Tara; also known as Jetsun Dolma (Tibetan: rje btsun sgrol ma) in Tibetan Buddhism; is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the mother of liberation; and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. In Japan she is known as Tarani Bosatsu; and as Tuoluo in Chinese Buddhism. Tara is a tantric meditation deity whose practice is used by practitioners of the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism to develop certain inner qualities and understand outer; inner and secret teachings about compassion and emptiness. Tara is actually the generic name for a set of Buddhas or bodhisattvas of similar aspect. These may more properly be understood as different aspects of the same quality; as bodhisattvas are often considered metaphoric for Buddhist virtues.