Who is Tara?

Sam Henderson photography

The goddess Tara took residence in my conscious awareness right around the time in the summer of 2024 when I went to take darsan with Amma, the Hugging Saint.

Wow! That’s a lot to break down there already.

Tara:

The goddess of compassion; known for her dynamic and illuminating 21 forms. Dive into Embodying Tara by Chandra Easton for an overview—highly recommend!

Darsan, or darshan:

Being in the presence of a saint; receiving the teachings of a saint

Amma:

Amma, a living saint, has given millions of hugs all around the globe.

Whew! Talk about diving right in.

Early one morning in July of 2024, I received a text message from a friend saying, If you get in your car right now, you can probably get a hug from Amma.

I had heard of Amma previously, but I never pictured myself having the opportunity of getting a hug from her! But lo and behold, Amma was in Oakland that day!

A drive across the Bay that could have been so frenzied and harried went so smoothly. I made myself a cup of tea and enjoyed it in the car on the way to Oakland. I easily found parking and found my way to the convention center.

Upon arrival, there was an honors-system VIP line for “first time hug receivers.” I got my ticket denoting which hugging group I would be in.

The day’s program began with singing, chanting, and dharma talks from Amma and her team members.

After the program, there was free time for lunch (the most delicious meal made by Amma’s devotees)…and shopping.

At the very first stand I encountered selling spiritual accoutrement and accessories, I saw a postcard depicting the goddess Tara in her very well-known green form. While I didn’t know it that day, I would come to learn about the unique positioning of Tara’s right foot, and how it differentiated her from so many other depictions of spiritual beings. (I purchased the postcard and tucked it safely into my bag. Tara’s postcard has watched over me at my desk every day since.)

While many spiritual images depict the subject in prayer or meditation, Tara is depicted at-the-ready—her foot is stepping off her lotus flower…so that she may enact her teachings in the world, real time. Tara is ready to help swiftly in delivering her compassionate actions, with no delay.

In other words, Tara walks the walk.

As I considered the prospect of opening up a yoga studio, I wondered how, and if, we could be willing to tackle this eons-old conundrum of “spiritual practice”—how, like Tara, can we cross the threshold from talking about spirituality, into walking the walk of a life of spirituality?

It’s the difference between talking about passing a shopping cart to a stranger at Trader Joe’s,…and actually going there right now and doing it. (You’ll have to come into the studio, and I’ll tell you that story).

What about that hug from Amma? I waited about 3.5 hours and received my hug early in the afternoon shortly after lunch, which, according to the old timers there that day, was a record fast wait time. I heard afterwards that many attendees received their hugs after midnight.

The hug was warm, sweaty (me, not Amma), and smelled entirely of Amma’s rose fragrance. She whispered ancient blessings into my ear and sent me off with prasad, (spirtual offering, typically a sweet treat after receiving darsan) in this case, a Hershey kiss in silver foil delivered atop a pink rose petal.

Word has it that Amma has had to go for dental work after a lifetime of such intense hugging. My essay does not do justice to the physical intensity of Amma’s task of giving hugs. Her attendees help funnel lines of huggers to her so that she can alternate right side hug, left side hug. It’s a highly organized undertaking.

What does all this hugging, and Tara, and grocery carts mean for YOU?

Am I saying a spiritual life has to “hurt” through dental work? Definitely not.

But do I think you need to sweat for it a little bit? Oh yes I do.

That bit of sweat when you finally get your hug, or when you hand a stranger a shopping cart in a hot parking lot, or the sweat that rolls down your brow on your yoga mat…is the gateway that straddles the threshold between a life spent talking about spirituality and a life spent living it.

If you’re ready to follow Tara’s lead, let’s practice walking the walk together.

I can’t wait to see what you do next.

You’re a star. 🌟

Love,

Marisa + Team Tara