Several years ago, while on a pilgrimage to Tso Pema in the foothills of northern India, I came down with an acute case of bronchitis that I couldn’t shake. It was winter and nearly impossible to stay warm. A lama suggested I go to the hot springs at Manikaran, located on in the Parvati Valley about 115 km far from Tso Pema. When I arrived at the bus station in Bhuntar, I was told that there was only one bus that day going to Manikaran and there was no guarantee that the bus could get through as a winter storm had caused landslides on the narrow mountain road. There was little chance of the bus traversing the landslide, but it might be possible to walk across the slide and catch a bus on the other to continue to Manikaran, which I eventually did. 

 The road was very steep and narrow with little room for two cars to pass, let alone a bus. The bus was crowded and the only seat I could find was in the very back. The bus windows on my side looked down a nearly vertical cliff several hundred feet to the Parvati River. Every few miles I could see demolished cars and busses littering the valley floor. 

 Our bus driver negotiated several small landslides but finally reached a point where he could go no farther so he decided to turn the bus around. An Indian bus must be at least 40 feet long and the road was maybe 10 feet wide. There was no way to turn around at that point so he started backing down the road looking for a wider spot.  I started to get panicky. Strangely, no one else on the bus seemed concerned. The old Tibetan women on either side of me calmly worked their malas (prayer beads) while silently reciting mantras. We backed down the road and around blind corners for nearly a mile before the driver found a spot that was a little wider. As I mentioned, I was sitting in the back of the bus, which was 8 feet behind the rear wheels, so when the driver brought the rear wheels to the rain-soaked edge of the road my seat was hanging out in space looking straight down into oblivion. I yelled, “Let me off this bus!” Several people laughed and the women on either side of me smiled calmly and kept up their prayers. 

  After much maneuvering, the bus was turned around safely, so I’m still here to write about it. This brings me to my purpose in telling the story. Besides the superhuman skill of bus driver, what impressed me most was the calmness of two women sitting next to me. Eventually, I asked them if they had been afraid the bus would go off the road and how they had managed to remain so calm. One explained to me that most Tibetans have unwavering faith in their deities. In dangerous situations, they invoke the Savioress Tara, embodiment of compassion and protection. The women visualized Green Tara holding on to the bus and guiding it while they recited her mantra:

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

Since then I visualize Green Tara and recite her mantra in my mind whenever I'm in a fearful, dangerous or uncomfortable situation (such as strong negative emotions, illnesses, earthquakes and root canals.). Rather than dwelling on, avoiding or suppressing fear, the practice opens the mind and transforms fear into compassion and courage.

~ Timothy Clark

Founder of Radiant Heart Studios

Green Tara Print 15"x21" Sale Price this month: $14

There are 21 Taras venerated in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Green Tara is considered the primary one. Green Tara is particularly popular due to her swift and compassionate nature, making her a beloved figure in Tibetan Buddhist practice. In paintings of the 21 Tara’s, Green Tara is shown in the center, as the primary one.

The concept of the "Eight Great Fears" is part of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings, particularly within the context of Vajrayana Buddhism and the practice of deity yoga. These fears can be understood in both inner and outer aspects:

1. The Fear of Lions - Lions symbolize external threats, dangers and obstacles. They also represent the inner obstacles and negative emotions that hinder one's spiritual progress. These inner lions can be fears, attachments, and other mental obstacles that prevent spiritual growth.

2. The Fear of Elephants - Elephants represent external obstacles, particularly those related to power and authority. This fear encompasses protection from oppressive forces, including rulers or authority figures who may pose a threat. In the inner aspect, elephants symbolize the ego, arrogance, and pride.

3. The Fear of Fire Fire represents physical dangers such as accidents, natural disasters, and illnesses. This fear is about protection from harm caused by external elements. Inwardly, fire symbolizes negative emotions like anger and hatred.

4. The Fear of Snakes signify external dangers related to betrayal, deceit, or hidden threats. This fear is about protection from external deception and harm. Inwardly, snakes represent ignorance and delusion.

5. The Fear of Robbers - Robbers represent external threats to one's possessions and wealth. In the inner aspect, robbers symbolize attachment and greed, which hinder one's spiritual progress.

6. The Fear of Imprisonment - This fear relates to external threats that may lead to confinement or restrictions of one's freedom. Inwardly, imprisonment symbolizes the limitations of one's mind and ego. Overcoming inner imprisonment is about realizing one's true nature and breaking free from mental constraints.

7. The Fear of Flood - Floods represent external dangers related to environmental disasters and natural catastrophes. Inwardly, floods symbolize mental and emotional overwhelm, often caused by desire and attachment.

8. The Fear of Demons - Demons represent external spiritual or supernatural threats.

In the inner aspect, demons symbolize inner obstacles, including one's own negative thoughts, emotions, and delusions.

Free Woodblock Printed Rice Paper Prints

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 Tibetans 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. I used to travel to northern India and Nepal every year for a few months to study Buddhism, do retreats and collect designs for prayer flags. Whenever I visited monasteries, I’d ask to see any woodblocks, old prints or prayer flags. The monks often let me make prints from their woodblocks and sometimes gave me deteriorating rice paper prints. I have a nice collection stored in a flat file cabinet but now that I’m getting old, I'm not sure what to do with them.  Since the focus of this month’s newsletter is "Tara – Protectoress from the 8 Great Fears," I’m giving them away to two rice paper prints from my collection.

"Tara and the 8 Great Fears" Rice Paper Prints - Free to 2 lucky newsletter readers.

The print on the left is 22" x 31". The print on the right is 18" x 25".

They are quite fragile and have a few holes and tears, but they are authentic prints on handmade rice paper from very finely carved woodblocks.

If you'd like one of these, email me at prayerflags2@gmail.com. If I get more than two of you who are interested I’ll draw names from a hat on Thanksgiving Day.

Free to a good home! Green Tara thangka painting

This 24" x43" (including the brocade) thangka painting has a small hole in the canvas (in the grass under beneath the lotus). Because of the flaw, I don't want to sell it, but the Green Tara figure is lovely and the colors are nice. I decided to give the painting away to someone who'd like it.

If you're interested, send me an email with your address. I'll put the names in a DharmaCap and have a drawing on Thanksgiving Day - along with the drawing for the rice paper prints (see above).

Email me at prayerflags2@gmail.com, if you like a chance to win it

This Newari style hand painted thangka depicting Green Tara is stunning. It measures 24"x40" with the brocade. The painting canvas size is 15"x20 ". The colors are vibrant and the detail is exquisite. It's bordered with a hand-sewn 3 color brocade. This is a painting, not a print. It's on sale for $400.

If you're truly interested and would like to see a higher resolution image, let me know (prayerflags2@gmail.com)

Green Tara Photo

5"x7" - $6

8"x10" - $12

Radiant Heart Studioshas several prayer flags designs with Green Tara. Most of the green color prayer flags in the Horizontal Prayer Flags and the Vertical Prayer Flags categories have Green Tara in the center surrounded by the "Praises to the 21 Taras."

6 GC - 6 print vertical prayer flag - 9 feet tall -

4 GC - 4 print vertical prayer flag- 6 feet tall - $32

2 GC - 2 print vertical prayer flag - 3.5 feet tall - $22

5 BG - 5 print Bhutanese prayer flag - 7 feet tall - $34

7 BG - 7 print Bhutanese prayer flag - 10 feet tall - $38

We print the "Praises to the 21 Taras" traditional prayer flag on single flags in both Tibetan (19"x26") and in English (23"x30"). They are both priced at $16 each. These are finely detailed clear prints on high quality 100% cotton cloth and can be hung indoors or outdoors. A translation of the Praises to the 21 Taras can be found on our Prayer Flags Translations page.

Ninth Lunar Month (Oct. 15 to Nov. 13)

During this month, the Nagas are gathering the essence of trees. The sap of the trees are owned by the Nagas and they are very connected to trees at this time. If you make offerings to them on teb days, you will always have luxuries. If you make offerings to them on dok days, they will perceive your offering as burning fire and flee. Some text say that Nagas will punish you by giving you contageous diseases.

The most auspicious days to make offerings this month are November 10 and 12.

Tenth Lunar Month (Nov.14 - Dec. 12)

According to the Kalachakra Tantra and the Vedas, this month is the Naga’s sleeping time. Making offerings will bring no benefit.

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: prayerflags1@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter.

Timothy Clark

Owner of Radiant Heart Studios