31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful introduction to Tara, May 13, 2005
This review is from: The Tara Box: Rituals for Protection and Healing from the Female Buddha (Hardcover)
This boxed set is a perfect gift for friends (or yourself!) interested in Buddhist practice, especially for beginners. It concerns itself with Tara, a female buddha particularly associated with protection, healing, and long life. Along with Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion, Tara is the favorite buddha of Tibetans, and many if not most Tibetan Buddhists do her practice on a daily basis.
The boxed set comes with a small shrine-like enclosure (the box itself), a white statue of Tara, and a book explaining how to do the meditations associated with Tara. The box and statue are very nice to put on your shrine, or someplace special, but the real treasure is the book, which contains excellent explanations about Tara and how to receive benefits from doing Tara practice, written in a style that will be easily accessible to people who know little or nothing about Buddhism, but also with a level of detail that will please students already familiar with basic Buddhist practice.
The book was written by Gehlek Rinpoche, an incarnate lama (teacher), who himself specializes in Tara practice and received very special instructions on the practice from senior teachers in Tibet. Gehlek Rinpoche has a wonderful sense of humor, and is a kind and warm-hearted man. He is also an extraordinary practitioner and teacher. I had the good fortune to experience a Tara meditation with him once, a year ago, and it was a remarkable experience. He certainly embodies everything he writes about.
The book describes who Tara is, why the practice is beneficial, how anyone (even non-Buddhists or members of other religions) can do this practice and benefit from it, etc. It then contains a short text for th meditation itself, the mantra of Tara (and explanation), and how to cleanse the body of oneself and others using meditations on the five elements (earth, water, etc.). It also contains the text of the beautiful prayer of supplication called "Praise to the 21 Taras".
I would strongly recommend this boxed set!
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely gorgeous product, August 9, 2005
This review is from: The Tara Box: Rituals for Protection and Healing from the Female Buddha (Hardcover)
The book is an enjoyable read about the history of Tara and includes a number of devotions that can be used. There is also advice on successful meditation. The box is gorgeous and can be used as a small shrine. The statue of Tara that is included has a lot of beautiful detail.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tara Box, February 7, 2010
If I was ever to be stranded on a deserted island, this is the one "book" I would like to have with me. This little 98 page book contains the essence of Tara practice, and it is a little gem. The statue is very detailed too. A nice little travel companion.
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