On Thursday evenings we offer a Green Tara Puja, led by Venerable Losang when he is in town, and on all other weeks, by senior teaching student and former TBC president Ken Klein. We begin around 7:30 pm and usually conclude around 8:30 pm or so. Sometimes we read in english, and sometimes in Tibetan (that would be the transliteration, for most of us.) Our Thursday evenings are really special.
"Puja" is a Pali word which means "flower," and is understood to have originated from the practice of offering flowers to Shakyamuni Buddha. It is an expression of honor, worship and devotion. This sadhana is closely related to the Tara sadhana we often recite on Sunday mornings, and is a very important part of our Buddhist practice. It's a beautiful way to bid a close to the work week. And our TBC space is simply a gem of a place to be around sunset.
The female deity Arya Tara, called Drolma in Tibetan, is one of the main objects of devotional worship and meditative practice in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is a fully-enlightened buddha who dispels fears, overcomes negative emotions, and develops in us strong feelings of joy and happiness. She assumes 21 forms, some peaceful, some semi-wrathful, and some wrathful, addressing particular situations in our lives. Her compassion is boundless, and those who meditate on Tara are likewise imbued with compassion for all sentient beings.
For scheduling questions or for further information, please see our bi-weekly e-newsletter, our calendar and Weblog listings, our website in general, or contact Ken Klein by email or 610.513.0862.