Traditional hand-painted thangka of White Tara (28"x52" with brocade) - $480

Tara symbolizes the qualities of compassion. While Green Tara, with her leg outstretched and her hand in the gesture of protection, represents the actively energetic aspect of protection, White Tara symbolizes the more meditative, mother-like, healing energy of compassion. She is depicted seated in a meditation posture on a lotus throne. Her white color represents purity, transcendence, and eliminating obstacles on the path to enlightenment.

White Tara’s right hand is in the gesture of granting wishes and her left hand holds the stem of a lotus flower, symbolizing purity and spiritual unfoldment. She is usually depicted with seven eyes—three on her face (representing her ability to see the past, present, and future) and one on each of her palms and soles of her feet (symbolizing her watchfulness and omnipresence). This iconography underscores her vigilance in aiding sentient beings and her ability to respond to their needs with compassion.

White Tara is a Bodhisattva—a being who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the cycle of birth and death to help others. She is particularly revered for her compassionate activity in alleviating suffering and protecting beings from physical, emotional, and spiritual harm.

Repetition of the White Tara mantra, OM TARE TUTTARE MAMA AYUH PUNYA JNANA PUSTIM KURU SVAHA invokes her blessings for healing, longevity, and the fulfillment of aspirations.

A note concerning "Deities" in Tibetan Buddhism:

Buddhism is a non-theistic spiritual path. So why are there so many deities? The word "deity" is used for lack of a better word. "Wisdom Being" might be better. In the Buddhist sense, Wisdom Beings are aspects of the primordial mind that is our true nature. They are not entities outside of us. They are not gods of some heavenly realm, but are aspects of enlightened mind which is at the core of each and all sentient beings. When we call upon the guru or the deity, we are invoking the enlightened energies of Basic Goodness - the wisdom, compassion and spiritual power that is inherent in our innermost hearts.

15 inch x 20 inch (unhemmed) Silk-Screened Print on 100% cotton

Regularly $18; on sale this month for $14.

In most Asian cultures, elephants are considered auspicious symbols of good luck, fortune, and prosperity. Images or statues of elephants are often placed at the entrances of homes or businesses to invite positive energy and abundance. Historically, elephants were associated with royalty and nobility. They were used in battles, ceremonies, and processions by kings and emperors, symbolizing authority and regal splendor.

The elephant headed Hindu Deity, Ganesha, is revered as the remover of obstacles, aiding in overcoming hurdles and difficulties in various aspects of life, including spiritual, material, and intellectual pursuits. Tibetan Tantric Buddhists adopted this symbol as protection against negative forces to aid in the cultivation of inner qualities such as power, wisdom and compassion.

Combined with a powerful yantra, mantras and spells to ward off negative influences and bring auspiciousness to the environment, displaying this image in ones home is said to bring harmony and good fortune.

The original from which this image was photographed was prepared by the Ngakpa, Lama Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche.

Photo Size: 10 inch x 8 inch Price: $12

Religious texts and prayer flags in Tibet were printed using carved woodblocks. Many of the woodblocks were destroyed by the Chinese army 60 years ago. The woodblocks were too heavy for the Tibetan refugees to carry over the mountains when they fled their homes and monasteries, but they did manage to bring many texts and a few rice paper prints. Whenever I visited monasteries during my travels in the Himalayas, I asked to see any woodblocks, old prints, and prayer flags. The monks often let me make prints from their woodblocks and sometimes gave me rice paper prints. I have a nice collection stored in a flat file cabinet. Now that I’m getting old, I've decided to give them away to my newsletter subscribers.

The woodblock used for printing this 16"x18" wood block print on rice paper was probably also use to print on cloth for prayer flags. It depicts White Tara in the center. The Tibetan text has praises and mantras for Tara.

This 12"x 16" woodblock printed print on rice paper is of Green Tara. Considering that the woodblock that was used to make the print was hand-carved in reverse from a block of hardwood, the detail is quite clear. I think this is print I found at Tashi Jong monastery in Northern India

Thank you for submitting your entries. Please be sure to include your address. We had many entries for February's drawing . Congratulations to the winners of the 4 Auspicious Animals wall hangings:

Pema Yangchen of Sacramento, CA

Charlie Thomas of Langley, WA

The Second Lunar Month is the Naga’s memorial month. They remember everything that happens during this time, good or bad. Since their memory is very strong at this time, if you make offerings during the teb (+) days, the Nagas will always remember this and they will become your faithful servant and companion. On the other hand, if you make offerings to them on the dok days, they will perceive your offerings as being rotten and foul smelling and they will abandon you.

There are six particularly good days to make offerings this month - March 16, 19 (Guru day), 25 (full moon), 30, 31st, and April 4 (dakini day). Be sure not to disturb the nagas on March 12 or you might make them angry.

If you have any questions or comments, I will try to answer your emails. I appreciate getting photos and videos of prayer flags on display, especially the flags you got from us.

Email me at: prayerflags2@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter.

Timothy Clark

Owner of Radiant Heart Studios