Four empowerments
Four empowerments (Tib. དབང་བཞི་, 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 (Skt. kalaśābhiṣeka; Wyl. bum pa'i dbang)
- the secret empowerment (Skt. guhyābhiṣeka; Wyl. gsang ba'i dbang; )
- the knowledge-wisdom empowerment (Skt. prajñājñānābhiṣeka; Wyl. shes rab ye shes kyi dbang)
- the precious word empowerment
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
- Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Guru Yoga: According to the Preliminary Practice of Longchen Nyingtik (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1999), pages 63-70.
- Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, Not for Happiness (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2012) Ch.13 'Abhisheka and the Four Empowerments in Guru Yoga'.
- Mingyur Rinpoche, Turning Confusion into Clarity (Boulder: Snow Lion, 2014), pages 331-335.
- 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'.
Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha
- Ven. Sean Price, Lerab Ling, question & answer session, 15 June 2019