from “Skillful Grace: Tara Practice for Our Times”
By Tulka Urgyen Rinpoche & Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche
ch. titled “Anutttara Yoga”
Section “The Main Part”
Herein, in part: On the Symbolic purity of Pure Recollection
Pure recollection, has two aspects: symbolic purity and true purity.
Symbolic purity is as follows: The single face of Tara symbolizes that all phenomena are of one taste, which is suchness. The two arms are the unity of means and knowledge, prajaña (“wisdom”) and upaya (“skillful-means”). The extended right leg means not dwelling in the extreme of passive nirvana, while the bent left leg represents transcending samsaric existence. Because she manifests as the chief figure of the all-accomplishing wisdom family [of Amoghasiddhi], her bodily form is of green color.
She has a peacefully smiling, compassionate expression, symbolizing her loving passion for sentient beings. Her right hand is in the gesture of supreme giving, symbolizing the bestowal of siddhi to the practitioner, or to anyone who wants to practice this. The left is in the gesture of giving protection, which symbolizes bestowing fearlessness to sentient beings. She holds the blue utpala flower, which symbolizes her unimpeded activity.
The hair tied up on the top of her head with the remnant flowing freely down her back symbolizes that all virtuous qualities are fully perfected as well as her acceptance of other beings. The silken garments and leggings symbolize being utterly liberated from the torment of negative emotions.
The jewel ornaments represent wearing the wisdoms as adornment, without rejecting sense-pleasures. The bone ornaments of the six types symbolize having fully perfected the six paramitas. Being in union with the consort Supreme Vajra Steed symbolizes the unity of skillful means as great bliss, indivisible from the manifest aspect of wisdom that is utterly unchanging.
