Assume a comfortable, balanced posture.
Do three Cleansing Breaths—Deep & Calm
Refuge Chant
I take refuge in the Buddha, Perfect Teacher
I take refuge in the Dharma, Perfect Teaching
I take refuge in the Sangha, Perfect Life
I take refuge in Noble Tara,
Embodiment of Awakened Wisdom and Love
Establishment of Motivation
By the power and truth of my practice,
May all sentient beings enjoy happiness and the causes of happiness,
Be free from suffering and the causes of suffering,
May they never be separated from the immeasurable joy that transcends all suffering,
And may they dwell in the great equanimity that is free from attachment, aversion, and ignorance.
Main Practice
In the sky in front of you, visualize Tara’s seed syllable Tam (Tibetan or English) or a ball of light—blue green and shining brilliantly—resting on an open lotus flower. Start repeating her mantra, Om Taré Tu Taré Turé So Ha, andthe Tam is instantly transformed into Green Tara sitting on that same lotus. She is blue-green, the color of a mountain lake. She is wearing silks and jewels and is naked from the waist up symbolizing her complete freedom. On her head is a crown with the five jewels showing her realization of the five wisdoms and her complete enlightenment. Her right foot is slightly extended, because she is ready to leap to the aid of anyone in need. Her right hand is opened out on her right knee, in the gesture of generosity. Her left hand holds the stem of a lotus flower, the symbol of enlightenment, which is blossoming next to her left ear. It is in the mudra of protection—especially protection from all our fears. She is smiling radiantly, symbolizing her realization of infinite love & compassion.
Keep repeating her mantra, Om Taré Tu Taré Turé So Ha, and visualizing her in front of you. Now send out the wish that she enter into your visualized image, and feel that her enlightened wisdom is now truly present in front of you inseparable from the wisdom of all your teachers and benefactors. Really feel her loving presence.
Keep repeating her mantra, Om Taré Tu Taré Turé So Ha, and visualizing her in front of you as you feel her boundless wisdom, power, and love.
Ask her for her love, her guidance, her cleansing wisdom, and whatever else you may need. Visualize that from her outstretched right hand comes a river of nectar/amrita, liquid light, turquoise-green in color that flows into you. The river of amrita bathes you in love, removes all fear, gives protection, cleanses obstacles and obscurations, and transmits enlightened awareness into you and all beings. Continue to repeat her mantra Om Taré Tu Taré Turé So Ha as you feel yourself receiving her blessings.
Now ask her to merge with you, and imagine that she dissolves into light and melts into you. Think that your mind is now inseparable with Tara’s mind and with all enlightened mind everywhere–luminous emptiness shining with love.
See yourself in the form of Tara, appearing as a body made of light; light inseparable from emptiness, emptiness inseparable from form. Feel the vast boundless expanse of her enlightened mind, and your body overflowing with her love and vitality.
Now imagine that there is a blue-green Tam or a ball of light in your heart shining brilliantly. From there light radiates out to all beings, sending love, joy, compassion, kindness, strength, equanimity, and all the qualities of enlightened mind.
Keep repeating her mantra Om Taré Tu Taré Turé So Ha over and over again, visualizing yourself as Tara, resting in the bliss of her enlightened awareness, and sending out the light of joy and love to all beings.
Now imagine that the Tam or the ball of light gets smaller and smaller until there is only a tiny drop of turquoise-green light left in your heart area, radiating brilliantly.
Finally, imagine the drop dissolves into space like a rainbow disappearing into the sky, and just rest effortlessly in pure emptiness suffused with love: the true nature of your mind.
Dedication of Merit
Whatever goodness my practice has brought I dedicate to all those who suffer
Whatever insight and joy I have found, I willingly share with all beings
Whatever merit my practice has generated, may it be multiplied to infinity
for the happiness and welfare of all
James William Coleman 