Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras
    A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras
    A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras
    Ebook121 pages1 hour

    A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras

    By Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    “Like the great holy beings of the past, Khensur Rinpoche had great faith in and devotion towards Mother Tara. Therefore, this commentary on the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras bears the special blessing of his personal experience with the power and effectiveness of the practice of Tara.” - Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi

    This precious commentary by Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel on the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras, published for the first time, offers us a deeper understanding of the inconceivable qualities of Tara’s holy body, speech and mind and how her different aspects can help us overcome difficulties in our daily lives and Dharma practice.

    Born in Tibet in 1941, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel joined Sera Monastery while still a boy. He left for India in 1959 where he met Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In 1972, Lama Yeshe requested him to look after the young monks in Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Thus began Khensur Rinpoche’s 40 years of service at Kopan. He was officially bestowed the title of Khen Rinpoche (abbot) by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2001. He remained in this position until July 2011. Khensur Rinpoche passed away on 7th September 2011.

    This ebook was designed & published by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive for Amitabha Buddhist Centre (ABC). We are non-profit Buddhist organizations affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Please visit our websites for more information about our activities.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLama Yeshe Wisdom Archive
    Release dateMar 23, 2014
    ISBN9781891868528
    A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras
    Author

    Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel

    Born in Tibet in 1941, Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel joined Sera Monastery while still a boy. He left for India in 1959 where he met Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In 1972, Lama Yeshe requested him to look after the young monks in Kopan Monastery, Nepal. Thus began Khensur Rinpoche’s 40 years of service at Kopan. He was officially bestowed the title of Khen Rinpoche (abbot) by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2001. He remained in this position until July 2011. Khensur Rinpoche passed away on 7th September 2011.

    Related to A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras

    Related ebooks

    Buddhism For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Book Briefs

      May 8, 2018

      Without tsewa, is there any other source of happiness?” This is the question posed by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche in TRAINING IN TENDERNESS (Shambhala 2018). Always circling back to this Tibetan word meaning love, tenderness, or warmth, Kongtrul pushes

      4 min read

    • Article

      Beginner’s Mind

      Mar 19, 2019

      WITH SO MANY lineages, practices, and unique terms, the world of Tibetan Buddhism can be confusing. Here is a short primer on the four main schools and some of their key practices. Gelugpa: Established in the fifteenth century, the Gelugpas are the n

      4 min read

    • Article

      Shambhala Publications

      Jun 5, 2020

      Oxford University lecturer Sara Shaw presents perhaps the most complete overview of mindfulness, its Buddhist roots and evolution, and its variety across Buddhist traditions. There is something here for everyone and the reader is sure to walk away wi

      1 min read

    • Article

      Ask The Teachers

      Feb 11, 2020

      BHANTE SUJATO: In 2014 I coauthored, with Bhikkhu Brahmali, a book called The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts. The “early Buddhist texts” are essentially the main parts of the Pali suttas and vinaya, as well as the cognate texts in Chinese a

      5 min read

    • Article

      Along Came a Tigress

      Aug 13, 2019

      Along Came a Tigress
      7 min read

    • Article

      Advice to a Young Woman Teacher

      Jul 23, 2019

      Myokei Caine-Barrett (Bishop of the Nicheren Shu Order of North America): I would say to follow your heart, because we are all uniquely equipped. Rather than looking elsewhere, you’ll need to go deep into yourself, find your own strengths, and learn

      3 min read

    • Article

      Awakening Fueled by Rage

      Nov 12, 2019

      Awakening Fueled by Rage
      5 min read

    • Article

      Ayu Khandro

      Jan 21, 2020

      Ayu Khandro
      2 min read

    • Article

      Why Meditation Isn’t Enough

      May 21, 2019

      IN THE TIBETAN tradition, the study of Buddhist philosophy is known as “learning and reflecting on the view.” Through a process of sustained inquiry, we can become free from all doubts about the true nature of reality as described by the Buddhist tea

      4 min read

    • Article

      Freda Bedi

      Jan 21, 2020

      FREDA BEDI WAS BORN Freda Houston above a quaint watchmaker’s shop in Derby, England, in 1911. Tall, blue-eyed, and with an imposing manner, she wore many hats: Oxford scholar, professor, social worker, champion of women’s rights, wife and mother of

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Dakini in Your Dreams

      Dec 6, 2022

      THE MOTHER TANTRA teaches that a dakini is the protector and guardian of sacred sleep. It is helpful to make a connection with her essence, which is also the nature of the practice, so she can guide and bless the transition from unconscious to consci

      3 min read

    • Article

      An Enlightened Feminist

      Jan 22, 2018

      An Enlightened Feminist
      4 min read

    • Article

      Forum: Is the Guru Model Broken?

      Nov 6, 2018

      Forum: Is the Guru Model Broken?
      18 min read

    • Article

      Going Around In Samsara

      Jan 19, 2021

      Going Around In Samsara
      4 min read

    • Article

      Looking Into Vajrayana Buddhism’s Future

      Mar 11, 2024

      Looking Into Vajrayana Buddhism’s Future
      20 min read

    • Article

      Forum: Unseen Realized Beings

      May 8, 2018

      Forum: Unseen Realized Beings
      21 min read

    • Article

      Avikrita Vajra Rinpoche

      Jul 20, 2021

      Avikrita Vajra Rinpoche
      2 min read

    • Article

      Comparing Mahamudra and Dzogchen

      Aug 4, 2020

      Comparing Mahamudra and Dzogchen
      8 min read

    • Article

      Book Briefs

      Feb 6, 2018

      Should Vajrayana practitioners eat meat? Tibetans have long wrestled with this question, as Geoffrey Barstow elucidates in FOOD OF SINFUL DEMONS: MEAT, VEGETARIANISM, AND THE LIMITS OF BUDDHISM IN TIBET (Columbia 2017). In their discussions of ethica

      4 min read

    • Article

      Ask The Teachers

      May 8, 2018

      CHAGDUD KHADRO: According to the teachings I have heard and the realized masters I have observed, emotions such as grief and sorrow—as well as disappointment, frustration, and fear—do arise. But such masters liberate emotions by recognizing their eph

      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      A Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras - Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel

      PRAISES TO THE TWENTY-ONE TARAS

      Praises to the Twenty-one Taras

      A Commentary

      by

      Khensur Rinpoche

      Lama Lhundrub Rigsel

      Translated by Venerable Tenzin Gyurme

      Edited by Lobsang Drolkar

      Ebook designed & published by

      the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive

      for Amitabha Buddhist Centre

      Smashwords Edition

      Amitabha Buddhist Centre

      44 Lorong 25A Geylang Road S

      Singapore 388244

      www.fpmtabc.org

      Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive

      PO Box 636 • Lincoln, MA 02493, USA

      www.LamaYeshe.com

      Non-profit charitable organizations for the benefit of all sentient beings and affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition

      www.fpmt.org

      Copyright Amitabha Buddhist Centre 2012

      Please do not reproduce any part of this book by any means whatsoever without our written permission.

      Ebook ISBN 978-1-891868-52-8

      Cover, biography section and conch relic photos by Tan Seow Kheng

      All other photographs appearing in this book supplied by Venerable Thubten Kunkhen

      Line illustrations of Tara copyright Andy Weber

      Cover designed by seed | projects www.seed.sg

      Dedication

      Through the merit created by preparing, reading, thinking about and sharing this book with others, may all teachers of the Dharma have long and healthy lives, may the Dharma spread throughout the infinite reaches of space and may all sentient beings quickly attain enlightenment.

      May the merit created also be dedicated to the quick return of the unmistaken reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel. May all favourable conditions for the successful completion of the stupas to be built in his memory arise immediately.

      In whichever realm, country, area or place this book may be, may there be no war, drought, famine, disease, injury, disharmony or unhappiness, may there be only great prosperity, may everything needed be easily obtained and may all be guided by only perfectly qualified Dharma teachers, enjoy the happiness of Dharma, have love and compassion for all sentient beings and only benefit and never harm each other.

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Copyright Page

      Dedication

      Publisher’s Acknowledgements

      A Message from Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche

      Foreword by Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi

      Biography of Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel

      Praises to the Twenty-one Taras (Literal English Translation)

      Prayer of the Benefits

      First Session: Thursday, May 26, 2005

      The brief exposition of these praises

      An extensive explanation of these praises

      Second Session: Sunday, May 29, 2005 (morning)

      Praising Tara with reference to her enlightened activities

      Third Session: Sunday, May 29, 2005 (afternoon)

      Showing the benefits of this practice

      Appendix A: Outline of the Commentary on Praises to the Twenty-one Taras

      Appendix B: Direct links to each verse and to its commentary

      In Remembrance Of Khensur Rinpoche

      The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition

      Amitabha Buddhist Centre

      Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive

      What to do with Dharma teachings

      Final Dedication

      Publisher’s Acknowledgements

      Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup’s long and enduring relationship with Amitabha Buddhist Centre began in 1998 where, for the first time, he presided over our annual Vesak Day Celebrations. For the next twelve years, he was to grace this special event without fail as well as revisiting us in October for our annual Medicine Buddha Dharma Celebrations that started in 2007.

      It is impossible to count the number of people Khensur Rinpoche brought to the Dharma and the number of the students he had guided, advised and benefited over the years. He was a deeply loved and highly respected lama who radiated great kindness, compassion and wisdom, inspiring everyone with his joy in and devotion to the Dharma.

      Ever humble and self-effacing, Khensur Rinpoche rarely had his teachings published. Therefore we are extremely pleased to be able to offer this commentary by Khensur Rinpoche on the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras that was taught over three sessions at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in May 2005.

      We wish to thank Venerable Tenzin Gyurme for translating the teachings.

      This book had been compiled by a team of dedicated volunteers to whom we are extremely grateful: Phuah Soon Ek, Stephanie Ng and Angie Xiao for transcribing the teachings; Soh Seok Keim for her editorial support; Lobsang Drolkar for editing the transcripts; and Paul Lim for his assistance in proof-reading. The responsibility for any errors in this book is entirely mine.

      We thank Mandala magazine for their kind permission to use extracts from their article on Khensur Rinpoche, Mother, Father, Teacher, Friend: The Incomparable Kindness of Kopan’s Treasured Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel in its October – December 2011 issue.

      We also wish to thank Nick Ribush of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and Tom Truty for their assistance in providing additional editorial materials and the FPMT Education Department for their kind permission to use the Praises to the Twenty-one Taras and the Prayer of the Benefits from Essential Buddhist Prayers, An FPMT Prayer Book, Common Centre Practices, Volume 2, 2009 edition and extracts from Benefits and Practices related to Statues & Stupas by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, copyright: FPMT, Inc. 2003.

      Ng Swee Kim

      Publications Group

      Amitabha Buddhist Centre

      3rd April 2012

      A Message from Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche

      My dear friends, brothers and sisters,

      By building a stupa, without words, you are continually liberating so many sentient beings.

      Every day, anybody who sees, touches—including any insects that touch the stupa—remembers, talks or dreams about the stupa, the stupa plants the seed of enlightenment in them and purifies them. The stupa is meaningful to behold, liberating many sentient beings, insects and human beings every day.

      When the wind touches a stupa—especially when it has been filled with the four dharmakhaya relic mantras—the wind becomes blessed. Then wherever the wind blows, whoever it touches, is liberated from the lower realms by purifying their negative karma.

      When rain falls on the stupa, that water liberates any being it touches— all the worms in the ground and so forth—from the lower realms. It is the same with dust.

      When you build stupas to inspire people, without even teaching the Dharma, for however many hundreds and billions of years that the holy object lasts, it continues to liberate many sentient beings every day; freeing them from the lower realms, causing them to actualise the path, liberating them from samsara and bringing them to enlightenment.

      Even after you die and you are in another universe, in the hell realms or a pure land, wherever you are, the stupa that you built or helped to build, is continually benefiting sentient beings. It is incredible how you can continually benefit sentient beings by having built a stupa.

      In the Sutra of the Piles of Flowers, it says, Whatever one offers [to a stupa], whether it is tiny or big, it causes happiness from beginningless rebirths up to now. This refers to temporary happiness and, on top of that, the causes of ultimate happiness, i.e., liberation from suffering and the causes of suffering and full enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. Then you are able to liberate numberless sentient beings from suffering and bring them to enlightenment; of course this includes achieving the

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1