PRESS RELEASE Of interest to editors and journalists covering: Books, Michigan News, Religion, Politics Book signing for 'The Tara Box: Rituals for Protection and Healing from the Female Buddha' by Author Gehlek Rimpoche Tara: The First Feminist: Goddess Of Old Is A Goddess For Our Time Detroit, MI - May 12, 2004 /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Member Of Last Generation Of Lamas To Be Born And Fully Educated In Tibet Before Communist Chinese Takeover, Authors Book On "Tara, The Mother Of All The Buddhas." Book signing June 5th and Tara Blessing Ceremony June 6th in his hometown of Ann Arbor WHO: Gehlek Rimpoche, author of bestseller Good Life, Good Death (Riverhead Books, 2001) and Founder and Director of Jewel Heart, a worldwide organization located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. An American citizen, Gehlek Rimpoche is particularly distinguished for his understanding of contemporary society, his skill as a teacher of Buddhism in the West, and for his unique ability to blend ancient Tibetan wisdom with years of living in a modern Western culture. WHAT: File This Under "Girl Power" And "Chicks Rule" Tibetan tradition tells us that ".... early monks, impressed by Tara's dedication and pure intention, told her that if she prayed for her deeds to accord with the teachings, she would ...be reborn as a man, which is befitting. She responded with the wisdom that befits her: Since there are many that wish to gain enlightenment in male form, but few who wish to work for the welfare of all beings in female form, I will remain in a female body until all beings are freed from suffering." She is also a balance to the overwhelmingly male divine imagery, as well as a counterpoint to the violence that we see escalating in the world today. Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike: Make a connection with this fully-empowered divine female figure. Book signing for THE TARA BOX: Rituals for Protection and Healing from the Female Buddha (New World Library, 2004, $22.95) by Gehlek Rimpoche. A beautiful boxed set artistically decorated with Indian and Tibetan paintings which opens to create a mini-altar and portable shrine for the enclosed exquisitely-carved miniature-sized Tara statue. Gehlek Rimpoche's elegantly illustrated book contains meditations, prayers, and rituals for healing, protection, and long life. Simply explained and easy-to-follow, these powerful and inspirational meditation practices have never before been published for a general audience. A Tara Meditation And Blessing Ceremony For Protection And Healing Follows On The Afternoon After The Book Signing WHERE AND WHEN: THE TARA BOX BOOK SIGNING: Saturday, June 5, 2004, 3 4PM Crazy Wisdom Bookstore and Tea Room, 114 South Main (between Washington and Huron) Ann Arbor/737.665.2757 Free to the public THE TARA MEDITATION and BLESSING CEREMONY FOR PROTECTION AND HEALING Sunday, June 6th, 2004, 3PM (90 minutes) First Unitarian Universalist Church 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Corner of Ellsworth & Ann Arbor-Saline Road Information 734.994.3387 x2 Free to the public WHY: The potential to inspire girls and women, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, all interested in the Sacred Feminine when they read about a fully-empowered divine female figure cannot be underestimated, and there is also a great need among men for such a connection to be made, says THE TARA BOX author Gehlek Rimpoche. MEDIA CONTACT Kathleen Ivanoff for author Gehlek Rimpoche kathleen@jewelheart.org +1-734-994-3387 # # # [ source of news = Author Gehlek Rimpoche ] ----------------------------------------------------------------- *IMPORTANT NOTE TO MEDIA: to reach the organization releasing this news, please contact: kathleen@jewelheart.org (media only) If used for publication, please send specimen copy. ----------------------------------------------------------------- S2P-R/0c/ MI / Detroit, MI / Copr. (c) 2004 Send2Press. This release was issued on behalf of the above organization, who is solely responsible for accuracy of content, by Send2Press(TM), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com