White Tara

White Tara is the female buddha of long life who is sometimes depicted in a triumvirate of longlife deities that include Amitayus and Namgyalma. Our beloved teacher, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, holds White Tara close to his heart and we practice his White Tara sadhana weekly at Gar Drolma to benefit ourselves and others.

From a spiritual perspective, a long life gives us more time to create the causes for positive advancement along the path to enlightenment. Our lifetimes should be spent benefitting as many beings as possible. This is especially true for high lamas who can benefit thousands of people.

White Tara is depicted seated in the vajra posture surrounded by an aura of rainbow-colored rings. Her hand mudras are similar to Green Tara, with her right hand in the gesture of supreme generosity and her left hand holding a stem of a blue utalpa flower near her heart. However, she uniquely has seven eyes—three on her face, including one on her forehead, and the remaining four on the palms and soles of her feet. It is said they enable her to see all beings in all the realms of existence. Her expression is deeply compassionate and peaceful.

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