Four empowerments: Difference between revisions
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'''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]]: | <noinclude>'''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]]:</noinclude> | ||
#the vase empowerment (Wyl. ''bum pa'i dbang''; Skt. ''kalaśābhiṣeka'') | #the vase empowerment (Wyl. ''bum pa'i dbang''; Skt. ''kalaśābhiṣeka'') | ||
#the secret empowerment (Wyl. ''gsang ba'i dbang''; Skt. ''guhyābhiṣeka'') | #the secret empowerment (Wyl. ''gsang ba'i dbang''; Skt. ''guhyābhiṣeka'') | ||
#the knowledge-wisdom empowerment (Wyl. ''shes rab ye shes kyi dbang''; Skt. ''prajñājñānābhiṣeka'') | #the knowledge-wisdom empowerment (Wyl. ''shes rab ye shes kyi dbang''; Skt. ''prajñājñānābhiṣeka'') | ||
#the [[precious word empowerment]] (Tib. ''tsik wang rinpoche''; Wyl. ''tshig dbang rin po che'') | #the [[precious word empowerment]] (Tib. ''tsik wang rinpoche''; Wyl. ''tshig dbang rin po che'')<noinclude> | ||
==The Function of the Four Empowerments== | ==The Function of the Four Empowerments== | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
==Further Reading== | ==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 | *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. | *[[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'. | *[[Tulku Thondup]], ''Enlightened Journey'' (Boston: Shambhala, 1995), Chapter 12 'Receiving the Four Empowerments of Ngöndro Meditation'. | ||
| Line 45: | Line 48: | ||
[[Category:Empowerments]] | [[Category:Empowerments]] | ||
[[Category:Enumerations]] | [[Category:Enumerations]] | ||
[[Category:04-Four]] | [[Category:04-Four]]</noinclude> | ||
Revision as of 21:23, 14 June 2018
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 (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)
- 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
- 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'.