Four powers

Four powers or four strengths (Wyl. bshags pa'i stobs bzhi) — the essential elements in the practice of confession.

1. power of support (Wyl. rten gyi stobs)
2. power of regret (Wyl. rnam par sun 'byin pa'i stobs)
3. power of resolve (Wyl. nyes pa las slar ldog pa'i stobs)
4. power of action as an antidote (Wyl. gnyen po kun tu spyod ldog pa'i tobs)

The Noble Sutra of the Teaching on the Four Factors says:

O Maitreya, bodhisattva mahāsattva, if you possess four factors, you will overcome harmful actions that have been committed and accumulated. What are these four? The action of total rejection, the action as remedy, the power of restoration, and the power of support.

Further Reading

• Patrul Rinpoche, The Words of My Perfect Teacher (Boston: Shambhala, Revised edition, 1998), pages 265-270.
• Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher, (Boston: Shambhala, 2004) pages 226-232.

External Links

• The Noble Sūtra of the Teaching on the Four Factors