4 HigHer Empowerments
With 3 confidences and a clear commitment transition towards the yogic practicesA Serious Step Forward And Commitment
The Four Higher Empowerments are designed to guide a practitioner beyond the conceptual mind, offering glimpses into the nature of reality through a transformative, sacred process. Rooted in the Kalachakra Tantra, their purpose is to introduce the practitioner to the nature of the mind by establishing the union of immutable bliss and empty-form—the view that forms the foundation for non-conceptual meditation in the Kalachakra completion stage. This empowerment is bestowed just prior to engaging in the uncommon preliminary of Wen-Sum, the Three Isolations of body, speech, and mind, and is the threshold for practicing the Six Vajra Yogas.
Khentrul Rinpoche does not offer these empowerments publicly or to just anyone. At Dzokden, an application process is in place to ensure the appropriate karmic connection. This process provides an opportunity for students to reflect deeply and determine—through the clarity of their own heart—whether Rinpoche is their root guru and whether the Kalachakra path is the one they are ready to commit to in this life.
Structure of the Empowerments
Like the Seven Empowerments of a Growing Child, the Four Higher Empowerments follow a three-part structure:
- Preliminaries
- The Actual Empowerments
- Concluding Activities
This overview focuses on the actual empowerments, as the preliminaries and conclusions mirror those of generation stage practices. Each empowerment focuses on a specific aspect of ultimate truth. By familiarising ourselves with these aspects, we gain insight into the specific approach used by the Six Vajra Yogas in order to produce the state of enlightenment. In this way, the four empowerments can be seen as an essential blueprint for the structure of the Kalachakra completion stage. The following table summarises some of the important correlations to keep in mind during this discussion:
| Truth | Empowerment | Focus | Basis | Purifies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | Vase | Empty-Form | Body | Waking State |
| Conventional | Secret | Immutable Bliss | Bhaga | Dream State |
| Conventional | Wisdom | Inseparable Union | Relative Bodhicitta | Deep Sleep State |
| Ultimate | Word | Non-Dual Awareness | Ultimate Bodhicitta | Blissful Absorption |
4 Higher Empowerments
This is an important transition point on your path. It is the beginning of the transition towards non-conceptual yogic practices. It relies on your devotion to the guru, Bodhicitta and faith in the lineage.
The 4 Drops
To help simplify the process of transformation which is established through the preliminary practices, we can think of four stages leading to a non-conceptual awareness.
1.
The Body Drop
of the Waking State
Establish a felt connection to your Buddha-nature through working with direct sensory experience
2.
The Speech Drop
of the Dream State
Strengthen this connection by developing a clear mental model which accords with the definitive meaning
3.
The Mind Drop
of the Deep-Sleep State
Remove conceptual patterns which prevent this nature from manifesting by reflecting on the nature of self
4.
The Wisdom Drop
of Meditative Absorption
Learn to abide in the nature of the mind which is free from conceptual elaborations
- Body Drop of the Waking State
- Speech Drop of the Dream State
- Mind Drop of the Deep-Sleep State
- Wisdom Drop of Meditative Absorption
The body drop is all of the sensory appearances which arise to our mind while we are awake. These appearances are primarily rooted in the five sense faculties of the body—namely the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and the nervous system. Through these five, we experience sights, sounds, smells, tastes and tactile sensations.
When we think of the preliminaries as a process of movement from gross to subtle states of consciousness, then we need to establish a connection between the ground state—where we start—and the resultant state—where we wish to end. By connecting ground and result, we establish a continuum of experience that we can follow down through the layers of our mind.
The way that we establish this connection is through empowerment. While this process can occur in the context of an elaborate ritual ceremony in which a spiritual master introduces us to our ultimate nature, the moment of empowerment can also occur in a variety of other contexts. Whenever the conditions come together for the clouds of our conceptual obscurations to part just enough for the light of our sacred truth to shine forth in our experience, in that moment, we receive some degree of empowerment. Whether the empowerment is strong or weak depends entirely on how much of your nature you were able to experience in that moment.
What this means is that we can use a wide variety of methods to connect with our enlightened nature through the five senses. Perhaps the empowerment comes on a nature hike when your conceptual mind pauses in the face of astounding beauty or stillness. Perhaps it comes while practicing charity and you come face-to-face with the suffering of another. When we truly open ourselves to the possibility of receiving empowerment in any moment, then we develop a profound basis for appreciation of our world and all of the beings within it.
Through the momentary experiences generated by our sensory consciousnesses it is possible to inspire the mind to turn inwards towards its ultimate truth. However, as long as that connection is unstable, inspiration will quickly fade and deeper insight will be limited. Therefore, we turn to training with the speech drop as a method to establish stability in our connection.
The speech drop refers to all of the appearances which arise within the gross mental consciousness. These include thoughts, mental images, emotional responses and so forth. We can see these phenomena most actively during the periods of the night when our dreams are manifest. However, we can also work with these experiences during the daytime when we engage in meditation or any activity that focuses on the internal world of our minds.
Through the conscious formation of specific thought patterns which accord with reality, it is possible to let go of other patterns which distort or obstruct the manifestation of that same reality. For example, by reflecting on the nature of impermanence, it is possible to release our intense grasping onto permanence. By reflecting on the nature of dissatisfaction, we let go of mistaken views about what is a true source of happiness. Through this process, our conceptual mind comes to reflect the ultimate truth much more closely, this is like shining a light in a dark room so you can see clearly.
At this level, the gross conceptual mind is used to optimise itself so that it can more effectively know reality as it is. Through reasoning and the conscious generation of symbolic models, we improve our capacity to recognize moments of empowerment while working with the body drop. This leads to longer durations of empowerment which in turn strengthens our connection to our ultimate nature.
Through the process of gradual empowerment which is triggered in the body drop and stabilised by the speech drop, our minds are becoming significantly more powerful, allowing us to penetrate to much more subtle layers of experience. When this power is focused on the nature of the self, it transforms into a cause for personal liberation. This is the purpose of training with the mind drop.
The mind drop is all of the subtle mental appearances which are included within the afflicted consciousness. It is this layer of consciousness which holds the subtle patterns of self-cherishing and self-grasping that act as the basis for all other conceptual elaborations. As long as these two concepts remain active, then we will continue to experience an individuated consciousness that perceives dualistic appearances. As long as that mind is manifest, then our primordial wisdom will remain non-manifest.
Through the close application of our awareness, it is possible to develop direct insight into the nature of our delusion. When we cut through this mistaken consciousness, then we are able to experience a pure consciousness which is free from gross conceptual elaborations. This is known as the foundational consciousness and is the underlying substrate from which all appearances arise.
When the foundational consciousness is made manifest as a result of your training with the mind drop, all karmic propensities will have become dormant and therefore dualistic appearances temporarily cease. This non-conceptual awareness is the wisdom drop and the desired basis upon which to then engage with the training in the Four Vajras discussed below.
However, due to countless lifetimes perpetuating the patterns of self-grasping, realising the foundational consciousness once does not mean that we have gained mastery over it. In order to learn to abide within this non-conceptual mind, we must perfect the qualities of non-distraction and non-grasping so that we can become single-pointed and effortless.
We can think of training with the mind drop as being like a great wind that clears away the clouds in the sky and reveals the shining sun behind them. Training with the wisdom drop is learning how to rest in the light of the sun. In the beginning it’s too bright and we turn away, but then with time we are able to overcome this and maintain our connection without automatically reverting back to our old habits. At that point, we are poised to experience our primordial wisdom.
Advice for Receiving the Higher Empowerments
Receiving the Four Higher Empowerments from a qualified vajra master is like being handed the keys to a wondrous kingdom. Within this process, you are introduced to everything you need in order to achieve Buddhahood within a single lifetime. There is no greater kindness and no greater expression of compassion. The following points of advice are worth keeping in mind to maximise the transformative impact of this profound experience.
Seeing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
As Vajrayana practitioners, we must actively avoid falling into the trap of ordinary perception. When we fail to cultivate pure perception, appearances seem mundane, and we overlook the sacredness inherent in the ceremony. Expecting dramatic mystical experiences or clinging to fantasies can hinder us from truly receiving empowerment.
Entering the Gate to the Completion Stage
The Four Higher Empowerments are not mere rituals but profound introductions to the experiential truth of Kalachakra. Each empowerment builds toward the full realisation of non-dual awareness, serving as the foundation for the 3 Isolations practice and the Six Vajra Yogas path to complete enlightenment. Do not do this step if you are not ready to commit yourself to vajrayana as your whole life practice and orientation. It’s incredibly important to honor the Samaya to the master and maintain awe and appreciation of the fortunate chance you have been given to practice this path for the rest of your life. Khentrul Rinpoche will take your commitment very seriously to realize your own Buddha Nature and will do whatever it takes to help you wake up. With that then you must also be prepared to put in the effort to practice and generate merit.
Are You Ready?
The preliminary practices are not lesser practices. They are a powerful foundation. You would not build a skyscraper on a weak foundation. Like this don’t build your spiritual path on a foundation lacking confidence and faith.
Review the Ngondro Requirements
Check Your Confidence
Learning Center Nogndro Courses
Gain Clarity On the Path
At Dzokden, we understand that no two practitioners come to the path from the same starting point. Each individual brings with them unique karmic conditions and past life imprints. For this reason, the Jonang Kalachakra Ngöndro is not a fixed formula—it is a dynamic path designed to meet you where you are. While there are multiple ways to complete the preliminaries, the single most important factor is whether the practice has genuinely transformed your mind and prepared you for the next step.
Ngöndro is not about checking off tasks; it is about ripening the mindstream. Whether you dedicate 200 or 1000 hours depends on your attitude, your understanding, and your karmic momentum. What matters is that you finish your preliminaries with clarity, inner stability, and a readiness to enter the gateway of the Completion Stage. If you have already completed a Ngondro in another lineage then you have less to do but still need to do aspects of the Jonang ngondro. If you are completely new to Buddhism there is more to understand.
DZOKDEN
Take the Higher Empowerment
The Higher Empowerment is a rare and profound opportunity, currently offered only once a year somewhere in the world. Unlike other empowerments, it must be received in person — it is not available online.
During this empowerment, you will also receive the pith instructions for the uncommon preliminary practice of the Three Isolations (Wensum). This is considered equivalent to an advanced Dzogchen meditation practice.
To support you through the preparation and application process, we have created a dedicated course in our Learning Center with frequently asked questions and provides clear guidance. Enroll in the course and study it thoroughly before applying.
Application Process
When you submit your application, your personal information will be handled securely and only accessed by a small team who assists Khentrul Rinpoche in reviewing applications.
As part of the process:
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You may receive follow-up questions.
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You will be invited to participate in an interview to assess your understanding, motivation, and commitment, and to provide you a chance to ask questions.
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If you meet the necessary criteria, Khentrul Rinpoche may perform a divination to determine if this empowerment is beneficial and appropriate for you at this time.
Final Step: Personal Responsibility
If the result is favorable, you will be invited to formally enroll in the Higher Empowerment. Before doing so, you must confirm that:
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You are making this choice freely, with full understanding.
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You personally accept responsibility for your spiritual path and your readiness.
In modern society, many people are accustomed to individualism and often assume they know what is best for themselves. For this reason, Rinpoche emphasizes that only you can determine if you are truly ready. This is a deeply personal and sacred commitment.
Related Books
The Four Higher Empowerments Guidebook
By Khentrul Rinpoche
This book is given only to qualified students who receive the empowerment to keep privately. Inside is. a step-by-step guide to this empowerment ceremony to ensure the disciple understands exactly what is going on and what they are promising and doing to ensure they receive the empowerments. After there are detailed instructions for the Wen-sum and commentary text to help disciples who will begin the meditation practice that will help stabilize the mind.
PRIVATE BOOK GIVEN TO STUDENTS AT THE 4 HIGHER EMPOWERMENTS
Unveiling Your Sacred Truth: The Enlightened Reality
By Khentrul Rinpoche
In this third and final volume, Rinpoché introduces the profound methods for revealing the enlightened reality of our most sacred truth. After helping us to cultivate an unwavering faith in tantra and the vajra master, Rinpoché clearly presents the theoretical and practical foundations for the uncommon preliminaries of the generation and completion stages. After the generation stage you will be well equipped to receive instruction on the sublime yogic practices of the Kalachakra 6 Vajra Yogas.