Alex Wilding

Phenomenology was an improvement on what had been called comparative religion. This term sounds rather fascinating at first, but it turns out that, at least some of the time, it was being used as an apparently dispassionate label for a system in which religions are arranged in a form of pyramid, with animism and polytheism near the base, and guess what was at the top?

Phenomenology was an improvement on what had been called comparative religion. This term sounds rather fascinating at first, but it turns out that, at least some of the time, it was being used as an apparently dispassionate label for a system in which religions are arranged in a form of pyramid, with animism and polytheism near the base, and guess what was at the top?

Triune monotheism, in other words, Christianity. Well, no doubt there were, and perhaps are, more unbiased approaches to comparative religion, but fortunately we don't have to wrestle with that issue here. In any case, initiation was a term important to phenomenology, though as I said, I'm not sure how much clout that word carries these days.

Triune monotheism, in other words, Christianity. Well, no doubt there were, and perhaps are, more unbiased approaches to comparative religion, but fortunately we don't have to wrestle with that issue here. In any case, initiation was a term important to phenomenology, though as I said, I'm not sure how much clout that word carries these days.

Leaving that aside, empowerment has connotations that are much closer to the meanings carried by the Tibetan word wang, As an interesting aside, although perhaps it's only interesting to me because I lived in Germany, Germans have a different problem related to this translation.

Leaving that aside, empowerment has connotations that are much closer to the meanings carried by the Tibetan word wang, As an interesting aside, although perhaps it's only interesting to me because I lived in Germany, Germans have a different problem related to this translation.

Their word Einweihung is arguably very close in meaning to initiation, and we have seen that empowerment is probably much better. Unfortunately, in German, this empowerment translates to Ermächtigung, You may know how German tends to form new words by sticking two existing words together, where in English we would not do that, and that gives us the Ermächtigungsgesetz, or empowerment law.

Their word Einweihung is arguably very close in meaning to initiation, and we have seen that empowerment is probably much better. Unfortunately, in German, this empowerment translates to Ermächtigung, You may know how German tends to form new words by sticking two existing words together, where in English we would not do that, and that gives us the Ermächtigungsgesetz, or empowerment law.

This was a legal instrument that, in effect, installed Hitler as a dictator. Oh, horrors! It's a word that carries a very bad taste with it. I'm not actually sure what word they're using these days as it is nearly 30 years since I was living amongst German Buddhists.

This was a legal instrument that, in effect, installed Hitler as a dictator. Oh, horrors! It's a word that carries a very bad taste with it. I'm not actually sure what word they're using these days as it is nearly 30 years since I was living amongst German Buddhists.

In Tibetan Buddhism the word has a few different senses so now that we've ruled out those particularly Western misconceptions we should have a look at these. Sometimes A Tibetan-style Buddhist will pray to some deity, to a Buddha or to a Lama, asking to be given empowerment in a fairly general sense. Here the word is not so very different from blessing.

In Tibetan Buddhism the word has a few different senses so now that we've ruled out those particularly Western misconceptions we should have a look at these. Sometimes A Tibetan-style Buddhist will pray to some deity, to a Buddha or to a Lama, asking to be given empowerment in a fairly general sense. Here the word is not so very different from blessing.

Oh, and by the way, going back to Western misconceptions, these empowerments are not at all the same as Reiki empowerments. I have heard, some while ago, at least one Reiki enthusiast saying that they had received a green Tara Reiki empowerment and wondering whether that qualified her to practice a green Tara Sadhana. The answer is simply no. It's just not the same.

Oh, and by the way, going back to Western misconceptions, these empowerments are not at all the same as Reiki empowerments. I have heard, some while ago, at least one Reiki enthusiast saying that they had received a green Tara Reiki empowerment and wondering whether that qualified her to practice a green Tara Sadhana. The answer is simply no. It's just not the same.

This is not meant as a judgment of Reiki, about which I do know very little, but it really is not the same thing. Green Tara is, of course, very forgiving, so it would not be like, say, attempting to practice some fanged, blood-drinking, fire-breathing, wrathful deity without the appropriate prerequisites, impairments and transmissions. But even so, it's just not the same kind of thing.

This is not meant as a judgment of Reiki, about which I do know very little, but it really is not the same thing. Green Tara is, of course, very forgiving, so it would not be like, say, attempting to practice some fanged, blood-drinking, fire-breathing, wrathful deity without the appropriate prerequisites, impairments and transmissions. But even so, it's just not the same kind of thing.

If you, for example, take a green Tara empowerment, you will be authorised and blessed to perform one or more of her sadhanas. This is a wonderful thing. But the thing that is much more of a hot potato is what comes into play when we speak of the four empowerments. These four empowerments are the entirely standard framework for the high tantras.

If you, for example, take a green Tara empowerment, you will be authorised and blessed to perform one or more of her sadhanas. This is a wonderful thing. But the thing that is much more of a hot potato is what comes into play when we speak of the four empowerments. These four empowerments are the entirely standard framework for the high tantras.

And just to avoid doubt, this is not a list of perhaps four specific deities, the empowerment of this, the empowerment of that. There are such sets where students might want to receive empowerments for, say, the eight deities of the this or that cycle, but that's not what's intended here.

And just to avoid doubt, this is not a list of perhaps four specific deities, the empowerment of this, the empowerment of that. There are such sets where students might want to receive empowerments for, say, the eight deities of the this or that cycle, but that's not what's intended here.