Difference between revisions of "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]]: | '''[[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]]: | ||
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#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]]''), | ||
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=== The [[Vase Empowerment]] === | === The [[Vase Empowerment]] === | ||
| − | *purifies all the negative [[karma]] accumulated through [[negative actions]] of the [[body]] | + | |
| + | *purifies all the negative [[karma]] [[accumulated]] through [[negative actions]] of the [[body]] | ||
*grants the [[blessing]]s of the [[vajra body]] | *grants the [[blessing]]s of the [[vajra body]] | ||
*unknots and heals the [[tsa|nadi]] | *unknots and heals the [[tsa|nadi]] | ||
| − | *authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for [[kyérim]], the [[generation stage]] of [[visualization]] | + | *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 ‘[[matured vidyadhara|completely matured vidyadhara]]’ | + | *sows the seed for the [[attainment]] of the [[state]] of a ‘[[matured vidyadhara|completely matured vidyadhara]]’ |
| − | *enables the student to attain the [[nirmanakaya ]] level of [[realization]]. | + | *enables the [[student]] to attain the [[nirmanakaya ]] level of [[realization]]. |
=== The [[Secret Empowerment]] === | === The [[Secret Empowerment]] === | ||
| − | *purifies all the negative [[karma]] accumulated through [[negative actions]] of the [[speech]] | + | |
| + | *purifies all the negative [[karma]] [[accumulated]] through [[negative actions]] of the [[speech]] | ||
*grants the [[blessings]] of [[vajra speech]] | *grants the [[blessings]] of [[vajra speech]] | ||
*unblocks and re-balances the [[lung|prana]] | *unblocks and re-balances the [[lung|prana]] | ||
| − | *authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for [[mantra]] {{Wiki|recitation}} | + | *authorizes the [[student]] as a receptive vessel for [[mantra]] {{Wiki|recitation}} |
| − | *sows the seed for the [[attainment]] of the state of a ‘[[vidyadhara with power over life]]’ | + | *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]]. | + | *enables the [[student]] to attain the [[sambhogakaya]] level of [[realization]]. |
=== The [[Transcendent]] [[Knowledge-Wisdom Empowerment]] === | === The [[Transcendent]] [[Knowledge-Wisdom Empowerment]] === | ||
| − | *purifies all the negative [[karma]] accumulated through [[negative actions]] of the [[mind]] | + | |
| + | *purifies all the negative [[karma]] [[accumulated]] through [[negative actions]] of the [[mind]] | ||
*grants the [[blessings]] of the [[vajra mind]] | *grants the [[blessings]] of the [[vajra mind]] | ||
*purifies and enhances [[tiklé|bindu]] | *purifies and enhances [[tiklé|bindu]] | ||
| − | *authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the ''[[chandali]]'' practices of [[bliss]] and [[emptiness]] (i.e. [[tsa-lung]] and [[tummo]]) | + | *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]]’ | + | *sows the seed for the [[attainment]] of the [[state]] of a ‘[[mahamudra vidyadhara]]’ |
| − | *enables the student to attain the [[dharmakaya]] level of [[realization]]. | + | *enables the [[student]] to attain the [[dharmakaya]] level of [[realization]]. |
=== The [[Precious Word Empowerment]] === | === The [[Precious Word Empowerment]] === | ||
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*purifies all [[defilements]] of [[body, speech and mind]], and all [[karmic obscurations|karmic]] and [[cognitive obscurations]] | *purifies all [[defilements]] of [[body, speech and mind]], and all [[karmic obscurations|karmic]] and [[cognitive obscurations]] | ||
*grants the [[blessings]] of [[vajra wisdom]] | *grants the [[blessings]] of [[vajra wisdom]] | ||
| − | *authorizes the student as a receptive vessel for the practice of [[trekchö]] | + | *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]]’ | + | *sows the seed for the [[attainment]] of the [[state]] of a ‘[[spontaneously accomplished vidyadhara]]’ |
| − | *enables the student to attain the [[svabhavikakaya]] level of [[realization]]. | + | *enables the [[student]] to attain the [[svabhavikakaya]] level of [[realization]]. |
==Further Reading== | ==Further Reading== | ||
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{{Nolinking|*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 | {{Nolinking|*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 | ||
*[[Thinley Norbu]], ''The Small Golden Key'' (Shambhala Publications, 1999), pages 60-63. | *[[Thinley Norbu]], ''The Small Golden Key'' (Shambhala Publications, 1999), pages 60-63. | ||
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{{RigpaWiki}} | {{RigpaWiki}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Empowerments]] | + | [[Category:Empowerments]]{{BuddhismbyNumber}} |
Latest revision as of 12:05, 18 August 2022
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:
- 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) and
- 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
- 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'.
