Tara The swift liberator Mother of the Buddhas of the Three times

Today is the Mother’s Day so I though to Introduce a little bit Arya Tara, the Mother of all the Buddhas of the Three times

The Story of Arya Tara: The Noble Liberator

Arya Tara, also known as Jetsun Dolma in Tibetan, is one of the most beloved female Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism. She is known as “The Mother of All Buddhas” and is the embodiment of the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas. Her name, Tārā, means “She Who Liberates,” or “Savioress.” The root “√tr” in Sanskrit means “to cross” or “to liberate,” and so Tara is “the one who helps beings cross the ocean of suffering to the shore of enlightenment.”

Her story begins eons ago, in a distant time and world, when she was born as a princess named Jñānacandrā (“Moon of Wisdom”) in a realm called the Kingdom of Light. In that life, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Dharma and followed the teachings of the Buddha of that world, Tathāgata Dundubhisvara.

The princess made vast offerings and practiced diligently. Her bodhicitta—the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings—was so strong and unwavering that monks around her praised her and encouraged her to pray to be reborn as a man in her next life. According to the common cultural beliefs of that time (and of our time, still lingering in some Buddhist traditions polluted by an old acquired cultural background), it was thought that only men could truly attain full enlightenment and be effective teachers.

But the princess saw clearly through this illusion. With great dignity, she responded:

“There is no such thing as male or female, self or person, or identity. These are only illusions, and the attachment to them is what binds beings to suffering. Many work to attain enlightenment in a male form, but few make the effort to help beings while being female. Therefore, until samsara ends, I shall remain in female form to benefit countless beings.”

So she vowed to respond instantly to the cries of beings in need, especially those suffering from fear, oppression, injustice, and danger. Because of her speed in coming to help those who call upon her, she is known as the Swift One, the One Who Comes With the Wind.

Tara’s story is not only a spiritual tale—it is a declaration of courage, clarity, and defiance against limiting beliefs. She refused to believe that spiritual realization was a matter of gender. She refused to diminish her potential to fit the expectations of a patriarchal society. And she vowed to uplift others from that same trap.

Her strength lies in her gentleness, her wisdom in her speed, and her power in her unwavering compassion. Tara is the embodiment of inner freedom, and she teaches us to see beyond the identities we cling to—to realize that we too can become liberators in our own right.

OM I prostrate to the goddess, the liberator, Arya Tara.
Homage to TARE, the swift heroine.
With TUTTARE, she dispels all fears.
With TURE, she grants all benefits.
To her, with the sound SVAHA, I bow.

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

Today is the recurrence of Mother’s Day. I mean, those like me, from the Tibetan tradition, are very devoted to our Arya Tara, right? The mother of all beings, the swift one, the one who removes obstacles, puts things in order, and who, when invoked, immediately comes to help us, in any place, at any time.

But let’s think about Tara’s story. So, when she was a princess, an ordinary person like us, when everyone was telling her she had to pray to be reborn as a man in her next life to fulfil a spiritual path. Well, Tara was very brave.

Let’s really think about it, let’s try to put ourselves in her shoes—when she found courage, when she upheld her dignity, her cognitive stability, her perseverance. When she was still and full settle in her self esteem because she sow she had potential. How many times did she had to face those who called her arrogant, those who called her insignificant, those who expected her to stay in her place, the place of the women… and some had thoughts driven by a narrow view—based on a limited cultural vision—that women have fewer capabilities than men, even in the context of a spiritual path and practice …

So how brave she was. She completely went beyond people expectations, beyond other people opinions and now she can reach everyone, benefit everyone—it doesn’t matter whether you are Buddhist or not—just by pronouncing her name, just by saying Tara’s name, she comes instantly. Because she comes with the wind, she is the radiant one, she comes with light, and you can feel her presence in a breeze. She is an example for everyone, men and women, whatever is your condition it doesn’t matter, she did it and you can too! It doesn’t matter if you male or female or you are rich or poor, if you are religious or not, It does not matter from which people you come, what is your language, your culture… you still can do it, because she did it!

So with what depth and vastness she opened her heart. I would like all of us, when we call or pray to her—both men and women—to remember this, to remember everything she had to go through. And also to remember our ancestor mothers, who, with all the social limitations they had to face, were not able—many of them—to fully develop their potential, limited by a social structure with a narrow vision.

Yet despite that, even if they accepted to follow certain limitations, they gave us life, they loved us, they cared for us, and welcomed us with all their love. So we must remember this and reflect on how we treat the people in front of us—regardless of whether they are men or women.

When we are in contact with these people, do we really value them? Do we truly try to recognize their worth? Or do we approach them from a level of discrimination, based on their gender, their social status, whether they are foreigners or not, whether they come from a poor or a rich country, whether they belong to another religion?

Tara is the manifestation of the Enlighten activities of the Buddhas of the three times, it means she is the embodiment of the activities in the benefits of others, and the enlightened activities are one entity with the virtues in the mental stream of any sentient being , so that is the channel, that is how she comes and every sentient being has virtues in their mental streams , so she can always help us . And if you are really respectful for the Bodhisattva’s path, you will not let yourself to fall in to set limits on others. Remember this and happy mother Day to all