Four empowerments

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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.