Cittamani Tara Puja
“There are so many inner obstacles to the development of your mind, and these inner obstacles create many outer obstacles. Therefore, for the success of your Dharma practice, of your actualizing the graduated path to enlightenment, you must rely upon a special deity or buddha, such as Tara.” —Lama Zopa Rinpoche (Kopan Monastery, May 1987)
Cittamani Tara, the highest yoga tantra manifestation of the deity Tara, can lead us to liberation and enlightenment within a single lifetime. Tara, a female personification of the enlightened mind, is known as Tara the Liberator, an embodiment of enlightened activity, and mother of all the buddhas. On this ultimate level, she manifests perfect wisdom. Cittamani Tara Puja is a practice that invokes Cittamani Tara, well-known as a source of swift assistance in all temporal and spiritual matters. She is called upon to bring success – including for situations involving family, relationships, business, and career – and for protection from all negativities and fears. She is also invoked in times of emergency, personal distress and difficulty, health problems, for the quick removal of obstacles, and when rapid wisdom is needed. The Cittamani Tara Puja includes four mandala offerings, fourfold offerings including flowers, optional prostrations, and a twofold recitation of the Praises to the 21 Taras. This puja is a powerful support for our Dharma practice and achieving our temporal and ultimate goals. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche has specifically advised that the Cittamani Tara Puja be practiced by Shantideva Center.
Important Note
This is an online-only event that is administered using Zoom.
After registering, the system automatically sends a confirmation and/or a receipt email that contains the Zoom meeting link and/or other instructions. If you don’t immediately receive the system email(s) or you have any other questions, please contact us at registration@shantidevanyc.org.
*Zoom is an interactive video-conferencing tool that allows participants to see one another and ask questions. You will need a computer, a tablet or a smartphone with the Zoom application to attend. If you are using Zoom for the first time, please login earlier to allow any necessary installations on your device.
Sadhana During Practice
Sadhana and center prayers are usually screen-shared or projected during practice. If the session allows for in-person attendance, you are encouraged to download them onto your device, or to bring a printed copy if preferred.
FPMT – The Foundation Store
Please visit the link(s) below to have your own copy of the most up-to-date version.
Registration / Schedule
Open donation: free, $5, $10, $21, $35, $50, $108
Your generosity makes it possible for us to share the Dharma and continue working together for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Time zone: US Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC-5)
For questions regarding registration, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org for assistance.
Prayer Requests
If you would like to request a dedication for yourself or someone else who might benefit from this practice, please email prayers@shantidevanyc.org and provide basic information including the person’s name, city of residence, dedication message, etc. Please provide a 24-hour notice for prayer requests.
Puja Sponsorship
You are welcome to sponsor all or part of the puja. Full sponsorship is $108. Great merit is created by your contribution of any amount. Sponsorship is processed through registering above, even if you will not be attending the puja. Please make sure to email prayers@shantidevanyc.org with your prayer request. We are grateful for your generosity! “If someone offers a small flower or rice to a Buddha statue, a stupa or scripture then the benefit extends from then up to Enlightenment. Amazing, amazing. It is said in the sutra Piled Flowers, on top of that benefit, you achieve ultimate happiness – liberation from the causes of delusion and karma and on top of that full Enlightenment – all the realizations and omniscient mind.” —Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Recordings
This is a playlist. To jump to a particular session, click the playlist icon (near the top-right corner) of the video frame to select video.
About the Puja Leaders
Jennifer Kim first encountered Buddhism in 2007, after she taught English to Tibetan Buddhist monks in New Zealand and was struck by their joy, scholarship, and deep kindness. Since that time, she has dedicated most of her life to studying and practicing the Dharma, in addition to sharing it with others.
She has attended numerous teachings and retreats over the years with heart teachers including HH Dalai Lama, Choden Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Yangsi Rinpoche, and Khandro Tsering Kunga Bum-ma. She enjoys a special affinity to Tara practice.
Jennifer has been part of Shantideva Center since 2010 and has served as its director, amongst various roles. She also works for Potential Project, which integrates traditional wisdom traditions with scientific research and modern business application to help create more human-centric world of work. She enjoys both traditional Dharma practice and its application to meet the needs of people from all walks of life.
Native New Yorker, George Michael Cuesta, first came to the Dharma in this life while on a family vacation in Thailand in November 2005. At Wat Doi Su Thep in Chiang Mai, he was amazed by the giant stupa, the circumambulating pilgrims, the monks, the nuns, the incense, the water offerings, the chanting, the thangkas, and the ubiquitous statues of the Buddhas. Upon departure from the temple, he purchased “What the Buddha Taught” by Walpola Rahula and read it from cover to cover on the long plane ride home to New York City.
George then began practicing Dharma in 2006 and started practicing with Shantideva Center in October 2008 after an inspirational teaching with Venerable Robina Courtin, his kind teacher with whom he took Refuge Vows at Columbia University. George has been a licensed psychologist in the State of New York since 1996, and he has dedicated decades of his life serving Veterans and their families, to promote psychological healing and well-being.
George currently lives in Portland, Oregon and is currently a full-time graduate student at Maitripa College working toward the Master of Arts degree in Buddhist Studies at Maitripa College under Yangsi Rinpoche.
