energy of it and may many others to come and get the healing and blessing of the Buddha.
This beautiful well crafted statue of Mother Tara, is among other beautifully made statues in Kechara Forest Retreat namely Gyenze or Ratna Shugden, Four Armed Manjushri, Dream Manjushri, Vajrapani, Dukkar, Lama Tsongkhapa, Buddha Shakyamuni, Dorje Shugden, Vajrayogini, and more.
Do visit Kechara Forest Retreat and make offerings to all the Buddhas, make your prayer, take pictures. All these statues were iconographically approved of and consecrated by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche.
Beautiful 9ft Mother Tara finally recite in Kechara Forest Retreat to bless the land, to bless the people, animals and all beings here. By just looking at Her I feel great bliss and peace. All the beautiful flowers planted around the Tara are offerings made to mother Tara everyday. The beautiful sound of the waterfall, the sound of birds and trees are the beautiful music offered to the Mother Tara.
How kind H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpohce created Tara Garden and Tara Walk to heal our body and mind who comes to pay homage to Tara. Everyone will be blessed and protected so that their wishes fulfilled. not only that, we also have opportunities to make light offerings to Mother Tara and collect merits.
Kechara Forest Retreat blessed with an addition of holy statue of Mother Tara. This beautiful statue situated at the entrance of Tara Walk which surrounded by beautiful trees, plants and water feature. Anyone who come to Kechara Forest Retreat must visit this place and you are able to make candle offering next to her.
After reading the article above it will remind everyone how Tara so determine to be enlightened in women form and to alleviate sentient beings’ suffering and we can get her blessing when we pay homage to her here.
Seeing this beautiful Buddha image brings forth a sense of calm, peace and joy from within. This is the energy that holy images with accurate iconography can emit to bless and protect sentient beings.
I have had the honor to work in Kechara Forest Retreat from the start to witness the changes and miracles as we welcome every holy image…from Lama Tsongkhapa and Manjushri to Tara. We are truly blessed to be in this blessed space. Truly everything is so different. The moment we pass the main guard house, we somewhat enter a haven and all seem to slow down and a sense of freedom arise.
I believe that the retreats being conducted in our space also adds to the positivity and blessings of our holy images. Kechara Forest Retreat is a center where individuals can learn about and engage in meditation and retreat. We have welcomed almost 200 meditation retreatants and hosted regular monthly retreats in the past 1 1/2 year.
We are now raising funds and other resources like building materials, expertise etc. to build the 2nd phase of our retreat. May the works complete soon and anyone who wish to contribute can contact Kechara House.
Thanks Rinpoche and blog team for the article, the compilation of the videos and photos show the beauty of this stone Tara that gracefully arrived and now blessing Kechara Forest Retreat.
Green Tara is the main Tara form out of 21 Taras. I used to be confused between Green Tara and White Tara, but a Dharma brother told me we can look at the leg to differenciate them.
Both Taras are in sitting posture, but Green Tara have her right leg out the left leg in, indicates that she ever ready to step out to help, representing the swift assistance; while White Tara sitting on full lotus posture and there are eyes on each sore and palm, White Tara has 7 eyes in total on her body, 6 looking at the 6 realms of samsara where all beings are sufferings and 1 eye that can see the future. However, enlighten beings are in same level, thus each posses the same quality. The Green Tara in KFR represents all 21 Taras in one.
May all visitors that have a glance at this beautiful stone Tara be blessed tremendously.
Thank you Rinpoche and students who made this happen!
It’s frustrating when there are different stories and accounts given and when you asked so which one it is, the reply you get is it doesn’t matter which one it is. If that is the case why even bother encouraging people to ask questions and seek the truth.
Technically and personally I do agree that somewhat it does not matter because whichever story is the correct one, what difference will it make. Will it increase my faith? Will it make me more devoted? For some people it actually might hence it can even be considered harmful when we brush off questions that are tough to answer by putting down the people asking it rendering their question unimportant.
Again the issue of gender equality arose even in the pursuit of spiritual attainments. The patriarchal dominance on religions undeniable. Even to become a female Buddha one has to “battle” the gender issue.
Kechara Forest Retreat is blessed to finally invite Mother Tara to Tara Walk.
The Green Tara on Tara walk is magnificent! Just like Manjushri on Manjushri Hill (photo).
So much effort and ideas were put into this project from beginning till end. From circumambulation path to the pond to the candle grotto to the plants! Everything!
Now everyone can come and offer candles or do their meditation walk and even do their prayers right in front of Tara. What I really like is the stone bench where one can sit and just gaze at Her for hours.
A big thank you to the sponsors. And also KFR team who was there every day to ensure that work is done according to what they want. Only the best for Tara! ?
Visitors to Kechara Forest Retreat will definitely enjoy this newest attraction at Tara Walk. How wonderful to have the holy Mother Tara bless all beings in KFR and its surrounding areas.
Many visitors and participants of the Inner Peace Retreat and Inner Reflection Retreat had a great time doing Walking Meditation at Tara Walk previously. With this newest attraction fully completed, they can now extend their walking meditation here to also circumambulate Mother Tara. What a skilful means to do walking meditation while circumambulating Mother Tara!
We can now offer candlelight to Mother Tara and perform prayers to Her here too.
Thank You Rinpoche, KFR team, sponsors and others who had contributed to the manifestation of the 9ft Mother Tara and its surrounding facilities.
I look forward to pay homage to Holy Mother Tara in KFR.
We rejoice greatly and appreciate deeply the hard work of the KFR Team for the beautification of our Kechara Forest Retreat with beautiful, decorative shruberry and flowering plants. Many grateful thanks also to His Eminence, The 25th Tsem Rinpoche who personally selected all these beautiful items to ensure that a most comforting splendid, lush and beautiful environment around our Holy Mother Tara is ensured, both for the sake of the visitors, public participants and Kechara’s practitioners to pay homage to or to recite their prayers comfortably. Mother Tara is swift, works through samsaric conventions to help all sentient beings to overcome suffering. We need only to think of her to have her compassionate heart with us. Because of her strong karmic connections to all sentient beings in samsara, Mother Tara tilts towards us in her great compassion to listen to our prayers, grant us our virtuous wishes and protects us as a mother would for her child. Throughout the World, Mother Tara is famous for granting long life and averting life-threatening situations. There are many inner obstacles to the development of our mind, and these inner obstacles create many outer obstacles. Therefore, for the success of our Dharma practice, in order to actualize the graduated path to enlightenment, we must rely upon a special Diety, like Buddha Mother Tara. All actions of the Buddhas have manifested in this female form of Mother Tara, the Liberator, in order to help all living beings successfully accomplish both temporal and ultimate happiness as taught. Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha.
Beautiful Lady Tara to complete the Tara walk in KFR.
All the hard work by the great team of Kechara to do the stone pedestals, candle grotto, and beautiful landscape and water feature.
Thank you Rinpoche and team, for creating more areas to do our meditation, retreat, or even simple and quick rejuvenation of the body, mind and soul.
I am new to learning about Buddhism and am wondering about different aspects of it, like Tara…to have deities or gods of actions, good or bad,is a new idea to me. While I understand that in actions I am either representing a virtue or evil I am confused why I would find help by offerings or rituals to personified virtues rather than just focusing on doing the good. Is it like hero worship? You focus on what you want to be and since it has a form it is easier than just an idea to copy and emulate and strive for? Why not have as my goal the ultimate good they represent without deifying it and interacting with it rather than the ultimate of it like the cosmic law that makes such and such good and such and such bad? I truly am interested in knowing about this and would love any feedback, direction for study or help on the subject. Thanks in advance.
Dear Cassie,
Welcome to Tsemrinpoche.com and thank you for your questions.
I am confused why I would find help by offerings or rituals to personified virtues rather than just focusing on doing the good.
– Using your concepts, personified virtues (offerings and rituals) and also doing the good (performing virtues) are both good, hence offering or rituals are helpful methods on our spiritual path as they encourage virtues. However, making offering and doing rituals are also the virtue themselves, not just personification. In Buddhism, there is the concept of Merit-making that is similar, but not just restricted to ‘doing the good’ as merely ‘doing the good’ is not enough to achieve the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
Is it like hero worship? You focus on what you want to be and since it has a form it is easier than just an idea to copy and emulate and strive for?
Why not have as my goal the ultimate good they represent without deifying it and interacting with it rather than the ultimate of it like the cosmic law that makes such and such good and such and such bad?
– The ultimate goal of a Buddhist is to become enlightened, just like the Buddha. The physical form, sound and meditation of a specific deity will create a situation in our karma/mind/energies to develop or progress on the spiritual path, despite being a reminder of our potential (Buddha nature) and their achievements (these deity have achieved the state of Buddhahood/ Bodhisattvahood). The deities are there not for the purpose of our ‘worship’ as they are real being who have achieved those stages. Connecting and relying on these deities can help our progress in attaining their state.
These are 2 resources that I hope will help you:
1. Making Offerings to BUDDHA – a Dharma talk at Thailand’s famous Floating Market
Click HERE for the video or see the Youtube window/player at the end of this comment.
Here H.E. Tsem Rinpoche explains about Buddha images & making offerings.
2. Mantras – Holy words of power
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/mantras-holy-words-of-power.html
Here H.E. Tsem Rinpoche explains about the power of mantras and the qualities and forms of Buddhas
Do keep in touch after you have watched the videos and you can leave your comment on the article, or even on the blog chat: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/chat
Regards,
Pastor Shin
Beautiful Mother Tara had arrived in the holy land of Kechara Forest Retreat. It is very auspicious to have Mother Tara here, through the blessing of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche to grace us. She is very famous and popularly known for her ability to save people from different disasters. Mother Tara is also known to be efficacious in removing eight fears, namely : Fear of fire (anger, Fear of imprisonment (avarice), Fear of lions (pride), Fear of floods (attachment), Fear of elephants (wrath), Fear of demons (doubt), Fear of snakes (envy) and lastly, Fear of robbers.
I wish that many people will pay a visit to venerate Mother Tara in Kechara Forest Retreat as well as to get blessing from her.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Wow, in just a few weeks after the arrival of Holy Mother Tara, so many beautiful surprises are build around her eg the water feature, the circumbulation path, the candle offering grotto, the landscape, etc. Thank you to the hardworking KFR team and sponsors for making this happened.
In additional to that, Rinpoche has personally done the consecration puja so that it will blessed whoever come to pay homage to Mother Tara as well as all around her will experience the blessing and healing of body & mind. So blessed!
Thank you Rinpoche for having this vision and making it a reality so that many can experience healing and comfort through Mothers Tara’s compassion. May this be a start of not only the healing of body and mind and protection of all who come but also a place for them to be blessed with Dharma knowledge and realizations along with them after the visit of KFR. With folded hands.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for bringing Mother Tara to Kechara Forest Retreat. We are so blessed to have authentic lineage on Mother Tara to be at Kechara. From now on, we can make our wishes and pray to Tara for inspiration.
Every projects in Kechara Forest Retreat is idea from Rinpoche. Not only that, Rinpoche will also involve in the projects.
I thanks Rinpoche for the kindness to bring dharma to many peoples
With Folded hand,
Freon
Finally Mother Tara arrived at KFR…Its amazing .and so beautiful just by looking at those photos above and when one see it with our own eyes its a blessing.Hope to visit one day.Thank you Rinpoche and to those hard working team who made it possible .May all of us be blessed by Mother Tara .Do hope more people will visit Mother Tara .. at KFR and will have their wishes fulfilled..I now know more of Mother Tara after reading the above article.
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing.
O Mother Tara, thank you, thank you for coming home to KFR I pay homage and bow to you while looking at your sweet gentle motherly glare it instantly melts my forlorn heart and bringing tears to my weary eyes. O how I long to be home and be cradled in your gentle loving arms resting my long, long forgotten restless soul at thy feet. How I long to received your nectar of love and forgets this tedious never ending journey of human life. I pray to you Mother Tara wishing and hoping that this painful journey would ultimately ends.
Dear Sonny,
We are very blessed to have such a holy and wonderful Mother Tara to bless Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) and the people who will be visiting. Tara saves us from The Eight Great Fears and anyone relying upon her will be blessed, be free of the Eight Great Fears on the inner and outer level.
Here are two links to Tara prayers to share with everyone:
1. Praises To The 21 Taras
2. A Song Of Longing For Tara The Infallible
OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA!
Thank you Pastor Shin Tan for taking time to comment and I shall read up the reconmended articles.
As always,
With Respect
Sonny
Stunning Mother Tara now sits majestically at Kechara Forest Retreat. Just to set eyes on Her is so blessed.
The place looks so magnificent with the lush forests. Can’t wait to have an audience with Mother Tara and be mesmerised by Her.
Thank you Rinpoche for creating this holy place for everyone to pay homage and be blessed by Mother Tara. And also the KFR team who work tirelessly to beautify the place as well.
Jill Yam
Tara Walk mus feel very different now. The Mother Tara statue has grown just as the meditation walk or circumambulatory path. As it is with everything about dharma that Rinpoche brings, it is growing with Kechara Forest Retreat.
Didn’t know anything about Mother Tara before, but am slowly learning. Learnt of the arising of Tara form Avalokiteshvara’s tears first from which I learnt that there are 2 Taras. Then I learnt that there are 21 emanations. There’s still so much to learn.
From the photos, it can be seen that the offerings of the landscape is indeed very beautiful. The bench facing Mother Tara is very thoughtful. Even the grotto completes the whole place both in terms of offerings and convenience.
May the KFR team always be blessed for the circumabulatory path.
Thank you, Rinpoche for bringing Mother Tara to bless all who come to Kechara Forest Retreat.
May Rinpoche have stable health and long life. May Rinpoche’s wishes manifest swiftly and smoothly.
Rejoice to have this 9-ft stone Tara statue at Tara Walk , Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR). This statue is really beautiful and dignified statue.
By following Rinpoche’s teaching, I only came know who is Tara. What we can see here , Rinpoche is having the qualities same like Tara eg. to alleviate sentient beings’ sufferings. Rinpoche created the opportunity to have this Tara statue in KFR and wish that everyone who comes to pay homage to Tara to experience healing of the body and mind, and for them to come away blessed and protected and their wishes fulfilled.
Thank you Rinpoche for your compassion, kindness and always care to us. Besides, also thankful to the KFR team for their hard work to beautify the area surrounding the Tara.
What a beautiful place Rinpoche had created for us to make connection with Mother Tara. It was well thought out and well designed. It suits the theme of kechara forest Retreat perfectly. May anyone who visit the place be blessed and protected by mother Tara. May anyone who go to Tara walk or circumambulation around her be blessed by her.
Wow! New attraction in Kechara Forest Retreat, thank you to all the sponsors and hardworking people who fund raised, conceptualised and built this beautiful Mother Tara.
Though I don’t have a strong affinity with her, I still feel very calm and peace when gazing upon Her. Her energy of kindness is really out of this world. I have quite a few friends who said they have strong affinity with Her, and you should visit this Mother Tara in KFR because She has been consecrated by Tsem Rinpoche. It is even more blessed.
Amazingly beautiful. The Green Tara and environment are so stunning. Thank you Rinpoche and the KFR team who make Green Tara manifest here in Kechara Forest Retreat. I watched the video. The environment is peaceful, and tranquil. I feel it is so much suitable to do meditation retreat here. May Tara blesses all who come to see her and deepen their spiritual practice.
Mother Tara statue is so stunning. Thank you Rinpoche for creating stone Tara Walk so it can benefit people when then do circumambulation.
The surrounding area is beautiful and serene. I am sure people who visit can generate a calm mind. Wish I can be there to see Tara very soon.
Mother Tara is in Kechara Forest Retreat, blessing and protecting all who come to KFR, and blessing and protecting the environment! Beautiful Mother Tara sitting with one foot out, so statuesque and majestic, amidst such lush and beautiful surroundings, gazing compassionately on all. i love the stone pedestal on which Mother Tara is resting, and the stone grotto next to her.
Last Saturday morning,the last morning of our group Tsongkhapa Retreat, I made a pilgrimage to Mother Tara. I paid homage,made prayers, chanted her mantra and circumambulated her statue. Then I walked slowly down the tranquil beautiful Tara Walk, and I continued to chant Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha all the way and back .
What a lovely blessed morning it was for me!
How blessed we are to have Mother Tara in Kechara Forest Retreat. Thank you Rinpoche for having Mother Tara there for us.
What Rinpoche says always come to fulfilment. This stretch of walking path in Kechara Forest Retreat had been named as Tara Walk by Rinpoche from the very beginning and had been used by our Inner Peace programs for the participants walking meditation exercise. At that time there was a very small Tara statue and Rinpoche said that the smaller version of Tara will create the cause for a huge Tara to appear.
It did and the surroundings created is just so tranquil and serene and from now on all walking meditation along Tara walk will be even more impactful to rest the tired and confused samsaric minds.
May there be much peace from Rinpoche’s and Tara’s blessings.
Wow Holy mother Tara looks divine and the surrounding truly serene and beautiful. This is definitely one of my favourite place in Kechara Forest Retreat now.
Ever since day one Rinpoche has mentioned what Rinpoche envisioned and wanted to build on this holy Kechara Forest Retreat Land and one of the must haves was no doubt the glorious saviour Mother Tara. Her presence would bestow tremendous blessings of healing, comfort, swiftness in assistance, compassion, freedom of the eight fears and so much more. Now it is finally here!
To me Mother Tara is the essence of all female divinity and energies. I used to be of Catholic faith and when Rinpoche introduced me to Mother Tara, Rinpoche told me she is like Mother Mary, that immediately got me. I guess it is uncommon to hear that ‘females’ are able to become a supreme enlightened being equal to its male counterparts and this equality that is emphasised in Tibetan Buddhism is what attracted me as it is the only religion that praises, appreciates and acknowledges the supreme female energy. Perhaps you may call me a feminist, and perhaps I am, but living in a male dominated planet, it is no surprise and high time to strike a balance, and as it is Tara manifested specifically to demolish the ignorant thought of only a male form could become a fully enlightened being.
I definitely believe that she emanated as Mother Mary, in a different time, a different place to suite different mind sets, and why not… the enlightened Buddhas have no bounds and limits as to what they can do to benefit sentient beings for they are Buddhas.
Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualising this beautiful sacred shrine. Thank you to all the meritorious sponsors who contributed to this holy sacred space to benefit so many being. Last but not least thank you to JP, Julia, Pastor Henry, the KFR team and all those who were involve in making this holy Mother Tara shrine a reality for many to pay homage, get healed, take refuge, find solace and more.
Thank you for the beautiful breath taking pictures Pastor Seng Piow and Pastor Jean Ai for putting it all together. Even for those who are not here in KFR and may not have the opportunity to visit her, through this blog post, tremendous waves of blessings is bestowed.
While watching the video, I couldn’t help but noticed how windy it was and all the trees were swaying, and Tara’s energy is represented by the wind, so I don’t doubt that it is Mother Tara showing us she is around, happy and pleased and blessing every single being around, especially since Rinpche has invoked upon her to reside here on KFR 🙂
Thank you again for this splendid post. May many beings and people come for pilgrimage here to seek Tara’s compassionate blessing and be transform into being just like Tara the savouriest!
Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha
Just in case anyone wanted to know and for easy reference, these are the 8 fears that Holy Mother Tara protects and bless us to be released from:
1. Fear of water or drowning representing attachment
2. Fear of thieves representing false views
3. Fear of lions representing pride
4. Fear of snakes or serpents representing jealousy
5. Fear of fire representing anger
6. Fear of spirits or flesh-eating demons representing doubt
7. Fear of captivity or imprisonment representing greed
8. Fear of elephants representing ignorance
Very exciting to see Rinpoche’s vision for Tara Walk manifesting. It’s been over 5 years since I first heard Rinpoche teach the practice of walking meditation; and this is part and parcel of what Tara Walk is going to be. I also enjoyed the two origin stories of Tara although I am partial to the one of Dawa Lhamo. Rinpoche has always taught that both genders are equal and this story encapsulates this concept perfectly.
Looking forward to more beautiful pictures of Tara and Kechara Forest Retreat. Everyone I’ve shown these pictures to thinks they are stunning as well!