This painting by Lama Zopa Rinpoche represents Tara, whose name means "star" or "she who ferries across." Tara is a bodhisattva of compassion who manifests in female form. In Tibetan, Tara is known as "Dlma" (Sgrol-ma), or "She Who Saves." In particular, Green Tara, represents compassion in action, since shes in the process of stepping from her lotus throne in order to help sentient beings.

According to Tibetan Buddhism, Tara was born out of the tears of compassion of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. It is said that he wept as he looked upon the world of suffering beings, and his tears formed a lake in which a lotus sprung up. When the lotus opened, the goddess Tara was revealed.

A similar tradition has White Tara born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara's left eye and the Green Tara born from those of his right. In a third legend, Tara was born from a beam of blue light emanating from one of the eyes of Avalokiteshvara. Green Tara, with her half-open lotus, represents the night, and White Tara, with her lotus in full bloom, symbolizes the day. Green Tara embodies virtuous activity while White Tara displays serenity and grace.