Part 14
Some people may say that they have practiced Tara for so long but still there are no signs or auspicious dreams about Tara. This happens sometimes and there is also a story about the first life of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. There were some obstacles to his life so he practiced Tara for approximately six or ten months. During his entire time in retreat he did not have a single dream about Tara.
Even though he was a great spiritual master he eventually grew tired of his practice and he wasn’t sure if he will ever accomplish it. So he stopped the retreat and he left. When he was traveling along the grass fields, he met this young girl who held a bundle of flowers in her hands. She offered it to him and he just felt that it was strange and why it happened. Then he arrived home and he counted those flowers. There were 108 and it is said that Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche lived to the age of 108. This little girl really was an emanation of Tara.
Even if someone doesn’t necessarily have certain physical marks or signs, still somebody may come and clear away ones hindrances. Also it happened to Gampopa and so on. There are many examples but I just highlighted the story of Jamgon Kongtrul because many of you are familiar with him. He is a great master of the Kagyu lineage so therefore I thought of sharing this story as an example. But it can probably be found in the biography of Jamgon Kongtrul. 💚