Tārā
is a female Bodhisattva typically associated with Tibetan
Buddhism. She is one of the more popular figures in the
Tibetan pantheon of deities. Tārā (pronounced tah' rah),
whose name in means “Star”, originated in Indian Hinduism as
the Mother Creator, and her many representations spread from
Ireland to Indonesia under many different names. As White
Tara, she rose from a lotus blooming in the lake that formed
from the first tear of compassion of great bodhisattva
Avalokiteswara (whose human incarnation is the Dalai Lama),
and is considered his consort
The White Tārā is the
personification of compassion, long life, healing and
serenity. The followers of the White Tārā believe that the
gift of longevity is granted for the practice of compassion
and service to others.
Humanity Healing is proud to
share with you this video about the White Tārā with her
sacred meditation mantra.
Punya: Merit (Sanskrit punya, Pali puñña) is a concept in
Buddhism, and particularly in Theravada Buddhism. Merit can
be gained in a number of ways. It is merit that accumulates
as a result of good deeds, acts or thoughts and that carries
over to later in life or to a person's next birth. Such
merit contributes to a person's growth towards liberation.
In addition, one can "transfer" the merit of an act they
have performed to a deceased loved one in order to diminish
the deceased's suffering in their new existence.
Lay devotees can make merit by performing these seven more
specific acts:
honoring others (apacayana-maya)
offering Seva (selfless service) (veyyavacca-maya)
involving others in good deeds (pattidana-maya)
being thankful for others' good deeds (pattanumodana-maya)
listening to Teachings (dhammassavana-maya)
instructing others in the Teachings (dhammadesana-maya)
straightening ones own views in accord with the Teachings (ditthujukamma)
Swahhah -Svaha: Pronounced Swaha; Svaha (Sanskrit). A customary
exclamation meaning "May it be perpetuated" or rather, "so
be it".
In Hinduism and Buddhism, "Svaha" (Sanskrit: sva-ha-) is a
component in Buddhist mantras used roughly equivalent to the
word amen in Christian prayers - a holy word used to
indicate finality in prayers or holy sayings. The word has
long since lost any Hindu connotation. Translations could
include "let it be," "hail," "verily," "I prostrate myself,"
"how wonderful!" etc.
(Sanskrit, svaha) is a common ending phrase meaning "so be
it", "may it endure", or "may good arise from this!"
svaha is the Sanskrit word for homage or proclamation
… usually svaha is a kind of seal. If the mantra starts with
om, om aside from any textual meaning generates a formless
field of power, to be shaped by the mantra clauses that
follow, the svaha seals it and completes it.
Within the Shatapatha Brahmana (I.1), it is stated that
svaha is the feminine form of Agni, or more correctly the
opposite polarity in the Vedic ritual. This is why all Vedic
fire rituals often contain the word svaha as the offering is
being made. This is certainly true with the Agni hotra
ceremony. Svaha personified is the wife of Agni, the fire
ritual cannot be complete without this male/female polarity
being present. She also represents the spoken offering as
well as the ashes, the transformed matter at the end of the
fire ceremony. Again she is shakti of Agni on the inner and
the outer level of our being.
The word svaha comes from two words: 1) ‘su’ meaning to move
or go, to press out, but more correctly to enliven, impel,
or generate. 2) ‘aha’ meaning to say, speak. Together they
enliven speech, generate through speech, or are using speech
to impel. It can also mean to press out through speech. What
is important is that the Tantric concept of male/female
energies is present.
Svaha. "Hail" (greeting or honoring).
For a better understanding of
the meditation, please download and read this free document
outlining the meaning and message of the White Tārā Mantra.
Depending on which browser you are using, Right Click on the
Tara thumbnail below / Save Link As or Right Click / Save
Target As; to your hard drive.
