Daylong Tara Retreat
Saturday, December 19 from 9 AM - 4 PM

In Person at Wisdom River Meditation Center & Online via Zoom
Led by Lama Döndrup Drölma

The retreat can both stand alone or be experienced as the culmination of the 4-article series in Lion’s Roar (see below). In this retreat, I will present and deepen the framework of the 21-Taras that I presented in the article series. In the article series, I offered explanations, and in the retreat, I will put those into the context of the practice and then teach the Twenty-One Praises of Tara practice.

Article 1: She Who Liberates

Article 2: She Who Removes All Fear

Article 3: The Unconquerable Heroine

Article 4: Coming Soon!

The Twenty-One Taras: A Living Path of Awakening

For centuries, practitioners have turned to Tara for protection, healing, guidance, and the swift removal of obstacles. Through the practice of the Twenty-One Praises of Tara, we encounter twenty-one distinct manifestations of her awakened activity, each expressing a unique dimension of wisdom, compassion, courage, and liberating care. Together, the Twenty-One Taras form a living map of transformation, revealing the many ways awakening responds to the challenges of our lives and our world.

This daylong retreat is an invitation not simply to learn about the Twenty-One Taras, but to enter their practice. Participants will receive the reading transmission (lung) and practical instructions (tri) for the Twenty-One Praises of Tara and will engage in the practice throughout the day. As we explore each Tara’s symbolism, enlightened activity, and inner meaning, we will discover how these twenty-one expressions of awakening serve not only as objects of devotion but also as mirrors of the wisdom and compassion we are cultivating on the path.

Whether you are encountering Tara practice for the first time or deepening an existing connection, this retreat offers a welcoming and experiential introduction to one of Vajrayana Buddhism’s most beloved practices. Through teachings, meditation, visualization, mantra recitation, and the practice of the Twenty-One Praises, participants will have the opportunity to establish a living connection with the Twenty-One Taras, allowing their awakened qualities to inform meditation, inspire compassionate action, and become an enduring support on the path.

No prerequisites, though previous meditation experience is helpful.