The Four Initiation Practice
(1) Before reaching the great empowerment of the Highest Yoga Stage, we need to ‘be serious’ to cultivate the Four Initiation Practice well.
(2) The Four Initiation Practice ranks after the Yoga Stage and before the first empowerment. Therefore, the Four Initiation Practice is not the main practice, but merely acts as an initiation practice, the preparatory foundation only.
(3) Contents of the Four Initiation Practice:
1. Taking Refuge
2. Prostrations
3. Mandala-Offering
4. 100-Syllable Mantra Practice (Vajrasattva long-mantra)
(4) Each part of the Four Initiation Practice must be satisfactorily performed 100,000 times, in total 400,000 times.
(In the midst of the Light/Pravartan Empowerment, at the time of enlightenment, there will be a manifestation of over ten thousand heavenly dakinis; some will be singing, some will be dancing, some will be making offerings, whilst, at the same time, informing you of your Buddha name.)
One must complete the 7-Refuge Practice 100,000 times and only then can it be considered as the fulfilment of the 100,000-time prerequisite.
The 7-Refuge Practice takes refuge in the Vajra Guru, the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, the Yidam, the Dakini and the Dharmapala.
2. Prostrations
The Admiring Prostration, in the 5-body-joint touching the ground style, must be performed 100,000 times.
3. Mandala-Offering (Mandala means Shrine)
Making offerings to various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can lead to blessed rewards. After accumulating assets of merits and blessed virtues, then practice can be free from obstacles.
4. 100-Syllable Mantra Practice
This is the Vajrasattva long-mantra, which has exactly 100 syllables and hence the term is named “100-Syllable Mantra”.
Able to remove our hearts’ innermost negative hindrance, dirt and ignorance.
(5) A Simple Explanation of the Four Initiation Practice
1. － The《Abhidharma-kosa-sastra》Volume 14 said, “What is the purpose of taking refuge? The purpose is to save and liberate; only by relying on taking refuge can we be forever liberated from all kinds of suffering.”
For this reason, the purpose behind taking refuge is to get rid of the pain and suffering inherent in the cycle of life and death.
In Vajrayana (Esoteric Buddhism), besides taking refuge in Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), we also take refuge in the Guru, the Yidam, the Dharmapala and the Dakini. This is because the Guru is the
root of our blessings, the Yidam is the root of our enlightenment, and the Dakini Dharmapala is the root of our enlightened activities. In order to run a smooth course for our cultivation, we need protective support of the Dharmapala and protective support of the Dakini which enable us to attain the third level empowerment.
2. － The Great Prostration, in the 5-body-joint touching the ground style, can eradicate the ego, eliminate karmic obstacles, and also smoothly moderate the flow of energy and pulse in veins.
3. － Buddhist practitioners should, above all, cultivate the highest offerings, by means of making offerings to the Guru, the Three Jewels, and the Vajra-dharmapalas, entreating them for blessings of enlightenment.
The Mandala-Offering consists of 7-offering, 27-offering and 37-offering.
4. － If the Buddhist practitioners can sincerely confess and intone the l00-Syllable Mantra, they can eliminate karmic hindrances.
If we can fully comprehend that all dharmas are marked with emptiness and awaken to the phenomena of emptiness, all our karmic hindrances will be eradicated, our cultivation will be free from obstacles, and we obtain various Buddhas’ and Bodhisattvas’ blessings, as well as the Dragon kings’ and devas’ protective support.
[Appendix] The Nyingmapa Sect has the Six Initiation Practice, where they cultivate the Great Perfection Initiation Practice. When compared to the Four Initiation Practice, the Six Initiation Practice is a different system. It has different objectives and one cannot be mistaken for the other.
The Six Initiation Practice is detailed as follows:
1. Taking Refuge
2. Arousal of intention to have Bodhicitta
3. Cultivation of Vajrasattva Purification Practice
4. Mandala-Offering
5. Bestowing Food Practice
6. Cultivation of Guru Yoga Practice (Guru Padmasambhava)
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