
Receiving Tibetan Buddhist Empowerment
Tibetan Buddhist empowerment may seem very mysterious and like a grand performance. And there is a lot of misunderstanding about what it means to receive
Tibetan Buddhist empowerment may seem very mysterious and like a grand performance. And there is a lot of misunderstanding about what it means to receive
Since today is such a special and auspicious day, I thought to say little about “Lamey Naljor” or Guru Yoga, which is the practice of
Phakchok Rinpoche advises listeners on the best way to enter the Tibetan Vajrayana path by relying on three pillars to build a strong foundation.
In this excerpt from “In the Footsteps of Bodhisattvas”, Phakchok Rinpoche discusses discipline, and how it is essential to a strong meditation practice.
Samye Institute rejoices in the merit generated by our sangha during the global Riwo Sangchö practice.
Within In the Footsteps of Bodhisattvas, Phakchok Rinpoche clearly shows how genuine meditation is contingent upon bringing together many supportive conditions. However, Rinpoche also articulates
Phakchok Rinpoche teaches that if we are holding any anger, we are not free. When you’re even mildly annoyed at someone, the mind is disturbed
Jack DeTar shares Rinpoche’s path of authentic meditation taken from “In The Footsteps of Bodhisattvas”
To conclude our Copper-Colored Mountain series on this last Guru Rinpoche day of the year of the pig, I would like to share with you
Today, I would like to share with you the account of the visionary journey to Zangdok Palri of one of the great female practitioners of
To receive the latest teachings and information from Samye Institute, including Phakchok Rinpoche’s monthly Guru Rinpoche Day message.
© 2022 Samye Institute · All Rights Reserved.
Tibetan Buddhist empowerment may seem very mysterious and like a grand performance. And there is a lot of misunderstanding about what it means to receive an empowerment. We may have heard friends or relatives talk about going to receive many empowerments, but sometimes it is not clear at all what that means. In this audio excerpt, taken from a teaching given in Japan in 2017, Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche explains the core principles. Additionally, he shares some observations about cultural interpretations of empowerment.
In Tibetan culture, Rinpoche explains that traditionally, many people don’t follow the visualization as it is described by the lama or vajra master. When he describes this, he is referring to larger, public empowerments. In these situations, he observes that people are just there to receive blessed substances. They focus on sipping some holy water or wait to be touched on the head with ritual implements. Then, in common parlance, they say they have "received the empowerment."
However, in the Vajrayāna tradition, we don’t say that is true empowerment. Instead, we say that the people received some blessings. But in Tibetan culture, many people say that they received empowerment. However, Rinpoche notes that he follows his own teacher's advice. His teacher said that when you don’t follow the visualization explanation given during empowerment, then what you receive is blessings. What do blessings mean?
Blessings are quite helpful and important, and we may feel confident that these do exist. When we discuss blessings, we speak of certain benefits. Here, Rinpoche mentions three possible types of blessings:
In Tibetan terminology, we use the word dbang ( pronounced wang). That itself is a translation of the Sanskrit abhiṣeka. This term contains several meanings. We can translate it as “pouring” or sprinkling, or cleansing, or ripening. In English, we primarily use the term “empowerment”.
How do we understand "pouring"? In this instruction, Phakchok Rinpoche uses the example of empowerment from the Tukdrup Barché Künsel.
Phakchok Rinpoche received empowerment directly from his teacher and grandfather, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen had received the empowerment from his teacher Samten Gyatso. Previously, Samten Gyatso received this from his teacher Tsewang Norbu. And Tsewang Norbu received it directly from the great treasure revealer Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. Chokgyur Lingpa revealed the treasure text from inside a mountain. Thus, Chokgyur Lingpa received the blessings directly poured down from Guru Rinpoche. And this is how we understand that these blessings continue to pour down through the masters.
The ripening aspect of empowerment refers to the fact that we all have Buddha-nature. We really need to understand that we all have this nature within us as a seed. But in order for the pure seed, our nature as Guru Rinpoche, within us to blossom, we need to “water” it with the showered blessings of empowerment. Please understand that we are not given anything we don't already possess. Our natures are already pure.
So, in the empowerment, Rinpoche (or another vajra master) gives us the water—but as recipients, we also need to participate—we need to tend the watered seed. Here, Rinpoche uses the metaphor of a bonsai tree. In order for the tree to grow successfully, we must care for it.
Also, we don't expect immediate results—we take some time to cultivate it, and we must put forth some effort. Similarly, when we receive the empowerment, we are given a representation of Guru Rinpoche. We receive a photo and a short prayer. That prayer, a supplication, is like a template. By reciting it and really taking the meaning to heart, we ourselves “pour” and water, or ripen, our pure nature seed every day.
There was a problem reporting this post.
Please confirm you want to block this member.
You will no longer be able to:
Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.