Embodying Tara
An afternoon of chant, mantra, and sound
Chanting, Chai, Kitchari & Community
Saturday, January 16th, 3-5pm
IN PERSON ONLY
About the Gathering
Join Chandra Easton, Buddhist teacher, author, and devotional music artist, for an afternoon of sacred sound devoted to Tara, the beloved female Buddha of compassion and fearless action.
This afternoon, we'll meet the 21 Taras, each a distinct expression of awakened energy, from peaceful and nurturing to fierce and protective. This pantheon of 21 Taras comes from the Nyingma tradition of Jigme Lingpa's treasure cycle, the Queen of Great Bliss. Chandra will teach on several of these Taras as presented in her book, Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom, and guide us through their mantras and melodies from the 21 Taras Collective, the music project she co-founded to bring the mantras of all twenty-one Taras into song.
Through call-and-response chanting, mantra repetition, and meditation, we'll move together into the meeting place of sound and stillness. Rooted in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, and honoring Tara's presence in Hindu Tantric traditions as well, the gathering invites us to open to and embody Tara's awakened qualities, to drink from the wellspring of divine shakti, and to leave refreshed by collective ceremony and joy.
Come early to wander Pure Land Farms' beautiful garden mandalas, designed after the mandala of the Medicine Buddha, as a walking meditation. Afterward, we'll share chai (decaf) and kitchari (Indian vegetarian rice and dhal), with time to eat and connect together in community.
Come as you are. You're welcome to sing, listen, rest, or move as the practice unfolds. No prior experience with chanting, meditation, or Tara practice is needed.
Fee: $45
Your fees help make this evening possible — admin costs, snacks, tea, and donations to our musicians. We're so grateful for your support in keeping the arts alive!
If the price of admission makes this event inaccessible for you to attend, please email info@purelandfarms.com for financial assistance
IN PERSON ONLY
Chandra Easton is a Dharma teacher, devotional chantress, author, and Dorje Lopön (Vajra Teacher) of Tara Mandala founded by Lama Tsultrim Allione, where she was given the name Lopön Yeshe Dawa Zangmo by H.E. Gochen Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche. She took refuge with the 16th Karmapa at age four, studied Buddhism and Tibetan language at the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives in Dharamsala, and holds a degree in religious studies from UC Santa Barbara. She is the author of Embodying Tara: Twenty-One Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom (2023) and co-founder of the 21 Taras Collective (www.21tarascollective.org), recording music for the twenty-one Taras mantras. She co-translated Sublime Dharma, two texts on Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. Lopön Chandra has studied classical Hindustani singing with Rita Sahai and Sudhanshu Sharma, and teaches at venues including the Berkeley Alembic, SF Dharma Collective, Tara Mandala, and Esalen. Learn more at www.chandraeaston.com.
Lopon Chandra’s book is available for purchase via our online shop or in person at our shop before or after the event!
Saheb Singh is a dynamic tabla player whose work bridges tradition and innovation. He began playing at age 8 and performed publicly by 9, showing an early sensitivity to rhythm and musical dialogue. Rooted in Indian percussion and open to global influences, Saheb approaches rhythm as communication, connection, and healing. His playing weaves intricate patterns that elevate the collective sound. He has collaborated with artists across cultures, creating a rhythmic foundation that connects performers and audiences alike. Across classical, devotional, fusion, and contemporary settings, his artistry reflects integrity, collaboration, and expressive storytelling through rhythm.