Tara (Buddhist Deity and Contemporary Spiritual Teacher).

Overview

Tara (Sanskrit: तारा, tārā; Standard Tibetan: སྒྲོལ་མ, dölma) is an important female figure in Buddhism, especially within Vajrayana and Mahayana traditions. Known as Ārya Tārā (Noble Tara) and Jetsün Dölma (Venerable Mother of Liberation), she is regarded as a bodhisattva and, in Vajrayana, as a fully realized Buddha who hears the cries of sentient beings and rescues them from worldly and spiritual danger. The most widely practiced forms are Green Tara, the swift‑acting saviouress, and White Tara, associated with longevity and compassion. In contemporary culture, the name Tara is also associated with Tara Brach, a Western psychologist, meditation teacher, and author who presents Buddhist teachings in an accessible, psychologically informed manner.

History / Background

The origins of Tara trace back to early Indian Buddhist texts, where she appears as a compassionate bodhisattva. Over centuries, the figure was incorporated into Tibetan Buddhism, where she became a central yidam (meditational deity). Key Vajrayana texts such as the Tantra Which Is the Source for All the Functions of Tara and the Tara’s Fundamental Ritual Text elaborate her qualities and practices. The Green Tara form, also called “blue‑green” (Skt. Samayatara), is especially prominent, emanating twenty‑one distinct Taras, each with specialized attributes. The practice of reciting the “Praises to the Twenty‑One Taras” is a common devotional activity in Tibetan communities.

In the West, Tara Brach (Ph.D.) emerged as a leading voice blending Insight Meditation (Vipassana) with Western psychotherapy. She founded the Insight Meditation Community of Washington and co‑founded the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Program, teaching a global audience through books, podcasts, and online courses.

Importance and Impact

Within Buddhist practice, Tara serves as a source of swift protection, compassion, and guidance. Practitioners invoke her mantra (om tare tuttare ture svaha) to alleviate fear, illness, and obstacles, and to cultivate inner bravery. Her iconography—often depicted seated in a posture of readiness, one foot on the ground—symbolizes her willingness to act for sentient beings.

Beyond the religious sphere, Tara Brach’s work has popularized mindfulness and compassionate living in secular contexts. Her books such as Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion have sold internationally, and her weekly meditation sessions draw thousands of participants, contributing to the broader mindfulness movement.

Why It Matters

For Buddhist practitioners, Tara offers a potent embodiment of compassionate action, providing a focal point for meditation, ritual, and ethical inspiration. For modern audiences, Tara Brach’s teachings demonstrate how ancient contemplative wisdom can address contemporary psychological challenges, fostering resilience, empathy, and social engagement.

Common Misconceptions

• Misconception: Tara is only a Hindu goddess.
  Correction: While the name appears in Hindu texts, in Buddhism Tara is a distinct female Buddha or bodhisattva, central to Vajrayana practice.
• Misconception: All forms of Tara are identical.
  Correction: Tara manifests in many colors and functions; Green Tara emphasizes swift rescue, while White Tara emphasizes longevity and healing, among other specialized forms.