Tara's Enlightened Activity: Commentary on The Praises to the Twenty-one Taras [Paperback]

Khenchen Palden Sherab (Author), Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2007

This book of practical advice for meditation on the female deity Tara emphasizes embodying the qualities of courage and lovingkindess. Both male and female students of Buddhism use these visualization practices to evoke in themselves the qualities that Tara symbolizes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This wonderful book...includes lots of advice on how to do the Tara practices by two exemplary Nyingma teachers. -- Mandala Magazine

[The authors] have built a reputation for their vast knowledge...and their pragmatic and lucid style of teaching. -- Buddhadharma Magazine

From the Back Cover

The female Buddhist deity Tara is an object of devotional worship and meditative practice for Tibetan Buddhists everywhere, both male and female. She clears away fears, overpowers negative emotions, and enables all beings to reach enlightenment. She has special resonance as a source of female spiritual wisdom. Tibetans of all schools and traditions recite the verses on which this commentary is based. Focused, contemplative meditation in relation to the myriad aspects of Tara work to transform the practitioner's mind into those enlightened qualities and mind states that Tara represents.

Sought-after teachers throughout the West for over twenty-five years, Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and his brother Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche illuminate the practice of The Praises to the Twenty-one Taras with humor and wisdom. The explanations cover progressively more subtle levels, from basic Buddhism through the Inner Tantras, and culminate with Dzogchen. Interspersed with lively stories about Tara, the authors explain the physical conditions for practice, the outer and inner meanings of the text itself, and give solutions for problems that may emerge as practice progresses.

"[Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche] have built a reputation for their vast knowledge of the Nyingma tradition and their pragmatic and lucid style of teaching."--Buddhadharma Magazine.

Khenchen Palden Sherab and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal are founders and directors of Padmasambhava Buddhist Center, based at Padma Samye Ling in western upstate New York. New York. PBC includes over twenty centers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Russia, as well as retreat centers and monastic institutions in the United States and India.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications; 1 edition (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559392878
• ISBN-13: 978-1559392877
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #613,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a thourough commentary on Tara and the 21 Taras, May 18, 2008

By 

jason greenberg "Dorje Bjork Macross" (Soquel, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tara's Enlightened Activity: Commentary on The Praises to the Twenty-one Taras (Paperback)

Anyone interested in Tara, Buddhism, Vajrayana, Goddesses, Dzogchen, the Bodhisattva path, or mysticism could benefit from this beautiful and clear commentary on the praises to the 21 taras. Tibetan Buddhists in the Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug sects can also greatly benefit from this book as the root text of the 21 praises is the same in all the traditions and the commentary is, well, enlightening. OM TARE TUTARE TURE SVAHA

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Companion to the Practice of the 21 Taras, February 17, 2010

By 

Jenny Holland - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tara's Enlightened Activity: Commentary on The Praises to the Twenty-one Taras (Paperback)

Tara's Enlightened Activity is an open, consistently clear and friendly guide to the practice of the 21 Taras. The most phenomenal aspect of this commentary is that it's useful to every level of practitioner.
Seriously, if you're a total beginner, this is for you. Equally true, if you're a Tara devotee - this is for you!
For example, I'm a Tara practitioner, and have been for many years. Love her. I had just finished taking (yet another fantastic) class on the practice of the 21 Taras when I read this book. The author's consistently detailed and specific descriptions of the Word, Inner, Secret and Ultimate meaning of each of the Taras gave me an overarching framework in which to place my experiences.
Even more impressive was that the book taught me to focus on the more subtle aspects of the practice, and I immediately felt the benefit.
As for the beginner side, I lent this book and a thanka to a friend who had never practiced Vajrayana before and she was immediately able to feel a connection with Tara.
The authors make the entire practice accessible and understandable. They are truly kind teachers from afar.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars praises to TARA, February 8, 2011

By 

padma chojal - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tara's Enlightened Activity: Commentary on The Praises to the Twenty-one Taras (Paperback)

Well written with a very informative history of Tara , then a very detailed description of the practices associated with the Nyingma Buddhist practice of the 21 Taras. Beautiful illustrations adorn the pages as well.