Who is Green Tara, and what is meant by “Triple Excellence?”

Tara, the female Buddha of wisdom in action, revealed this complete path of perfect awakening. She spoke three times “excellent” or “legso” in Tibetan. This terma first appeared in the vast wisdom mind of the great treasure master of Tibet, Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. He devoted himself toward mastering her teachings, and practiced them in total seclusion for three years.

Thereafter, these teachings were transmitted through a precious lineage of accomplished gurus. According to the Vajrayana tradition, it is essential to receive direct explanations about your practice from a realized master who had received those same explanations directly from his or her teacher. This strictly observed chain of an unbroken oral transmission of teachings is called the mouth-to-ear transmission.

The initial transmission was given by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa in the 19th century to the illustrious master Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. After practicing these teachings until gaining accomplishment, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo then transmitted them to the non-sectarian master Kongtrul Lodro Thaye. He was instructed to write supporting commentary that would elucidate these teachings. It is this anciently sourced commentary that serves as the foundation for the entire TTE program.

Today, we are blessed to be the recipients of these direct practice instructions from a realized master, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, who is a close descendent of the treasure revealer himself. Receiving the same oral explanations directly from his teacher, Rinpoche is part of an uninterrupted chain of knowledge that extends through the millennia. Those of us fortunate enough to receive and practice these teaching are the beneficiaries of an unbroken lineage of transmitted wisdom that can be traced to the Buddha Shakyamuni himself.

Though this path of wisdom is ancient, its teachings are timeless.