Four empowerments: Difference between revisions
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'''Four empowerments''' (Tib. ''wang shyi''; [[Wyl.]] ''dbang bzhi'') — in general, there are four levels or stages within any [[empowerment]]: vase, secret, knowledge-wisdom and precious word. | '''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]]: | ||
#the vase empowerment (Wyl. ''bum pa'i dbang''; Skt. ''kalaśābhiṣeka''), | |||
#the secret empowerment (Wyl. ''gsang ba'i dbang''; Skt. ''guhyābhiṣeka''), | |||
#the knowledge-wisdom empowerment (Wyl. ''shes rab ye shes kyi dbang''; Skt. ''prajñājñānābhiṣeka'') and | |||
#the precious word empowerment (Wyl. ''tshig gi dbang''). | |||
==The Function of the Four Empowerments== | ==The Function of the Four Empowerments== | ||
| Line 28: | Line 32: | ||
'''4. The Precious Word Empowerment'''<br> | '''4. The Precious Word Empowerment'''<br> | ||
*purifies all defilements of body, speech and mind, and all karmic and [[cognitive obscurations]] | *purifies all defilements of body, speech and mind, and all [[karmic obscurations|karmic]] and [[cognitive obscurations]] | ||
*grants the blessings of vajra wisdom | *grants the blessings of vajra wisdom | ||
*authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the practice of [[trekchö]] | *authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the practice of [[trekchö]] | ||
Revision as of 15:17, 23 July 2009
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:
- the vase empowerment (Wyl. bum pa'i dbang; Skt. kalaśābhiṣeka),
- the secret empowerment (Wyl. gsang ba'i dbang; Skt. guhyābhiṣeka),
- the knowledge-wisdom empowerment (Wyl. shes rab ye shes kyi dbang; Skt. prajñājñānābhiṣeka) and
- the precious word empowerment (Wyl. tshig gi dbang).
The Function of the Four Empowerments
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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
- Tulku Thondup, Enlightened Journey (Boston: Shambhala, 1995), Chapter 12 'Receiving the Four Empowerments of Ngöndro Meditation'.