Abhiseka (Empowerment in Vajrayana Buddhism)

Abhiseka, (empowerment), in esoteric Buddhism, is a purificatory or initiatory rite in which a candidate is sprinkled with water or other liquid, signifying a change in status. Originally, abhiseka was an integral part of the ancient Indian royal consecration rite.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, an empowerment or consecration (Sanskrit: abhiseka) is an esoteric initiation or transmission of secret teachings performed by a tantric guru (vajracharya) to a student in a ritual space containing the mandala of a Buddhist deity. 

The initiation is traditionally seen as transmitting a certain spiritual power (Sanskrit: adhisthana, Tibetan: jinlap, sometimes translated as "blessings") that allows the tantric yogi to reach enlightenment swiftly or to attain other yogic accomplishments. 

Many tantric practices are commonly said to be secret and are only to be revealed after ritual initiation.

Other tantric practices may be openly known but are only considered to be effective after being initiated into the proper mandala, which corresponds to a specific practice.

The secrecy of teachings was often protected through the use of allusive, indirect, symbolic, and metaphorical language (twilight language), which required interpretation and guidance from a teacher.

The teachings may also be considered "self-secret," meaning that even if they were to be told directly to a person, that person would not necessarily understand the teachings without proper context or initiation. 

In this way, the teachings are "secret" to the minds of those who are not following the path with more than a simple sense of curiosity. 

Because of their role in giving access to the practices and guiding the student through them, the role of the Vajracharya guru or lama (who himself must have been initiated by a previous guru of a specific lineage) is indispensable in Vajrayana. 

Empowerment in Vajrayana Buddhism

Traditionally, there are three requirements before a student may begin a tantric practice:

• The ritual empowerment (Tib. wang)
• A reading of the text by an authorized holder of the practice (Tib. lung)
• The oral instruction on how to perform the practice (Tib. thri) 

Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work?

Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you please consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development?

Please support us via PayPal here:
https://bit.ly/3ywRH2N

*Footnote
Vajrayana features countless skillful and powerful methods that, if practised in the proper way, can make the process of accumulation and purification incredibly swift and direct. It is absolutely necessary to have pure motivation and to know that Vajrayana practise is not carried out to increase one’s own ego, power, or self-interest.

Thank you for reading. May you find peace and great bliss. With your support, it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turn the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease.

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrongdoings

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright on the picture(s).

Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful

distributors and/or studios

The picture(s) are intended for editorial use only.