Khyentse Foundation and Siddhartha’s Intent, Buddhist organizations founded by the renowned Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, have published a special, freely downloadable ebook version of the sacred sadhana Accumulating Wisdom and Merit Through the Mandala of Arya Tara, adapted into English by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche from the terma discovered by the terton Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, and accompanied by illustrations by artist Emily Avery Crow.
The free ebook is available in two formats. Click here to download the Tara sadhana in EPUB format or as a PDF file. The book can also be downloaded from Khyentse Foundation’s online altar to Tara.
“My sole reason for adapting this sadhana [Skt. a ritual practice of actualization] is to make it easier for English-speaking practitioners to chant and to give them a more vivid sense of the ceremony,” Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche shared. “I have no doubt that in the process, many vast and profound elements of the original text have been lost. But in this day and age, as the choice seems to be either to seek out one supreme practitioner who can practice perfectly, or to encourage many hundreds, even thousands of less experienced practitioners to aspire to practice this sadhana, I have chosen the latter.”
Khyentse Foundation was established by Rinpoche in 2001 with the aim of promoting the Buddha’s teaching and supporting all traditions of Buddhist study and practice. The foundation’s activities include major text preservation and translation projects, support for monastic colleges in Asia, a worldwide scholarship and awards program, the development of Buddhist studies at major universities, training and development for Buddhist teachers, and developing new modes of Dharma-inspired education for children. Founded in 1986, Siddhartha’s Intent is an international collective of Buddhist groups supporting Rinpoche’s Buddhadharma activities by organizing teachings and retreats, distributing and archiving recorded teachings, transcribing, editing, and translating manuscripts and practice texts, with a global community committed to continual study and practice.
Khyentse Foundation has also announced downloadable English-language melodies by Australian vocalist Alison Wells, “Praises to the 21 Taras,” which have been shared on SoundCloud by Siddhartha’s Intent.
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche. Image courtesy of Khyentse Foundation“Those of you who are used to the traditional Tibetan style of chanting will, I am sure, find it hard to adjust to a different style. But I would like to ask you not only to think of your own preferences, but of future generations of English-speaking practitioners who may not have the opportunity to meet or practice with Tibetans,” Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche explained.
Khyenste Foundation added that preparations are currently being made to offer regular online Tara puja practices.
Born in Bhutan in 1961, and now based in Himachal Pradesh, India, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is the son of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and was a close student of the Nyingma master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–91). He is recognized as the third incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, founder of the Khyentse lineage, and the immediate incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893–1959). His projects and initiatives include Siddhartha’s Intent, an international collective of Buddhist groups supporting Rinpoche’s Buddhadharma activities by organizing teachings and retreats, distributing and archiving recorded teachings, and transcribing, editing, and translating manuscripts and practice texts; Lotus Outreach, which directs a wide range of projects to help refugees; and more recently The Lhomon Society, which promotes sustainable development in Bhutan through education.
