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. 

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 *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).

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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.