How to Worship Green Tara

In Tibetan Buddhism, Green Tara is a Bodhisattva of Compassion. Known as she who saves, Tara's green aspect is associated with the Bodhisattva, Amoghasiddhi Buddha who is also green, with the air element, which is green and Green Tara is the forest goddess. There are seven elements involved in the worship (Puja) of Green Tara.

Things You'll Need

• Image/statue of Green Tara
• Altar for the goddess
• Five bowls
• Fresh water
• Fragrant flowers, incense and perfume
• Sweets
• Invitational bell

Instructions

Worshiping Green Tara

1. 

   Display your reverence, humility and willingness to obey. Begin worship by bowing down before the Goddess. As you prepare to make offerings, repeat, "Green Tara, Mother of Compassion, I hold the Divine within me and honor your teachings, so, as I pray for your blessings, I make an offering."

2. 

   Offer the refreshing water, fragrances, sweet food and drink. With each offering, ring the bell three times and chant, "Ram Yam Kam OM Ah Hung."

3. 

   Confess the ways that you have fallen short of courage, goodness and compassion. Express confidence that Green Tara will grant you greater strength and love in the coming day.

4. 

   Express joy in the compassion and enlightenment of others. By rejoicing in the goodness and good fortune of others, you discover the seed of compassion within you and you encounter envy that blocks compassion. Express rejoicing freely and creatively.

5. 

   Exhort Green Tara to turn the Wheel of Dharma, which releases all beings from suffering and ignorance, for yourself and for all sentient beings.

6. 

   Pray the Green Tara will remain with the world so long as there are beings who suffer.

7. 

   Perform the Dedication of the Merit, in which you share all the merits and blessings earned by all living beings. A sample of the Dedication of the Merit: "May every living being, Our minds as one and radiant with light, Share the fruits of peace, With hearts of goodness, luminous and bright." (The entire Dedication is found in Additional Resources)

8. 

   Close with "Namaste" (blessings) repeated three times.

Resources

• Green Tara Mantra Audio (Real and MP3)
• Green Tara Initiation
• Green Tara Puja
• Pema Chodron The Practice of Rejoicing
• Dedication of the Merit