Four empowerments

Four empowerments (Tib. wang shyi; Wyl. dbang bzhi) — in general, and according to the inner tantras, there are four levels or stages within any empowerment:

1. the vase empowerment (Wyl. bum pa'i dbang; Skt. kalaśābhiṣeka),
2. the secret empowerment (Wyl. gsang ba'i dbang; Skt. guhyābhiṣeka),
3. the knowledge-wisdom empowerment (Wyl. shes rab ye shes kyi dbang; Skt. prajñājñānābhiṣeka) and
4. the precious word empowerment (Tib. tsik wang rinpoche; Wyl. tshig dbang rin po che).

The Function of the Four Empowerments

The Vase Empowerment

• purifies all the negative karma accumulated through negative actions of the body
• grants the blessings of the vajra body
• unknots and heals the nadi
• authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for kyérim, the generation stage of visualization
• sows the seed for the attainment of the state of a ‘completely matured vidyadhara’
• enables the student to attain the nirmanakaya level of realization.

The Secret Empowerment

• purifies all the negative karma accumulated through negative actions of the speech
• grants the blessings of vajra speech
• unblocks and re-balances the prana
• authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for mantra recitation
• sows the seed for the attainment of the state of a ‘vidyadhara with power over life’
• enables the student to attain the sambhogakaya level of realization.

The Transcendent Knowledge-Wisdom Empowerment

• purifies all the negative karma accumulated through negative actions of the mind
• grants the blessings of the vajra mind
• purifies and enhances bindu
• authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the chandali practices of bliss and emptiness (i.e. tsa lung and tümmo)
• sows the seed for the attainment of the state of a ‘mahamudra vidyadhara’
• enables the student to attain the dharmakaya level of realization.

The Precious Word Empowerment

• purifies all defilements of body, speech and mind, and all karmic and cognitive obscurations
• grants the blessings of vajra wisdom
• authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the practice of trekchö
• sows the seed for the attainment of the state of a ‘spontaneously accomplished vidyadhara’
• enables the student to attain the svabhavikakaya level of realization.

Further Reading

• His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Pure Appearance—Development and Completion Stages in the Vajrayana Practice (Halifax: Vajravairochana Translation Committee, 2002), pages 1-14. restricted publication
• Tulku Thondup, Enlightened Journey (Boston: Shambhala, 1995), Chapter 12 'Receiving the Four Empowerments of Ngöndro Meditation'.