Four empowerments

Four empowerments (Tib. wang shyi; dbang bzhi) - In general, there are four levels or stages within any empowerment: vase, secret, knowledge-wisdom and precious word.

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 accomplishing vidyadhara’
• enables the student to attain the svabhavikakaya level of realization.