Four empowerments

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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:

  1. the vase empowerment (Wyl. bum pa'i dbang; Skt. kalaśābhiṣeka),
  2. the secret empowerment (Wyl. gsang ba'i dbang; Skt. guhyābhiṣeka),
  3. the knowledge-wisdom empowerment (Wyl. shes rab ye shes kyi dbang; Skt. prajñājñānābhiṣeka) and
  4. the precious word empowerment (Wyl. tshig gi dbang).

The Function of the Four Empowerments

The Vase Empowerment

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 tümmo)
  • 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

Further Reading

  • Tulku Thondup, Enlightened Journey (Boston: Shambhala, 1995), Chapter 12 'Receiving the Four Empowerments of Ngöndro Meditation'.