Empowerment is to ripen or mature our buddha nature. Even though all beings possess the Buddha nature, without receiving empowerment it is not posspible to receive blessings and accomplishments through a particular practice, just as it will never be possible to get oil by pressing sand.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama says:
"When an empowerment is conferred on you, it is the nature of your mind—the Buddha nature—that provides a basis upon which the empowerment can ripen you.
Through the empowerment, you are empowered into the essence of the buddhas of the five families. In particular, you are ‘ripened’ within that particular family through which it is your personal predisposition to attain Buddhahood.
1) Repair violated and broken samayas,
2) Enable you to meditate on all the paths of the generation phase, the perfection phase, and the Great Perfection.
3) Prevent obstacles and errors from arising,
Allow all your attainments to develop more. and more.
- The ground empowerment
- The path of empowerment
- The result of empowerment
The ground empowerment is so called because when the nature of mind, sugatagarbha, is realized, this constitutes the "empowerment" of nirvana, and when it is not realized, this constitutes the "empowerment" of the three worlds of samsara.
The path empowerment is divided into three: ground, path, and result:
- The ground empowerment of the path empowerment
- The path empowerment of the path empowerment
- The result empowerment of the path empowerment
The result of empowerment: In the very instant following the result of the empowerment of the path, one gains mastery of the wisdom of omniscience and has authority over everything in samsalra and nirvana.
When other sources refer to ground, path, and fruition empowerments, they most The Function of Empowerment
Empowerment is the process of ripening or maturing our Buddha nature. While all beings possess this Buddha nature, without receiving empowerment, it's impossible to receive the blessings and attainments of a particular practice, much like trying to extract oil from sand.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama states:
"When an empowerment is conferred upon you, it is the nature of your mind—the Buddha nature—that provides the foundation upon which the empowerment can ripen you.
In addition to these points, Patrul Rinpoche explains that empowerments:
* Repair violated and broken samayas (sacred vows).
* Enable you to meditate on all the paths of the generation phase, the perfection phase, and the Great Perfection.
* Prevent obstacles and errors from arising.
* Facilitate the development of your attainments.
* The ground empowerment
* The path empowerment
* The result empowerment
The ground empowerment refers to the realization of the nature of mind, sugatagarbha. This realization constitutes the "empowerment" of nirvana. Conversely, the lack of this realization constitutes the "empowerment" of the three worlds of samsara. This nature is what is matured in the ground empowerment of the path empowerment.
The path empowerment is also divided into three:
* The ground empowerment of the path empowerment
* The path empowerment of the path empowerment
* The result empowerment of the path empowerment
When other sources refer to ground, path, and fruition empowerments, they usually refer to what Patrul Rinpoche presents as the ground empowerment of the path empowerment, the path empowerment of the path empowerment, and the result empowerment of the path empowerment.
In this context, Patrul Rinpoche explains:
"The empowerment we receive when first introduced to the mandala by an authentic Vajra Master is the ground empowerment."
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Footnote:
Vajrayana offers countless skillful and powerful methods that, when practiced correctly, can significantly accelerate the processes of accumulation and purification. It is crucial to have pure motivation and understand that Vajrayana practice is not intended to increase one's ego, power, or self-interest.
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.
