I dedicate this prayer to all mothers around the world:

So long as space remains,

So long as sentient beings remain,

I will remain, In order to help,

in order to serve,

In order to make my own contribution

His Holiness the Dalai Lama describes this as his favorite prayer because in a non-secular and ethical way it embodies the compassionate attitude. Without this underlying intention none of us could ever attain enlightenment.

In fact, we would not be here on this planet, in this universe if it had not been for the great hardships our mother endured to give us birth, who sacrificed herself and tenderly nurtured us so that we might live in this rare and precious human life, and hopefully not waste this precious opportunity to contribute to the welfare of all sentient beings, as well as to care for the boundless gifts given to us from our Mother Earth!

Although Mother’s Day has recently passed, it is never too late to celebrate our mothers, since without them we could never develop love and compassion for each other.

The great masters in Tibetan Buddhism, who have themselves attained realization of the ultimate true nature, have used a variety of images in an attempt to describe the indescribable, that which underlies the great feminine archetypal architect, existing in all faiths from which all sentient beings come into the world.

Tara is the great mother goddess, or “the Great Mother,” that embodies compassion, wisdom, emptiness or the enlightened mind.

Most of us live in an obscure mind unaware of our original nature. And, at all levels, from Hinayana Buddhism through Vajrayana, the Buddha used the language of the Great Mother to identify our ultimate true nature.

In fact, at the core of all the teachings of the Buddhas it is the nature of the Mother that underlies the Dharma. This feminine archetype is given several different titles, such as “Mother of all the Buddhas” and “Mother of all Samsara and Nirvana.”

Why did the Buddha describe this ultimate nature as “Mother” ?

Ultimate nature is a correct description for it because it is Mother who gives us birth, who is the spark necessary to develop our own enlightened mind. Paradoxically, (I hope all of you men are reading this!) it was the Buddha (a male) who pointed out to all those wandering in samsara lost and confused, the way back home and reintroduced seekers “to our own true Mother.”

It is said that in our reintroduction to our own true Mother, “in that moment, we can jump right into her lap without any fear, we’ll reach the highest joy, peace, and realization: the security of the enlightened state.”

Furthermore, in the teachings of the Prajnaparamita, or “Perfection of Wisdom,” the Buddha taught that “those who wish to reach the state of Bodhisattvas, (courageous ones with concern for all living beings,) should learn the Mother Prajnaparamita…

Those who wish to reach the state of Buddhas, totally enlightened, free from all obscurations and ego clinging, fully awakened and heroic, should also realize the Mother Nature and practice the “Prajnaparamita.”

Therefore, whatever level we may be on with our aspiration and accomplishment in our spiritual work, the necessary practice “to attain our goal will be the same.” The reader can obtain one version of the Heart Sutra by Thich Nhat Hanh. 

Tara emanates as needed in her various forms, reaching out to every sentient being. Tara’s purpose is to help and guide all living beings, not excluded to special interest groups.

Therefore, she aids everyone; included are animals, insects and other beings unseen by the physical eye. Since Tara abides beyond boundaries and limitations, one cannot identify exactly where she may appear or not. Thus, she is easily accessible to every living being everywhere. Allow me to end with an illustration of this feminine principle.

One day, I am ashamed to say, the Tara in my life, my spouse, pointed out to me my lack of kindness and my selfishness in not allowing a person to park in the space behind us. I admit that I was grumpy, fatigued and temporarily lost my mind, only to regain it hours later by giving up my parking space to someone in need one hour before I had to leave.

It’s amazing what acknowledging our faults and engaging in reparation can do to humble the human heart, and helps us to bring loving kindness to our self by accepting where we are right on the spot! The feminine principle hold nothing back when it is time to soften, to reflect, inquire and renew our connection to our own heart and to the heart of those we interact with. 

The opportunities for practicing the path of Mother-Compassion are endless! I bow to the Mother of All Buddhas---Om gate’ gate’ paragata, parasamgata bodi Swaha (gone, gone, gone beyond even the beyond into full enlightenment, so be it).

May we rest our awareness in the state of sublime abiding by cherishing all beings with a boundless heart!

In loving kindness.