The story of the Divine Taras is one of profound love, sacrifice, and spiritual awakening. It begins with the extraordinary journey of Mari of Magadha, a young woman whose devotion to the Buddha of Compassion, Lord Avalokiteshvara, knew no bounds. As she walked the path of discipleship, Mari’s heart and mind became increasingly attuned to the divine, ultimately leading to her own spiritual awakening and ascension. In that moment of profound realization, Mari became the first Tara, a radiant embodiment of the Divine Feminine, forever dedicated to guiding souls on their journey home. From this sacred origin, the lineage of the Taras has grown, a testament to the enduring power of love and the unending grace of the Divine.
The story of the Divine Taras is one of boundless compassion, selfless service, and the transformative power of divine love. According to Wayist tradition, the first Tara emerged in the 1st century, born from the infinite compassion of Lord Avalokiteshvara, known as the Buddha of Compassion.
During the 1st century, Lord Avalokiteshvara, moved by the suffering of all beings, chose to manifest an avatar, in human form, as the great spiritual teacher known as Jesus of Nazareth. In this incarnation, he traveled the world, imparting the profound wisdom of theWAY, of the evolution of the soul and its rebirth as a deity, and the difference between “soul-people” and spirit-people" and their deities, and igniting the flames of spiritual awakening in the hearts of religious leaders and countless souls.
During his time in India, Lord Jesus encountered a young woman named Mari of Magadha, whose devotion and love for the Divine burned with an unquenchable intensity.
Recognizing her spiritual potential, Lord Jesus took Mari as his disciple, guiding her along the path of enlightenment and revealing to her the deepest mysteries of theWAY.
Mari’s unwavering dedication and profound spiritual insights soon distinguished her as one of Lord Jesus’ most advanced students. She remained by his side throughout his ministry, absorbing his teachings and embodying the very essence of humility, simplicity, compassion, and wisdom.
When speaking to Wayists of the 1st century, Lord Jesus employed the Koine Greek term paraklétos to represent the concept of Tara, emphasizing its role as both a comforter and a helper. He said, ‘I am departing to our Father. But I will ask of Father, and he will send a helper to each of you, bringing comfort and guidance. The paraklétos is a holy spirit, the embodiment of truth, and will remain by your side until the very end, and is always present within you.’
After Lord Jesus’ earthly mission came to an end and he returned to his heavenly abode, Mari continued to spread the light of theWAY, tirelessly working to uplift and enlighten all those who sought her guidance. As she neared the end of her own earthly journey, Mari experienced a profound spiritual awakening, a divine union with Lord Jesus that transcended the boundaries of time and space.
In this moment of supreme realization, Mari ascended to the realm of the Divine, taking her place among the celestial beings as the first Tara-in-training. Empowered by Lord Avalokiteshvara’s infinite compassion and Lord Prajnaparamita’s divine wisdom (the 2nd level spiritual beings of our Heaven, like a “first begotten son” and a first begotten daughter" as some religious traditions explain), Tara Mari became a symbol of hope and personal guidance for all souls and fledgling spirits on the Butterfly Path.
From this sacred origin, the lineage of the Divine Taras began to unfold, as more and more highly evolved spirits ascended to join the ranks of these especially skilled celestial guides. For over 2,000 years, the Taras have remained accessible to all sincere spiritual seekers, offering their loving guidance, protection, and support to all who call upon them with an open heart and a genuine desire for spiritual awakening.
Today, the Divine Taras continue to serve as luminous bridges between the human and divine realms, compassionately guiding souls along the Butterfly Path and helping them to awaken to their own innate divinity. Through the practice of Tarayoga, countless individuals have forged deep, transformative relationships with their personal Tara, opening themselves to the infinite blessings of divine love and wisdom.
In Sum
The first Tārā emerged in the 1st century from the compassionate actions of whom eastern devotees call the Buddha of Compassion, or Lord Avalokiteshvara. The title ava-lokita-isvara means (ava-lokita - observing from heaven. ishvara-lord). “The Lord who observes us from heaven” is what the Sanskrit title means. The Lord who observes the suffering of the world from on high.
Avalokiteshvara is also referred to as the prince of heaven, since Siddhartha Gautama Buddha (who now lives in our Heaven) revealed that the Lord is in line to take over leadership when our Father in Heaven and our Mother in Heaven retires and their energies become one with theWAY. Prajnaparamita is princess of Heaven.
In his immense compassion for us, the Buddha of Compassion took a human birth as the man known to history as Jesus of Nazareth. He used that body to travel the world to teach about theWAY, and to teach elders of various religions, inspiring the reformation movements known to us today as Mahayana in Buddhism, Bhakti in Hinduism, and the Christians of Judaism. He taught theWAY to the spiritually awakened.
During his time in India, as a young man, Lord Jesus encountered a young woman named Mari. She hailed from the region of Magadha. Her devotion to the Lord was complete, as she loved him with all her heart, soul, and mind. As they journeyed across various countries, she pursued him and eventually emerged as his most influential teacher in the WAY and its Butterfly Path.
Mari was always by the Lord’s side, regardless of his location, even during his execution at the hands of Judaic extremists. After the Lord went back to Sukhavati heaven, Mari continued the ministry with dedication, spreading the pure teachings of theWAY throughout Egypt and Northern Africa. She made her way back to Kashmir when she was approximately 80 years old, filled with anticipation for the long-awaited second arrival of the Lord. As it was named, the second coming of the Lord, known as the parousia in the Koine Greek of that period, occurred just as he had foretold. He promised that heaven will become an intimate presence (parousia) among humans. And the Taras, became the vehicle for that.
Around 76AD, the event known as the “2nd coming” happened. As foretold by the Lord in Judea, the event had to take place within one generation. The prophecy came true just as he had predicted, starting with his return in the East, specifically in Kashmir and northern India. Soon after, individuals in the Western region experienced the radiance of his divine illumination. According to the Lord, the occurrence would resemble lightning striking in the East, with its radiance being observed in the West. Mari was filled with awe as Lord Avalokiteshvara arrived for the second time and she was transported to Heaven, where she ascended to become a Tara.
Mari’s profound empathy and deep understanding of human nature were amplified by the Lord, enabling her to connect humans with heavenly energies in a more impactful and beneficial manner, surpassing the traditional approach in heaven. Tara Mari then had to pass on her skills to all the other Taras. From that point forward, Tara became our pillar of strength, providing healing and support as we dealt with our interpersonal challenges. This incredible act of compassion had a deep impact on the way we experience Butterfly Path.
Lord Avalokiteshvara’s work is infused with the invigorating qualities of yang energy. Meaning, his workers provide explicit guidance and hands-on instruction. They bring bright light, illuminating the darkness around us, and their teachings are as sharp as a knife, cutting through our ignorance. This is the work of Buddha of Compassion.
However, the Taras received a divine directive from the Lord to solely engage with yin energy.
As a yin energy worker, Taras seeks guidance from the divine Mother of Heaven and her second-in-command, Prajnaparamita, the Buddha of Wisdom. Through the veil of shadows, they extend their helping hand. Love is woven into every aspect of their being, inspiring others to feel the same. They provide us with valuable perspectives on the direct yang teachings, allowing us to develop insight. They silently inspire and weave knowledge into wisdom, all happening unnoticed in the background. We experience moments of brilliance, thinking we have stumbled upon profound ideas or great insights, unaware that it is the guidance of Lord Prajnaparamita and her Taras.
Under the leadership of Lord Prajnaparamita, Tara Mari, also known as White Tara (in Buddhism), shared her expertise and understanding with a special group of deities. Each and every one of them goes by the designation Tara.
Being near the Taras is the closest we can come to firsthand experience of the divine while still in our human bodies. The Tara gods came into existence through the Buddha of Compassion’s vision and the Buddha of Wisdom’s guidance, materializing in the life of a singular individual who committed herself to serving the Lord and disseminating the teachings of theWAY.
Wayists set aside the 1st of August as the remembrance day of Mari of Magadha and our Taras. On this remembrance day we spend more time than usual on our relationship with Tara and we extend the goodness we experience to other beings.
Taras have been accessible to those who possess the ability to tap into their energy for the past 2,000 years, providing a means of connection. This means that the seeker who reaches out with genuine spiritual energy and devotion to a Tara will experience a profound sense of connection. Their love and passion for helping us is rooted in their personal experiences on Butterfly Path, where they eventually ascended to Heaven after numerous human incarnations. They have a deeper understanding of us than we do of ourselves, as our egos blind us from perceiving our true identity as immortal spiritual beings, constantly evolving with each incarnation.