All of the principal Tibetan traditions of Buddhism have more in common than not. The energy behind Tibetan Buddhism is the spirit of Avalokiteshvara (“Lord who looks down in compassion”), the bodhisattva of compassion. The Tibetans believe that anyone can attain enlightenment. The bedrock of Tibetan spiritual culture is the commitment that each individual makes to help all sentient beings towards enlightenment. These Vajrayana schools come from the Mahayana tradition and mix native and tantric elements into their practices.

The role of the guru (or lama) in Tibetan spirituality is key, especially when it comes to the more sophisticated tantric practices, for which a student needs attentive guidance. The mantra Om mani padme hum (“Hail to the jewel in the lotus”) is woven into the very fabric of their society. This mantra is ubiquitous. It is on the lips of all Tibetans, on the walls of buildings, on prayer flags, in art, in jewelry, in stonework, on prayer wheels. The mantra captures the spirit of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tara

Tara is one of the important bodhisattvas in Tibetan Buddhism. She is the female embodiment of compassion (karuna) and lovingkindness (maitri in Sanskrit, metta in Pali). Atisha introduced the cult of Tara to Tibet in the eleventh century. According to myth, Tara was born from a lotus growing in a pool formed by tears of compassion shed by Avalokiteshvara when he saw the enormity of suffering that humanity experiences. Tara is also the mother of all buddhas. She also comes in different colors: green for divine energy and white for transcendent wisdom. In another myth, Amitabha Buddha radiated his thoughts into a lake where a lotus grew and later revealed Avalokiteshvara. He then changed himself into a monkey and mated with Tara to produce the ancestors of the Tibetan people.