Sacred Tara Prayer Dance @ then Maui Community College in the 1990s

Published on 03/10/1996 by Jason Schwartz

Tara Prayer Dance w beloved Starfire @then Maui Community College in the 1990s in the old un-remodeled Student Lounge….. then a Hawaiian hula done by some of the ladies

Summary & Transcript

The video presents a deeply spiritual and artistic celebration focused on the Divine Mother in the form of Tara, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism. It begins by explaining the ancient tradition of Tibetan Buddhists praying and chanting to Tara for thousands of years, emphasizing the collective and heartfelt nature of this practice meant for the benefit of all beings. Around a decade ago, inspired by long studies in music and dance, a group of creative individuals on Maui, including Jeff and Premo, developed a unique embodiment of Tara through dance movements intertwined with live music and chanting. This is not a mere performance but a form of meditation and devotion.

The video features a live Tara meditation, inviting viewers to join in chanting the mantra “Om Tare Tu Tare Ture Soha,” which is a sacred invocation to Tara. The meditation is accompanied by prayers and praises, invoking the enlightened ones, teachers, and practitioners who support the spiritual path. The chanting is interspersed with detailed praises of Tara’s qualities such as compassion, wisdom, power, and protection against suffering and fear. The video conveys the importance of devotion, remembrance, and the transformative power of Tara through prayers that ask for protection, removal of obstacles, and blessings for all beings.

Throughout the video, the sacred nature of the practice is highlighted—this is a communal spiritual experience rather than a show, with dancers rarely appearing publicly. The chants and prayers describe Tara’s divine attributes, her cosmic role, and her compassionate vow to save all beings from suffering. The narrative culminates in a heartfelt call for peace, happiness, and the flourishing of true Dharma worldwide, alongside a sincere expression of gratitude and love.

The latter portion of the video shifts tone slightly, incorporating poetic and personal reflections on life, love, and perseverance, connecting human experience with spiritual devotion. The closing parts include thanks to mothers and an encouragement to live with power and strength, ending the video on a note of hope and inspiration.

Highlights

[00:01] Introduction to Tibetan Buddhist tradition of chanting to the Divine Mother Tara for thousands of years.
[00:58] Creation of Tara dance movements on Maui as an embodiment of divine meditation, not just a performance.
[01:29] Tara meditation and mantra “Om Tare Tu Tare Ture Soha” inviting participation and communal chanting.
[08:09] Offering of flowers, incense, and lights with confession of faults and rejoicing in the virtues of all beings.
[12:38] Praise of Tara’s qualities: generosity, patience, peacefulness, and her power to slay inner enemies of the mind.
[24:25] Explanation of the twenty-one traces of Tara and the protective power of prayer in removing fear and obstacles.
[37:25] ❤️ Poetic reflections on love, perseverance, and the deeper meaning of life, connecting personal experience with spirituality.

Key Insights

[00:01] Ancient Spiritual Continuity: The video highlights the unbroken lineage of Tibetan Buddhist chanting and prayer to Tara, underscoring the timelessness and universality of this spiritual practice aimed at compassion and universal welfare. This continuity reflects the deep-rooted human need for connection to the divine and collective healing.
[00:58] Embodiment of Spirituality Through Art: The development of Tara dance movements on Maui illustrates how sacred traditions can evolve and be reinterpreted through creative expression without losing their meditative and devotional essence. This fusion of music, dance, and chanting invites practitioners and audiences into a living meditation.
[01:29] Mantra as a Vehicle for Meditation and Healing: The mantra “Om Tare Tu Tare Ture Soha” functions as a sonic tool to focus the mind, cultivate compassion, and invoke Tara’s protective energy. Mantras in Tibetan Buddhism serve as both spiritual invocation and energetic alignment, facilitating personal and collective transformation.
[08:09] Confession and Offering as Spiritual Purification: The ceremonial offering of flowers, incense, and lights alongside confession of misdeeds reflects a key Buddhist practice of purification and renewal. Acknowledging faults with humility while rejoicing in virtues fosters a balanced spiritual path emphasizing growth through honesty and gratitude.
[12:38] Tara’s Multifaceted Divinity: The detailed praises of Tara emphasize her complex nature as both gentle and fierce, embodying the six perfections—generosity, morality, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom. This duality reflects the Buddhist understanding that compassion must be paired with strength to overcome ignorance and suffering.
[24:25] Role of Prayer and Devotion in Overcoming Fear: The text explains that reciting Tara’s praises and prayers provides psychological and spiritual protection, helping practitioners transcend fear, negative emotions, and mental obstacles. This highlights the transformative power of devotional practice in creating resilience and peace.
[37:25] ❤️ Integration of Spirituality and Human Experience: The later reflections on love, perseverance, and heartfelt emotions demonstrate how spirituality is not detached from everyday life but deeply intertwined with personal growth and relationships. This integration encourages viewers to live authentically, combining devotion with practical life challenges.

The video overall invites viewers into a profound spiritual journey that merges ancient Tibetan Buddhist practices with contemporary artistic expression. It underscores the power of community, prayer, and embodiment in cultivating compassion, wisdom, and liberation from suffering.

Transcript

0:01

For thousands of years, Tibetan Buddhists have been doing a practice of praying and singing to the Divine Mother in the form of tarot. For thousands of years, their voices and their hearts have been singing and chanting

00:30

for the benefit of all beings. A little over 10 years ago, through the inspiration of long studies of music and dance, some creative people on Maui, including Jeff and Prema, put together movements.

00:58

to enliven and embody the aspects of the Divine Mother in the form of Tara. You are not watching a performance. This is our meditation. Rarely do the Tara dancers actually show up in public. I think the last time maybe was two years ago. So be with us today. Hold in your hearts that we can bring you as much perfection as possible.

01:29

bringing forth the aspects of the Divine Mother in the form of Tara. While the musicians are warming up, I’d like to do a Tara meditation. So if you’d like to join me, first in saying the mantra, Om Tare Tu Tare Ture.

01:59

OM TARE TU TARE TURE SO HA OM TARE TU TARE TURE SO HA And we imagine that mantra circling our heart OM TARE TU TARE TURE SO HA

02:22

And some of you have been Tara dancers in the past. Of course, you never stopped being a Tara dance. Either you’re dancing in your heart or you’re dancing with us up here on stage. And so if you feel called to sing along with us when we do the mantra, please feel free to do that. At the end, we will do a prayer, and if you want to say the prayer with us, and then we will do may all beings be happy, may all beings be free at the end. So I’m going to just check with the musicians.

02:51

. . .

03:15

All right.