The venerable Tara has always been one of the most significant deities in both India and Tibet. Among all the lineages of Tara, this particular lineage of Five-Deity Tara passed down from Nagarjuna has the most venerable source and longest history. Moreover, it is also an important practice of the Karma Kagyu lineage, and due to karmic connections and aspirations, there is a deep connection for both Buddhism in general and the individual practitioner when members of the Karma Kagyu lineage do this practice; it is a genuine transmission of the lineage.

The Seventeenth Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje recently wrote a long liturgy for the Five-Deity Tara practice and thus revived the practice in Karma Kagyu monasteries and nunneries. Though this is in itself a great fortune, His Holiness has also had it in mind that a short daily practice that would be easy for individuals to do would be beneficial, and several interested people also encouraged him to write one. He therefore wrote this daily practice, A Garland of Blue Lotuses. Not only is the language beautiful, the main points of the practice are all complete within it, so it has great power and blessings. Now that it is being published on Dharma Ebooks, we encourage everyone to practice it.