four_empowerments

Table of Contents

The Function of the Four Empowerments
Further Reading

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'.

Empowerments Enumerations 04-Four