Tantric empowerment 1
Dharma Talk by Living Buddha Lian Sheng on 01/07/96
Today I shall talk about Tantric empowerment - an important ceremony in Tantra teachings. In order to cultivate Tantrayana, there must be a ceremony before we begin. The grand and holy ceremony includes among other things, `taking refuge` and `receive empowerment`. It serves the following purposes:
1. Purification - Once a disciple receives empowerment from a Vajra guru, he will turn over a new leaf, as all his past unwholesome karma are deemed to have been eradicated.
2. Energization - A Vajra guru can use his Dharma power derived from actual cultivation to energize his disciples. In other words, the Dharma stream from the cosmos consciousness and the Dharma power from the Vajra guru can be injected into the disciple𠏋 body.
It`s just like Chinese Gong-fu fighting novel, when one skillful master transfers his power accumulated over his life to his disciple so that he will have the strength equivalent to 500 years of cultivation. The higher the power the guru has, the higher the strength he can transfer.
3. Certification - Normally Sutra cultivation progresses from `cause to fruition`. Tantric cultivation is different; it progresses from `fruition to cause`.
As ordinary people, we cultivate and eventually become saints. This progress is `cause to fruition` - (from means to end). Tantric cultivation of `fruition to cause` does not mean we degrade from saints to ordinary people. It means after empowerment, it is certified that we have received the spiritual fruits. Just like Dipamkara Buddha (the twenty-fourth predecessor of Shakyamuni) who certified and foretold that Shakyamuni would be enlightened in due course and be known as `Shakyamuni Buddha` in the past.
After the certification, although we are known as Buddhas, we must still continue our cultivation so that our spiritual fruits will ripen in future.
4. Authorization - We are given the permission to cultivate the Tantric Dharma after the empowerment.
Without empowerment, it is illicit to cultivate the profound Tantra. Therefore we must take refuge and receive empowerment.
Why must we take refuge? Tantrayana values lineage. Without empowerment, there is no lineage to talk about. Moreover we must always invoke personal deity and root guru to empower us in our Tantric cultivation. If we do not take refuge, how can this be done? By taking refuge in our guru, we can receive oral instructions from our guru, we can invite our personal deity to sit on our crown, and finally we can ask all the past patriarchs to bless us.
The significance in empowerment can be described as `implant the consciousness of Buddha and his seed into the cultivator𠏋 body`. It is a serious matter. It is no just a superficial ritual.
A true Guru who has Dharma power will be able to transplant the seed of personal deity in the cultivator𠏋 body !D!D Alaya Vijnana storehouse to be exact. In future, the seed will spout, strike root, grow to become a real cultivation implement, and eventually blossom into the personal deity.
Empowerment is the union of cosmos consciousness, guru and disciple.
If the empowerment is powerful, an auspicious sign will be shown - unlike those who take refuge in Sutrayana, they will never experience anything. The disciples will feel power and energy flowing into their bodies. And they will feel strong.
Just like the cartoon character Popeye the sailor man. After taking a can of spinach, he becomes very powerful. The auspicious sign of empowerment is like the spinach taken by Popeye.
Tantrayana always mentions about Dharma power. If we are lucky to have received empowerment from a genuine Vajra guru, our strength will increase immediately. The is the main purpose of receiving empowerment.
That is all for today.
There are four levels of empowerment in True Buddha School, from the most basic to the most advanced.
Like an educational system, we must go through kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, post secondary school, university, master degree, and eventually doctorate degree. True Buddha Tantra clearly defines the sequence of cultivation in four distinctive levels.
Generally speaking, the four levels are outer Tantra empowerment, inner Tantra empowerment, Secret empowerment, and utmost secret empowerment.
Outer Tantra empowerment makes use of the vase as the medium of empowerment. You may have seen a Vajra guru holding a vase and spraying holy water to his disciples. Water is used to signify purification in the first level of empowerment.
After we have mastered all the Dharma in this level, we may progress to the inner Tantra empowerment. The second level of empowerment is for the cultivation of Qi, Mai and Ming Dian. The mediums of empowerment are red and white flowers. Red flower is used to signify the red Bohdi in our body; and the white flower is used to signify the white Bodhi in our body.
Next we may proceed to the secret empowerment, which is also known as unrivalled empowerment or touch empowerment in True Buddha School. The medium of empowerment is a pen, which is used to touch the chakra - this is a very profound empowerment.
And finally we can proceed to utmost secret empowerment (great perfection empowerment) - the greatest and final empowerment that is a proof of Buddhahood.
Let me reiterate the four levels of empowerment in Tantrayana.
They are Outer empowerment, inner empowerment, secret empowerment and utmost secret empowerment.
True Buddha School also follows the same conventions.
We must cultivate and have authentic experiences in the lower level before we can progress to the next level. When we reach the fourth level, there is no formal ceremony for us to follow.
When Shakyamuni Buddha picked up a stalk of flower and smiled, his disciple Kashyapa had fully comprehended what he was driving at. This famous incident was actually a formless empowerment. An accomplished Vajra guru can carry out formless empowerment in many ways. He may raise his eyebrows, utter the sound of `He` or `Ha`, or sip a cup of tea. All these can be done impromptu. Even when he says something that his disciples can understand can be construed as a formless empowerment.
In Zen Buddhism, empowerment can be in the form of scolding and beating. In Tantrayana, a formless empowerment can lead the recipient to realize that his mind has Buddha Nature. Formless empowerment is also called the great perfection empowerment as after receiving this empowerment, the recipient will get rid of all his karmic hindrance and be considered perfect in all aspects.
As Zen Buddhism points directly to human mind, once we are able to rediscover our self-nature, we can be enlightened instantly. Hence its practitioners are encouraged to cultivate on the nature of emptiness. We can say the central theme of Zen teachings is actually equivalent to the great perfection empowerment in Tantric terms. In other words, Tantrayana teachings progress from form (rituals) to formless (Great perfection). On the other hand, Zen teachings will never be revealed to outsiders, as Zen uses a very special teaching method - no words will be used - only those with very high intellectual capacity are qualified to cultivate.
Although Tantrayana is part of Mahayana school of Buddhism, its highest level of spiritual attainment is actually equal to that of Zen Buddhism - beyond the use of words.
Some Zen masters are of the opinion that Shakyamuni picking up a stalk of flower was a redundant act. Why must Kashyapa smile in return? What is actually required: Shakyamuni radiated light from his heart. Followed by Kashyapa radiated light from his heart. Then they beamed lights at each other. Outwardly, nobody should see and be aware of what was going on and this is considered Zen Buddhism.
When Shakyamuni Buddha picked up a stalk of flower, he was showing a telltale sign. When Kashyapa smiled in return, he was also showing a telltale sign. By leaving this trace, the famous incident can only be considered second best in Zen𠏋 traditions.
As great perfection empowerment is the highest level of verification that is carried out between Buddhas, no sign should be used.
Tantric cultivators must learn outer Dharma first, just like those who cultivate Sutrayana, so as to purify their unwholesome body, speech and mind.
When they progress further to the second level of empowerment, they should cultivate Qi (Inner winds) , Mai (invisible central channel) and Ming Dian (drops).
After having psychic response with their personal deities, they can progress to the third level i.e. unrivalled Tantra - i.e. to have a union with the great void (cosmos consciousness). When the period of union is prolonged, it is known as great perfection - attain Buddhahood.
Empowerment is just like a staircase that leads us from the most basic to the most advanced level of spiritual cultivation.
It is very important that those who want to cultivate Tantra should seek refuge and receive empowerment.
These are the purposes of receiving empowerment. As Tantric teachings are hard to come by, we human beings should treasure the Buddhadharma.
That𠏋 all for today.
There are four levels of empowerment in True Buddha School, from the most basic to the most advanced.
Like an educational system, we must go through kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, post secondary school, university, master degree, and eventually doctorate degree. True Buddha Tantra clearly defines the sequence of cultivation in four distinctive levels.
Generally speaking, the four levels are outer Tantra empowerment, inner Tantra empowerment, Secret empowerment, and utmost secret empowerment.
Outer Tantra empowerment makes use of the vase as the medium of empowerment. You may have seen a Vajra guru holding a vase and spraying holy water to his disciples. Water is used to signify purification in the first level of empowerment.
After we have mastered all the Dharma in this level, we may progress to the inner Tantra empowerment. The second level of empowerment is for the cultivation of Qi, Mai and Ming Dian. The mediums of empowerment are red and white flowers. Red flower is used to signify the red Bohdi in our body; and the white flower is used to signify the white Bodhi in our body.
Next we may proceed to the secret empowerment, which is also known as unrivalled empowerment or touch empowerment in True Buddha School. The medium of empowerment is a pen, which is used to touch the chakra - this is a very profound empowerment.
And finally we can proceed to utmost secret empowerment (great perfection empowerment) - the greatest and final empowerment that is a proof of Buddhahood.
Let me reiterate the four levels of empowerment in Tantrayana.
They are Outer empowerment, inner empowerment, secret empowerment and utmost secret empowerment.
True Buddha School also follows the same conventions.
We must cultivate and have authentic experiences in the lower level before we can progress to the next level. When we reach the fourth level, there is no formal ceremony for us to follow.
When Shakyamuni Buddha picked up a stalk of flower and smiled, his disciple Kashyapa had fully comprehended what he was driving at. This famous incident was actually a formless empowerment. An accomplished Vajra guru can carry out formless empowerment in many ways. He may raise his eyebrows, utter the sound of `He` or `Ha`, or sip a cup of tea. All these can be done impromptu. Even when he says something that his disciples can understand can be construed as a formless empowerment.
In Zen Buddhism, empowerment can be in the form of scolding and beating. In Tantrayana, a formless empowerment can lead the recipient to realize that his mind has Buddha Nature. Formless empowerment is also called the great perfection empowerment as after receiving this empowerment, the recipient will get rid of all his karmic hindrance and be considered perfect in all aspects.
As Zen Buddhism points directly to human mind, once we are able to rediscover our self-nature, we can be enlightened instantly. Hence its practitioners are encouraged to cultivate on the nature of emptiness. We can say the central theme of Zen teachings is actually equivalent to the great perfection empowerment in Tantric terms. In other words, Tantrayana teachings progress from form (rituals) to formless (Great perfection). On the other hand, Zen teachings will never be revealed to outsiders, as Zen uses a very special teaching method - no words will be used - only those with very high intellectual capacity are qualified to cultivate.
Although Tantrayana is part of Mahayana school of Buddhism, its highest level of spiritual attainment is actually equal to that of Zen Buddhism - beyond the use of words.
Some Zen masters are of the opinion that Shakyamuni picking up a stalk of flower was a redundant act. Why must Kashyapa smile in return? What is actually required: Shakyamuni radiated light from his heart. Followed by Kashyapa radiated light from his heart. Then they beamed lights at each other. Outwardly, nobody should see and be aware of what was going on and this is considered Zen Buddhism.
When Shakyamuni Buddha picked up a stalk of flower, he was showing a telltale sign. When Kashyapa smiled in return, he was also showing a telltale sign. By leaving this trace, the famous incident can only be considered second best in Zen𠏋 traditions.
As great perfection empowerment is the highest level of verification that is carried out between Buddhas, no sign should be used.
Tantric cultivators must learn outer Dharma first, just like those who cultivate Sutrayana, so as to purify their unwholesome body, speech and mind.
When they progress further to the second level of empowerment, they should cultivate Qi (Inner winds) , Mai (invisible central channel) and Ming Dian (drops).
After having psychic response with their personal deities, they can progress to the third level i.e. unrivalled Tantra - i.e. to have a union with the great void (cosmos consciousness). When the period of union is prolonged, it is known as great perfection - attain Buddhahood.
Empowerment is just like a staircase that leads us from the most basic to the most advanced level of spiritual cultivation.
It is very important that those who want to cultivate Tantra should seek refuge and receive empowerment.
These are the purposes of receiving empowerment. As Tantric teachings are hard to come by, we human beings should treasure the Buddhadharma.
That𠏋 all for today.
