Sweeping Away Fears and Obstacles: A Green Tara Meditation Retreat
Venerable Angie Muir
February 19 - 22, 2026
A merit-multiplying retreat during the auspicious Fifteen Days of Miracles
Who is Green Tara
Green Tara is a beloved female Buddha who embodies swift, fearless compassion and the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas in feminine form. Known as the Mother of All the Buddhas, she responds quickly to those who call upon her, offering protection from fears, obstacles, and difficulties—both inner and outer.
Meditating on Green Tara is a powerful way to connect with our own innate potential for wisdom and compassion, cultivating confidence, clarity, and success in our spiritual aspirations. Her vibrant green color symbolizes active compassion, always ready to step forward and help.
Through visualization, mantra recitation, and heartfelt reflection, we learn to awaken these enlightened qualities within ourselves. As we connect with Tara, we connect with our own wisdom, our own fearless heart, and the compassionate strength that allows us to meet challenges with clarity and skill.
Please join Ven. Angie for this retreat, which includes short teachings, guided meditation on Tara, group discussion, and opportunities for silent contemplation.
As part of the retreat, we will also engage in chanting praises to the 21 Taras, as well as an incense and fire purification ritual.
A Thought from Lama Yeshe
“It is a simple truth that if we identify ourselves as being fundamentally pure, strong, and capable, we will actually develop these qualities; but if we continue to think of ourselves as dull and foolish, that is what we will become.”
—Lama Yeshe
Who is this for?
Students of all levels are welcome and may benefit from Tara practice. No initiation is required.
Fifteen Days of Miracles
Losar is the start of the Tibetan New Year and the first two weeks in particular – Fifteen Days of Miracles – commemorate the time when the Buddha, challenged by someone to a duel of mystical powers, uncharacteristically displayed his power by performing a number of miracles for the benefit of those present in danger of being misled by his challenger. At the end of the two week period, all those present had converted to the practices taught by the Buddha.
Any actions done during this two week period is multiplied by 100 million times. It is a very powerful time to practice and increase our commitments to practice and study, to use this beneficial time to assist in our personal evolution towards enlightenment, for the benefit of all beings.
Suggested Reading:
How to Free Your Mind: The Practice of Tara the Liberator by Thubten Chodron, Snow Lion Publications
Registration Closes
February 12, 2026
Additional Information
- Please plan on arriving between 3:00 and 5:00 PM on the first day of the retreat
- Please plan on departing at approximately 2:00 PM on the last day of the retreat
- You can see information about our accommodations in the registration process
About Retreat Fees (includes accommodation, 3 meals a day, and facility costs)
The collected registration fees include all accommodations, 3 nutritious vegetarian meals a day, and general facility/operating costs. Retreat registrations help support the center to keep everything operating, allowing us to invite so many precious teachers, and to hold this precious space of 70+ acres of secluded redwood forest to allow guests to have the quiet, contemplative space to continue spiritual growth.
About Vajrapani Institute
Vajrapani Institute for Wisdom Culture was one of the first Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Centers in America. Vajrapani aims to provide a friendly and conducive environment for people of all nationalities to learn, put into practice the teachings of the Buddha, and connect with other Dharma practitioners. Located on 70 acres of secluded land within the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz mountains, Vajrapani Institute has been an immersive space for people of all backgrounds to find and deepen their spiritual practices, with the main goal of bridging the gap between the head and heart of the practice.
Teacher’s Fees
Traditionally, spiritual teachings are considered priceless; offerings to our teachers are not included in the fee information detailed on this page. Instead, we invite you to consider bringing a cash donation with you to express your gratitude for the teachings.
The Buddha encouraged the practice of generosity as it develops non-attachment, loving-kindness, and compassion and deepens the awareness of our interconnectedness. Offering Dana to our teachers, a Pali word for “generosity,” is said to benefit both the giver and the receiver, helping the giver to practice generosity and the receiver to practice acceptance. Your offering of Dana can be whatever feels generous to you in your heart and your particular financial situation. If you can’t afford to give a cash offering as Dana, a thank you note is perfectly generous.
Participants will get a chance to present a cash offering to the teachers on the last day of the retreat and this is supplemented by a donation from Vajrapani Institute. Please note that we don’t offer a credit card option for Dana.
Financial Aid/ Scholarships
We want to make retreats available to everyone. With this in mind, we will gladly work out a payment plan with you if needed. If more assistance is necessary, we offer several scholarships. Please note that the scholarship deadline is one month before the retreat begins.
- For detailed information on setting up a payment plan, please see Financial Aid: Payment Plans
- To see if you’re eligible for a scholarship, and how to apply for scholarships, please see Financial Aid: Scholarships
Teacher
Born in Scotland, in 1970, she obtained a Bachelors Degree in 1992. Feeling disillusioned with her prospective career path and life ahead of her, she left Scotland and combined travelling with work in Asia for 3 years until in 1995 she felt a calling to go to India to explore meditation and find her life path. Within a few months “I had the incredible fortune due to some previous karma” to discover Tibetan Buddhism, meet her main spiritual teacher Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche (of almost 30 years) and become ordained. Venerable Angie has been a buddhist nun for…
Learn more about Venerable Angie Muir


