White Tara • Page i

History of this Sadhana

This White Tara practice was written by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, the first Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, who lived 1813-1899. Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche is one of the four Regents of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The sadhana is clearly based on (and quotes in some places) an earlier, somewhat longer sadhana by the eighth Tai Situ Rinpoche, who lived about 100 years earlier. It is likely Lodro Thaye wrote this particular sadhana inspired by the need for a shorter practice suitable for daily recitation in lay life.

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye was one of the most famous and revered masters of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in 1813, he took on the responsibility of explaining and composing texts that incorporated teachings from all the Tibetan Buddhist traditions. These were all brought together in his Five Treasuries of Knowledge. Because of this gigantic scholarly work we have many teachings that would otherwise have been lost to us. He died in 1899. Given by the Ven. Kalu Rinpoche