Details
An Introduction to Vajrayana Empowerments
Teachers:
Collection:
- Heartfelt Advice
Location:
- Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling
Translator:
- Thomas Doctor
Length:
- Mini Session (< 15min)
Features:
- Subtitles ,
- Transcripts
Excerpt
Chokling Rinpoche outlines that Vajrayana practice begins with ripening empowerments, followed by the study and integration of instructions and textual transmissions. These empowerments, particularly from the revealed treasure lineage of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, are meant to be put into authentic practice through deity yoga and commitment to the path.
Description
In this introductory teaching from the 2012 Annual Fall Seminar, Chokling Rinpoche explains that the practice of Vajrayana relies on three essential components: ripening empowerments, liberating instructions, and the transmission of authoritative texts. Empowerments are the gateway into the path of secret mantra, and they mature the disciple’s being to prepare for authentic practice. Once empowered, practitioners must engage deeply with the two stages of deity yoga—development and completion—while upholding the commitments that accompany initiation. Rinpoche emphasizes the importance of studying, contemplating, and practicing in harmony with the profound and direct wisdom of a short and precious lineage, particularly that of the revealed treasures (termas) of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. He highlights specific deity practices like Vajrasattva, Vajrakilaya, and Kurukulle, each with distinct benefits, and concludes by urging sincere and authentic engagement to bring about meaningful spiritual transformation.
Chokling Rinpoche was an extraordinary master, and we believe that simply seeing him, hearing his voice, and receiving his teachings can create an auspicious connection with Rinpoche himself and the sacred lineage he so powerfully represented.
Related Course Info
- Beads of Heartfelt Advice – Unstrung A collection of stand-alone teachings mainly by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, offering heartfelt advice suffused with wisdom. Many of these teachings were given as Saturday Talks—informal sessions Rinpoche offered for decades at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, open to all, both new and old. Each talk is complete in itself, like an unstrung bead—independent yet sharing the same essence, guiding us by means of wisdom and compassion.
Video
Audio
17:56
So we are receiving initiation,
and initiations are given
so that we, the practitioners,
can mature and ripen.
And in this way there
are three factors that we
rely on for the
practice of secret mantra.
The ripening empowerments,
the liberating instructions
and the supportive
text transmissions.
So those three principles are necessary
for the practice of Vajrayana.
And the entrance to the whole practice of
secret mantra is this ripening empowerment.
It's by ripening our stream of being
through receiving an empowerment,
through being initiated, that we then can
proceed to receive the text transmission,
and then on that basis also gain,
receive the instructions.
When we have all of these three principles
complete, then we are ready to pursue
the practice, which we can then do, the
practice of approach and accomplishment.
We can undertake in a place of practice,
in a retreat situation.
So, in order to be equipped for the
practice of secret mantra,
then we have to initially receive
empowerment and ripen
spiritually through
receiving this empowerment.
And the purpose of that, for us to
be able to successfully pursue and
accomplish the practice of secret mantra
that empowerments are given here today.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well, in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with, which is a very short lineage. So, if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular...
there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well, in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with, which is a very short lineage. So, if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular...
there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
17:55
So we are receiving initiation,
and initiations are given
so that we, the practitioners,
can mature and ripen.
And in this way there
are three factors that we
rely on for the
practice of secret mantra.
The ripening empowerments,
the liberating instructions
and the supportive
text transmissions.
So those three principles are necessary
for the practice of Vajrayana.
And the entrance to the whole practice of
secret mantra is this ripening empowerment.
It's by ripening our stream of being
through receiving an empowerment,
through being initiated, that we then can
proceed to receive the text transmission,
and then on that basis also gain,
receive the instructions.
When we have all of these three principles
complete, then we are ready to pursue
the practice, which we can then do, the
practice of approach and accomplishment.
We can undertake in a place of practice,
in a retreat situation.
So, in order to be equipped for the
practice of secret mantra,
then we have to initially receive
empowerment and ripen
spiritually through
receiving this empowerment.
And the purpose of that, for us to
be able to successfully pursue and
accomplish the practice of secret mantra
that empowerments are given here today.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well, in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with, which is a very short lineage. So, if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular...
there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well, in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with, which is a very short lineage. So, if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular...
there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
Video
Audio
11:35
So we are receiving initiation,
and initiations are given
so that we, the practitioners,
can mature and ripen.
And in this way there
are three factors that we
rely on for the
practice of secret mantra.
The ripening empowerments,
the liberating instructions
and the supportive
text transmissions.
So those three principles are necessary
for the practice of Vajrayana.
And the entrance to the whole practice of
secret mantra is this ripening empowerment.
It's by ripening our stream of being
through receiving an empowerment,
through being initiated, that we then can
proceed to receive the text transmission,
and then on that basis also gain,
receive the instructions.
When we have all of these three principles
complete, then we are ready to pursue
the practice, which we can then do, the
practice of approach and accomplishment.
We can undertake in a place of practice,
in a retreat situation.
So in order to be equipped for the
practice of secret mantra,
then we have to initially receive
empowerment and ripen
spiritually through
receiving this empowerment.
And the purpose of that for us to
be able to successfully pursue and
accomplish the practice of secret mantra
that empowerments are given here today.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with which is a very short lineage. So if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular... there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with which is a very short lineage. So if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular... there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
11:35
So we are receiving initiation,
and initiations are given
so that we, the practitioners,
can mature and ripen.
And in this way there
are three factors that we
rely on for the
practice of secret mantra.
The ripening empowerments,
the liberating instructions
and the supportive
text transmissions.
So those three principles are necessary
for the practice of Vajrayana.
And the entrance to the whole practice of
secret mantra is this ripening empowerment.
It's by ripening our stream of being
through receiving an empowerment,
through being initiated, that we then can
proceed to receive the text transmission,
and then on that basis also gain,
receive the instructions.
When we have all of these three principles
complete, then we are ready to pursue
the practice, which we can then do, the
practice of approach and accomplishment.
We can undertake in a place of practice,
in a retreat situation.
So, in order to be equipped for the
practice of secret mantra,
then we have to initially receive
empowerment and ripen
spiritually through
receiving this empowerment.
And the purpose of that, for us to
be able to successfully pursue and
accomplish the practice of secret mantra
that empowerments are given here today.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well, in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with, which is a very short lineage. So, if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular...
there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
So, that is the purpose for receiving initiation and empowerment, and therefore once we have received the empowerment, we are meant to take the next steps and put, and practice on the basis of having received this maturing initiation. And so we get into the practice of development and completion, the two stages of deity yoga. And we need to then become very familiar with the practice so that we know how to practice these two stages. The development stage, giving rise to the deity and the divine environment, and then the completion stage. We need to know what the deity is, we need to know how one practices the deity, what the completion stage consists in, and then put that knowledge to use and actually master the two stages of deity yoga. So in other words, once we receive empowerment, then that must lead to practice.
In other words, if we just receive empowerment and leave it like that, then something is wrong. With empowerment comes commitment, and those commitments first of all need to be understood and then we need to live up to them. We need to understand what it takes to be a Vajrayana practitioner and how we can remain qualified Vajrayana practitioners and then ensure that that is actually the case. And basically this again comes down to following through with and accomplishing the two stages, development and completion. So there's an amount of study involved as well, in coming to understand what really the commitments of secret mantra are and what the practices are so that we can ensure that what we receive here today comes to full fruition.
So again we need to understand once we receive empowerment, then next we need to understand what it means to be in accord with that which we have been introduced to through receiving the empowerment. We need to learn and then begin to think in a way that accords with the view and the practice of secret mantra. So we need to receive authentic instruction and we need to learn what it says in the authoritative texts about the practice of secret mantra. And then we ourselves need to begin to really be that way and to think and behave in a way that is in accord with that knowledge. And if we do that, if we practice development and completion stage in that way
if we live up to our commitments, then there will be amazing results because these practices are profound and extremely powerful. There is a precious lineage that we can connect with, which is a very short lineage. So, if we just can attune ourselves to the wisdom of that lineage, then by just beginning to be in accord with the wisdom of the lineage, then a whole range of amazing beautiful results will begin to manifest.
A whole range of wonderful results to be achieved by connecting with and being in accord with the wisdom that is the nature of this lineage. And so if we practice, and there are many ways of practicing. There are elaborate ways and concise ways of practicing, elaborate and sort of unelaborate ways of practicing. Whichever we feel comfortable with is the one that we should pursue. What really matters is that we practice in an authentic way. In other words, that we gain authentic knowledge and then make use of that knowledge in an authentic way. Then whichever form our practice takes will in any case be excellent. So if we can practice in that way, then doing the practices of Vajrasattva will purify our being and we will be able to shed the obscurations that prevent us from otherwise experiencing the wisdom of enlightenment. So if we can practice Vajrasattva like that in a retreat situation, there will be profound results. And the practice of Vajrakaliya is a practice that is particularly beneficial in terms of overcoming obstacles, whatever harms and difficulties and challenges we may be facing. By practicing Vajrakaliya, we will be able to emerge successful in the face of any challenge. That is the power of accomplishing Vajrakaliya. And for the practice of Kurukulle, the Dakini, there is a mastery of activity that comes through that. The four activities we will be able to master through the practice of the Lotus Dakini. So in this way, each of the deities have their particular...
there's a particular range of effects that are associated with them individually. But as a whole, whichever deity of secret mantra that we practice, as long as the practice is genuine, based on genuine understanding, then certainly there will be these effects.
No need to talk about this at length, But the lineage is precious and it's a very short lineage that we can therefore also connect with in a very immediate and powerful way. And if we do that by being in harmony with the wisdom of the lineage and beginning to manifest ourselves this wisdom of the lineage, then there will be a wonderful development that begins to take place. If we ourselves connect with the lineage and practice in accord with the lineage, then just basically from now on everything will be a story of beautiful and deeply meaningful development. So this is important to keep in mind that there are these processes that are just ready to unfold by us just turning in the right direction.
Among all the different teachings that were transmitted into Tibet, when it comes to... Among all the different teachings of the Enlightened One we can make a basic division in terms of the causal vehicle of characteristics and the resultant vehicle of secret mantra. And the teachings that we receive today belong to the latter category of secret mantra, the vehicle of the result. And when it comes to the practice of secret mantra, Vajrayana, then in the way that these teachings were transmitted into Tibet, there came about two distinct transmissions based on the period at which the teachings were transmitted. And so we have the ancient tantras and the new tantras which are called like that with reference to the time at which they were transmitted from India and so on to Tibet. Our teachings that we receive here today belong to the first category, the ancient teachings. And there, in terms of the Nyingma school and their practices of secret mantra, there is the transmission, the distant transmission of the kama and the close transmission of the terma and then the transmission of pure vision. The teachings that we receive here belong to the second category, the close transmission of the termas. And in particular, these termas were revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa who was an emanation of the manifestation of Manjushri Murub Tsepo, the prince, at the time of the introduction of the Vajrayana into Tibet. So we will receive in this way teachings of the secret mantra, of the ancient transmission as transmitted in the lineage, the close lineage of revealed treasure.
