Four empowerments: Difference between revisions
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*grants the blessings of the vajra mind | *grants the blessings of the vajra mind | ||
*purifies and enhances [[tiklé|bindu]] | *purifies and enhances [[tiklé|bindu]] | ||
*authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the ''chandali'' practices of bliss and emptiness (i.e. tsa lung and | *authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the ''chandali'' practices of bliss and emptiness (i.e. [[tsa-lung]] and [[tummo]]) | ||
*sows the seed for the attainment of the state of a ‘[[mahamudra vidyadhara]]’ | *sows the seed for the attainment of the state of a ‘[[mahamudra vidyadhara]]’ | ||
*enables the student to attain the [[dharmakaya]] level of realization. | *enables the student to attain the [[dharmakaya]] level of realization. | ||
=== The Precious Word Empowerment === | === The Precious Word Empowerment === | ||
Revision as of 17:31, 28 February 2012
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 (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 tummo)
- 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
- Thinley Norbu, The Small Golden Key (Shambhala Publications, 1999), pages 60-63.
- Tulku Thondup, Enlightened Journey (Boston: Shambhala, 1995), Chapter 12 'Receiving the Four Empowerments of Ngöndro Meditation'.