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 (in Tibetan or English) or a glowing ball of light— white like a crystal and shinning brilliantly—resting on an open lotus flower. Start repeating her mantra, Om Taré Tu Taré Turé So Ha, and the Tam is instantly transformed into White Tara sitting on that same lotus. She is a luminous white like the glow of the moon. Her expression is peaceful and charming. She is naked from the waist up symbolizing her complete freedom. She sits in the lotus position with her legs crossed reflecting her unmovable repose in enlightened mind. She has seven eyes of timeless awareness, three in her head and one in each of her hands and feet. Half of her curly dark hair is bound in a topknot and the rest flows down her shoulders, and she is arrayed in silks and jewels. Her right hand is opened out on her right knee, in the gesture of generosity. Her left hand is in the mudra of protections and holds the stem of a lotus flower, the symbol of enlightenment, which is blossoming next to her left ear. She is smiling radiantly, symbolizing her realization of infinite love & compassion, and she is radiating out multicolored light in all directions.
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.
Now visualize that from her outstretched right hand comes a river of nectar/amrita, liquid light, brilliantly white in color that flows into you. The river of amrita baths you in love–filling you with strength, vitality, and health, removing all fear, giving protection, purifying all your twisted negative karma, and transmitting enlightened awareness into you and all beings.
Continue to repeat her mantra Om Taré Tu Taré Turé So Ha over and over again.
Feel yourself receiving her blessings. Visualize the white light pouring out of her, filling you with love, vitality, enlightened wisdom.
Imagine that all your suffering is being washed away, and you are filled with love, vitality and enlightened wisdom.
Now ask Tara to merge with you, and imagine that she agrees and 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 suffused 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.
In your heart area is a white Tam shining brilliantly. From this seed syllable light radiates out to all beings, sending love, joy, compassion, kindness, strength, equanimity, and all qualities of enlightened mind.
Keep repeating her mantra Om Turé 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 gradually dissolve the visualization until only the Tam remains. Then imaging that the Tam dissolves and there is only a tiny drop of white light left in your heart area, radiating brilliantly: the essence of your true nature.
Finally, imagine the drop dissolves into space like a rainbow disappearing into the sky, and just rest effortlessly in pure emptiness: the true nature of you 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 