Chapter 3: The Meaning of Transmission in Vajrayana Buddhism

In Vajrayana Buddhism, the concept of transmission is central to the path of awakening. Unlike general academic learning or self-guided spiritual practice, Vajrayana requires direct transmission from a qualified master. This sacred process ensures that the teachings are authentic, alive, and unbroken, passed from master to disciple through an unbroken lineage going back to the Buddha himself. 

What Is Transmission?

Transmission, or “lung” (ལུང་) 

In Tibetan refers to the master’s formal oral or energetic bestowal of a teaching. This can take the form of:

Reading Transmission (lung) – where the lama reads or recites sacred texts aloud to the disciple, thereby blessing them with the authorization to study, practice, or even teach that text.

Empowerment (wang) – a ritual initiation that opens the student’s inner capacity to practice a specific deity or tantric method.

Pith Instruction (tri) – personal guidance based on the teacher’s experience, helping the student internalize and realize the essence of the teachings.

These are not symbolic acts. In the Vajrayana view, transmission directly plants the seed of realization into the disciple’s mindstream, making advanced practices accessible and fruitful.

🔹 Why Is Transmission So Important?

Vajrayana teachings are often esoteric, involving complex visualizations, mantras, and subtle energy work. Without proper transmission, there's a high risk of misunderstanding or misapplying the teachings, which can even be harmful in some cases. Receiving transmission ensures:

The student is spiritually authorizepd to engage in the practice. The blessings of the lineage flow through the teacher into the disciple. The teaching is preserved in its purest and most effective form.

Transmission also binds the disciple to the samaya vows, a set of commitments to uphold the integrity of the teachings and the relationship with the guru.

🔹 The Living Lineage

Every authentic Vajrayana lineage maintains a careful record of its transmission history. For example, in the Nyingma tradition, teachings such as Dzogchen are transmitted through an unbroken line of masters and are considered “terma” or treasure teachings, discovered at the right time by tertöns (treasure revealers). 

In the Gelug, Kagyu, and Sakya schools, lineages of empowerments and oral instructions are also carefully maintained.

The living lineage is more than history — it’s a channel of blessing, a stream of wisdom that continuously flows from one generation to the next, carrying the awakened mind of the Buddhas to modern practitioners.o{

🔹 Receiving Transmission with Devotion

To receive transmission effectively, the disciple must come with:

1. Faith in the lineage and teacher,
2. Purity of intention
3. Readiness to practice the teaching with discipline.

Transmission is a two-way process — while the guru gives, the disciple must receive with a devoted heart and open mind. Without this inner readiness, even the most profound teachings may not take root.

🪷 Closing Thoughts

In the Vajrayana path, devotion is not blind faith, but a flame that lights the way through confusion and doubt. The guru is not worshipped as a person, but as a mirror — reflecting our own potential for awakening.

When we open our hearts with sincerity and humility, the blessings of the lineage flow naturally. Like a seed planted in fertile soil, devotion allows the teachings to blossom from within.

In this sacred bond between guru and disciple, we discover the alchemy of transformation — where ordinary perception dissolves, and the radiant mind of enlightenment begins to shine.

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Note

*This article is intended solely for general illustration and educational reading. It does not disclose any secret tantric texts or teachings, and makes no attempt to transmit esoteric instructions that are restricted or require formal empowerment. 

All effort has been made to respect the sacred boundaries of Vajrayana practice and to uphold the integrity of samaya vows and Dharma protectors.*

Thank you for reading. May you find peace and great bliss. Your support helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turn the Dharma wheel in the world.

Aspiration for Bodhichitta:

May the precious Bodhichitta, which has not yet arisen, arise and not diminish, but rather increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit:

By this merit, may we swiftly attain omniscience. Having overcome the enemies of wrongdoing, may we liberate all beings from the ocean of existence, with its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

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