White Tara

White Tara is, strictly speaking, not one of the 21 Taras. Like Green Tara, she arose from the tears of Avalokiteshvara, Lord of Compassion, but she is rather different. More associated with spiritual life and spiritual practice, she is perhaps more "enigmatic" and harder to connect with than Green Tara whose activity is direct, dynamic and more engaged in worldly life. White Tara bestows long life. Sometimes known as "Tara who cheats death", there are many stories of how she has prolonged life expectancy, and it is said that those who fully realise White Tara never die. Whether this refers to maintaining life in the one physical body, or attaining a level of realisation that no longer identifies with the physical self and so is free from the suffering within the cycle of birth and death, I'm not entirely sure. Be nice to find out!

Although White Tara is distinct from Green Tara, within the pantheon of 21 Taras, we find Tara protecting from Untimely Death. She is white in colour, and holds a vase of longevity: she protects and maintains a spiritual life and will establish the right conditions - be they health, prosperity, a peaceful environment - for spiritual practice and activity.

Back in January, I heard that His Holiness Karmapa had issued a statement saying that in 2/3 years' time, there would be obstacles to his life - and to the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. To help avert these obstacles, we were asked to protect and save life wherever possible, and to avoid killing. This helps to establish causes and conditions for long life. In practical terms, we were asked to eat as vegetarian a diet as we could.

It was whilst doing a session of White Tara prayers soon afterwards that I had a strong wish to do a month's White Tara practice for Karmapa. Having asked Ringu Tulku's permission and received his blessing, I began on 1st February.... and so am just over half way through. Several days into the retreat, I realised Tara protecting from Untimely Death was relevant to this practice and that, by "merging" them, the blessing of both increased. A couple of days ago, the inspiration to place this 18th Tara came: I will take her to Holy Island, Arran, where a retreat house dedicated to Karmapa has already been built and which awaits the time for him to come and do retreat. Karmapa himself has expressed a particular wish to do this.

Meanwhile, tonight I start a 7-day period of silence and solitude: intensifying the practice and undoubtedly bringing to the surface some fears and demons for liberation! Amongst other things, I have met a rather wonderful man who - through simply being who he is and perhaps because of our connection - is bringing me right up against a "growing edge", and represents somehow an opportunity to go beyond old patterns of denial, of misery in relationships, of non-commitment. It's painful to meet the swirling vortex of these patterns and I'm grateful for this opportunity to release the negative energy locked in them and open to the light. Not sure how much progress I'll make, but White Tara willing.....

That's it for now.