Tara’s story reaches from pure realms to the monasteries of Tibet, China and beyond. But a transmission lineage is only as alive as the people who practice it. There is no single entry point. Which path is right depends on what you bring and what you’re ready for. Below we present three possibilities that differ in their depth and requirements.
The Open Practice: The Encounter
This practice is open to everyone. You need no prerequisites, no commitment, and no experience with Buddhism.
What you do: You recite the “Praises of the 21 Taras.” The text calls upon each of the 21 manifestations of Tara individually. One complete recitation takes about five minutes. The text, as it is practiced in our tradition, can be downloaded from the download section.
How you do it: Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. You can recite aloud, softly, or silently in your mind. Some find it helpful to look at depictions of the 21 Taras while practicing, such as on a thangka or here on the website. These are not fixed rules, but possibilities that can help you stay with the practice.
How often: As often as you can and want. Once a day is a good rhythm to start with. Sometimes it will be more, sometimes less.
What happens: You plant the first seeds for a connection to Tara. What grows from this is different for each person. What matters is not a particular experience, but the regularity with which you seek contact.
The Mantra Practice: Entering the Path
With the mantra practice begins a serious relationship with the Buddhist path. This practice requires three things:
- A personal meeting with Rinpoche. Tantric transmission is not mass teaching. It needs a direct connection between teacher and student. This conversation can take place online or in person and is arranged individually.
- Taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). This is the ritual through which one formally becomes a Buddhist. It is not a casual step, but a conscious decision to accept the Buddhist path as one’s own. The ceremony takes place exclusively in person.
- The vow of the Five Precepts: No killing, no stealing, no lying, no sexual misconduct, no intoxication. These precepts are not a moral catalog imposed from the outside. They are the foundation upon which the mantra practice can actually work.
What happens then: In the oral transmission (Lung), Rinpoche speaks the mantra and you repeat it. The outer process is simple, but it connects you to the lineage and enables you to practice the mantra. After that, you practice it as often as you can, with a focused mind. The practice deepens with regularity.
Why you won’t find Mantras on this Website
In our tradition, a mantra is more than a text that one recites. It carries an unbroken connection to its origin. The oral transmission through a qualified teacher connects you to this living lineage and empowers you to practice the mantra. Without this transmission, the mantra remains a sound without roots.
The Yidam Practice: The Tantric Initiation
This is the complete outer-tantric practice. It is not transmitted lightly and not described publicly. It is the direct path to the transformation of mind.
What it requires:
- Taking refuge and the Five Precepts. This was already described in the mantra practice. Here they are no longer a prerequisite, but already lived daily reality.
- The Preliminary Practices (Ngöndro). This is a structured training program that clears karmic obstacles and prepares the mind for Yidam practice. It includes several components, each practiced repeatedly over time. This process unfolds over months, sometimes longer. Everyone goes through it. It is not arbitrarily made difficult. It simply ensures that your Yidam practice rests on a stable foundation.
- The formal empowerment (Wang) from Rinpoche. This is not a ceremony that automatically follows completion of the Ngöndro. It is transmitted personally when Rinpoche determines that the student is ready. In the empowerment, the lama authorizes the student to begin the specific Yidam practice.
What you receive: A complete tantric ritual (Sadhana). It is a structured text with precise visualizations, mantra recitations, and contemplations. This sadhana is transmitted to you personally and is not publicly accessible. From that moment on, you practice it daily.
The First Step
You can begin the open practice at any time, on your own. If you want to go further or have questions, Gongjue Tuji Rinpoche is available for a personal conversation, including online.
In addition, there are regular online gatherings where practitioners and interested people can exchange. Additional offerings are in planning.
The Xuanfa Dharmazentrum is led by Gongjue Tuji Rinpoche. He is the contact person for all questions concerning the Dharma Center, its practice, and its activities, and is happy to help.
