Green Tara, The Eightfold Profound Essence mp4 & mp3

Two teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche (2006 and 2008)

© 2006 and 2008 Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

Format: mp4 video & mp3 audio download (links will be sent within 5 business days); 2006 teaching is also available on DVD

2006: Running Time: 1 hour 29 min; Recorded at Rinpoche's residence, Fern Flat, Aptos, CA; June 2006

2008: Running Time: 1 hour 26 min; Recorded at Open Secret Bookstore, San Rafael, CA, June 5, 2008

Language: Rinpoche teaches in English

“Green Tara embodies the activity of all buddhas. Her special quality is protection from the eight terrors (drolma jigpa gyay gyob). After his death, Dudjom Lingpa appeared to his son, Ter-say Dorje Dradul, in a vision and gave him this Green Tara practice. It is extremely profound and powerful, yet very easy to practice and accumulate. It offers protection from all of our fear and suffering, whether immediate or long-term. Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche always did this practice and very often gave it to his monastery and drubdra as well as to many other students, so I thought it would be very special for us to do.” – Lama Tharchin Rinpoche

These two teachings by Lama Tharchin Rinpoche cover a short Green Tara practice: The Eightfold Profound Essence: A Concise Ritual of the Tara Mandala, from Dudjom Lingpa’s treasure cycle The Treasury of the Expanse of the Sky of Dharmata (Chönyi Namkhai Longdzö). Dudjom Lingpa gave this practice after his passing. He appeared in his wisdom illusory body to his son, Tersé Dorje Dradul, and told him to write it down for daily practice and for accumulating recitations. Rinpoche received it through two lines: from Dorje Dradul through Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche, and through the main Dudjom Lingpa lineage from Gyurme Ngedön Wangpo to Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche.

The two teachings complement each other:

• 2006 (Heart Teachings): Rinpoche goes through the text word by word, from the visualization of Tara as the inseparability of space and awareness, through prostration, refuge, offering and supplication, to the dedication. He also reads and explains the colophon and describes his lineage. He doesn’t give the oral transmission here, explaining that a lung should pass in person from teacher to student.
• 2008 (Open Secret Bookstore, San Rafael): given a few weeks after the Summit Fire swept the mountains around Pema Ösel Ling. Rinpoche gives the lung in person, chanting the practice with its melody. He explains how to recite the repeating supplication, and teaches on why this practice heals and protects: wisdom is the one remedy for outer, inner and secret suffering, and Tara is the activity of all the buddhas.

Taken together, the first explains what the practice says and the second shows how to bring it alive.

Text: The Eightfold Profound Essence: A Concise Ritual of the Tara Mandala from "The Treasury of the Sky-Expanse of Reality" by Dudjom Lingpa (Bero Jeydren Publications, March 2006; translations by Ngawang Zangpo or Dechen Yeshe Wangmo). Available to download in letter format or in print through Dharma Treasures.

Related: LTR reciting the prayer on mp3 

Sent to subscribers: June 2006