The Four Empowerments

1) Vase 2) Secret 3) Phonya / 4) Ultimate /

empowerment empowerment wisdom-knowled precious word
ge Empowerment empowerment
Root Vajra Body Vajra Speech Vajra Wisdom Vajra Wakefulness
(Mind) (primordial
wisdom)
Purifies Body Speech Mind All-ground
consciousness
Nadi Prana Bindu Essence Habitual
Drops Tendencies
Pure perception Self and Sound as mantra Thoughts as Pristine
appearances as wisdom awareness/ rigpa
deity
Union of Appearance and Clarity and Bliss and Awareness and
emptiness emptiness emptiness emptiness
Time Period Waking Up Dream Deep Sleep Desire / Sexual
union
Mara Aggregates Afflictive Lord of Death Gods (distraction)
Emotions
Stage of Practice Generation Completion stage Completion stage Completion stage
(development) with with without
stage characteristics characteristics characteristics
(subtle channels (bindu or essence (cutting through
and winds ) drops) (trekchö) and
leaping across
(tögal))
Skillful Means Self-visualization Vase Breath, 6 Bindu of great Great Perfection
Vajra Yogas bliss (tummo)
Kaya (Enlightened Nirmanakāya Sambhogakāya Dharmakāya Svabāvikakāya
Body) (emanation body) (perfect (dharma body) (essence body)
enjoyment body)
Vehicle Mahayoga Anuyoga Anuyoga Atiyoga
Light Ray Color White Red Blue Yellow or white,
ed, and blue
together
Syllable Oṃ Āḥ Hūṃ Hrīḥ
Chakra Forehead Throat Heart Center Navel
Empowerment Touch vase to Drink amrita Red or orange Holding up a
Activity forehead sindura powder crystal, a mirror,
on a mirror or an or a peacock
image feather
Commentary Purifies clinging to Amrita fills subtle Movement of Crystal symbolizes
ordinary channels (nadi), mind is nature of mind,
perception of purifying subtle instantaneously mirror symbolizes
appearances winds (prana) interrupted by the awareness,
The Four Empowerments

power of the peacock feather

bindu of great symbolizes
bliss, thus the trekchö and
name "Wisdom thögal. It is the
Empowerment". It word that
is representative introduces the
or analogous nature of the
wisdom. mind, the actual
ultimate wisdom.