Tara is the female manifestation of the buddha's omniscient mind. The colour green is associated with the air element. Hence, Green Tara is especially swift in granting the wishes of sentient beings. Tara is also known as the "Mother of all Buddhas" because she embodies wisdom - all buddhas are born from this wisdom.

There are many inner obstacles that hinder the development of our wisdom and compassion. These inner obstacles in turn create external obstacles. For the success of our Dharma practice, we are advised to rely upon a special deity or buddha, such as Tara. All the enlightened activities of the buddhas manifest in this female aspect, Tara the Liberator, in order to help living beings to successfully accomplish their goals.

Tara is quick to respond to our prayers. Here are some of the benefits of praying to Tara. In the future, you will:
 

	Achieve success in your career and business
	Increase your wealth
	Excel in your studies
	Be protected from fears, harms and dangers
	Gain good health and auspicious energy
	Obtain good rebirths in your future lives
	Complete the accumulation of both merit and wisdom
	Quickly attain enlightenment

Anyone can recite the mantra of Green Tara. The prayer of Tara has many extraordinary blessings. It is helpful to recite these prayers whenever one is troubled and wishes to seek solace.

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA means:
"I prostrate to Tara the Liberator, Mother of all the Victorious Ones."

OM signifies the enlightened qualities of Tara's holy body, speech and mind.

As we recite the word, TARE, Tara will free us from true suffering - samsara.

Reciting TUTTARE liberates us from the true cause of suffering: karma and delusions. When we take refuge in Tara, the main fear dispelled is that of the delusions. As we recite the mantra of Tara, she will release us not only from the internal suffering of the delusions such as ignorance, attachment, anger, pride, jealousy, miserliness, doubt and wrong views but also from external dangers such as floods, fires, diseases and epidemics. By reciting TUTTARE, our delusions are dispelled and we are liberated from the true cause of suffering.

TURE means the ultimate Dharma: true path and true cessation. Tara leads us to the true path of the three vehicles, according to our aspirations and capacities, and grants all success. Here success refers to the goals of the three vehicles - arhats, solitary realisers and fully enlightened buddhas.

SVAHA means "May the blessings of Tara that are contained in the mantra OM TARE TUTTURE take root in our hearts." If we want to attain enlightenment, we must first plant the root of the complete path to enlightenment that is contained in the mantra, OM TARE TUTTURE TURE SVAHA, in our hearts. We pray with total faith from the depths of our hearts to Tara. Through the blessings of Tara entering our hearts, we are able to generate the complete path to enlightenment. By realising the true path - the union of wisdom and method - in our minds, our impure body, speech and mind are purified and transformed into Tara's holy body, speech and mind.

Adapted from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings on Tara The Liberator. Courtesy of Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

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