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Tara, Our ProtectorTara, Our Protector (en Español)Back to 2010 Gallery
A gift from Jane Richmond in Corvallis, Oregon, this lovely Tara face arrived at the Abbey near the end of the three-month Tara retreat. With much appreciation for the grace of this image, we quickly found a home for her above the doors leading from the dining room to the deck of Ananda Hall. She is immediately visible to all who enter the front door of the building. .
Year-round, the Abbey's acres of evergreen forests reflect Tara's green color, which symbolizes activity and success. Traditionally, Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, China, and Japan rely on a Dharma protector, a being that has pledged to guard the teachings and protect practitioners from inner and outer obstacles. Photo Gallery |




At the Abbey's founding, Ven. Chodron concluded there could be no more powerful Dharma protector than Arya Tara. She is the feminine embodiment of enlightenment, especially representing the Buddhas’ enlightening influence.