The Four Conditions For Empowerment

Empowerment is an initiation ritual that introduces one to a specific Vajrayana practice and authorizes them to engage in it.

During an empowerment, the vajra master transmits the realization of a particular practice to the initiate. 

This transmission doesn't bestow something the initiate lacks; rather, it activates a dormant quality.  

The vajra master's transmission awakens an innate quality to which the initiate previously had no access because it was obscured by habitual patterns.

This initiation allows one to enter the mandala and learn the visualizations, mantras, and mudras associated with that specific practice.  

Empowerment is one of three transmissions required for permission to engage in a Vajrayana practice. 

These three transmissions are:

* Wang: Transmission of the realization of the practice.

* Lung: Reading transmission that authorizes one to read the text.

* Tri: Instructions on how to perform the practice.

An Anuttarayogatantra initiation comprises four empowerments: 

* Vase Empowerment: This relates to the purification of the body, the sense faculties, and the phenomenal world, transforming them into the Nirmanakaya (manifest body of enlightenment).

* Secret Empowerment: This relates to the purification of speech, transforming it into the Sambhogakaya (enjoyment body).

* Knowledge-Wisdom Empowerment: This relates to the purification of the mind, transforming it into the Dharmakaya (body of ultimate enlightenment).

* Word Empowerment: This purifies the previous three, integrating them into the Svabhavikakaya (essential body), which represents the inseparability of the Nirmanakaya, Sambhogakaya, and Dharmakaya. 

For an empowerment to be effective, two causes and four conditions are necessary:

Two Causes:

 * Associated Cause: The presence of Buddha-nature within the initiate.

 * Cooperative Cause: The ritual implements and substances used in the ritual.

Four Conditions:

 * Causal Condition: The initiate possesses faith and intelligence. 

* Dominant Condition: A fully qualified teacher/vajra master is present.

* Objective Condition: The vajra master has knowledge of the ritual.

* Immediate Condition: The preceding stage or empowerment has prepared the initiate for the current stage.

The vase, secret, knowledge-wisdom, and word empowerments must be given in the correct sequence, as each prepares the ground for the next. 

Do you value our work?

If you find our blog helpful, please consider supporting our Buddhist research and development with a donation.

Donate via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3ywRH2N

Note: 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. 

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.

Abhiseka, The Secret Transmission of Vajrayana.

Abhisheka is a Buddhist ritual of anointment or consecration that involves pouring a liquid offering on a deity or practitioner. It's a significant moment in the journey toward enlightenment.  

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. 

In Tibetan Buddhism

What is abhisheka used for in Buddhism?Initiation: In Vajrayana Buddhism, abhisheka initiates practitioners into deity-focused practices. 
Purification: In esoteric Buddhism, abhisheka is a purificatory rite that signifies a change in status. 
Empowerment: Abhisheka symbolizes the empowerment of a practitioner or sacred object. 

How is abhisheka performed? Practitioners are anointed with water, practitioners make vows, practitioners chant mantras, and practitioners are introduced into a mandala. 

What are the different types of abhisheka? 

Master consecration: One of the four classes of abhisheka

Secret consecration: One of the four classes of abhisheka

Knowledge of prajna (“wisdom”): One of the four classes of abhisheka

The fourth consecration: One of the four classes of abhisheka. 

Abhisheka is also practiced in Hinduism and Jainism. 

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/3ywRH2

 *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.

The essence of Buddhist meditation - Dhyana of the Ten Perfections (3/3)

Dhyana in Vajrayana Buddhism 

Dhyana (in Tibetan: bsam gtan) (lit. “mental absorption”) One of a series of increasingly concentrated states attained in placement meditation. 

On the basis of the attainment of tranquil abiding, one may pass through four form-world absorptions and four formless absorptions, with the meditative equipoise of cessation sometimes added as a ninth. 

Mental absorptions may result in various yogic achievements, but they do not assure liberation unless combined with superior insight into the nature of reality.

Dhyana (meditation) refers to one of the six limbs of yoga to be employed in Uttamasev (excellent worship), according to the Guhyasamaja chapter 18. 

The Guhyasamaja chapter 18. Dhyana (meditation) is explained as the conception of the five desired objects through the five Dhyāni Buddhas, namely, Vairocana, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, and Akṣobhya.

This Dhyana is again subdivided into five kinds:
1) Vitarka (cogitation)
2) Vicara (thinking)
3) Priti (pleasure)
4) Sukha (happiness)
5) Ekagrata (concentration) 

Dhyana in Buddhism glossary 

1) Dhyana (meditation) or dhyanaparamita represents the fifth of the “six perferctions” (satparamita) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 17).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit. The work is attributed to Nagarjuna, who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Dhyana forms, besides being a part of the “six perfections” (satparamita), also a part of the “ten perfections” (dasa-paramita).

What are the 10 perfections of the Buddha?

The ten perfections in the Mahayana tradition are: 

1) Generosity (dana)

2) Ethical self-discipline (Shila) 

3) Patience (kshanti) 

4) Perseverance (virya) 

5) Concentration (dhyana)

6) Wisdom (prajna) 

7) Skilfulness (upaya) 

8) Aspirational prayer (pranidhana) 

9) Strengthening (bala) 

10) Deep awareness (jnana) 

2) Dhyana (absorption) or Caturdhyana refers to the “four absorptions” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 72):

The first absorption has thinking, reflection, and the happiness and joy born of seclusion.

The second has internal clarity and happiness and joy. The third is equanimous, mindful, and has full knowledge. 

The fourth absorption has complete purity of mindfulness and equanimity, with a feeling that is neither unpleasant nor pleasant.

3) Dhyana (meditation) or Tridhyana also refers to the “three kinds of meditation” as defined in the Dharma-samgraha (section 109

A) sadoṣosao pakarsa-dhyana (editation with fault that leads to decay)

B) sukhavaiharika-dhyana (meditation that is a happy abiding),

C) Asesasaibhusita-dhyana (meditation that is entirely magnificent).

Donations for our Buddhist research and development. 

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 consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development? 

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in 2008, we have been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 16 years. 

We have exceptionally constrained support and do not receive subsidies or funding from people in general.

Please help us develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you but all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us enhance our work and accomplish more for a better and brighter future.

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.