EMPOWERMENTS
Four Armed or Eleven Armed Chenrezig (Buddha of Compassion)
The Buddha of Compassion is known as Chenrezig (Tibetan) or Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit), meaning ‘liberator from the unfortunate lower rebirths.’ Chenrezig pledged in front of all the Buddhas not to attain Buddhahood until all sentient beings were free from the sufferings of samsara. Receiving the empowerment of this Buddha, therefore, provides one with protection from an unfortunate lower rebirth. Chenrezig has many aspects and embodies the Universal Compassion of all the Buddhas of the three times and ten directions.The purpose of the empowerment is to establish a close relationship with Chenrezig and to benefit from his almighty power of compassion.
The mantra of Four Armed Chenrezig OM MANI PADME HUM
The mantra for Eleven Armed Chenrezig is OM MANI PADEM HUM HRIH
Menla (Medicine Buddha)
This empowerment is a sacred ritual in Vajrayana Buddhism that grants permission and capacity to engage in the Medicine Buddha’s healing practices, including mantra recitation, sadhana, and mandala visualization. In the Gelug tradition, this empowerment is deeply revered for its power to heal, purify, and generate vast merit for oneself and others. It’s also one of the few empowerments that can be given widely, as it emphasizes compassion and healing for all beings. The empowerment connects the practitioner’s body, speech, and mind with the enlightened body, speech, and mind of Medicine Buddha (Bhaisajyaguru). It plants the “seed” of his healing energy within your subtle body, allowing you to invoke his wisdom and compassion directly through practice.
The mantra of Medicine Buddha is TAYATHA OM BEKANDZE BEKANDZE MAHA BEKANDZE RADZA SAMUDGATE SOHA
Green Tara (Swift Compassionate Action and Enlightened Activity)
Green Tara is one of the most beloved female Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism. Her name in Sanskrit is Syamatara, and in Tibetan, she is called Drolma. She is known as the Mother of Liberation because she helps beings overcome fears and difficulties on the path to enlightenment. Green Tara represents compassion in action—she is always ready to protect and help those in need. Her green color symbolizes energy, growth, and enlightened activity. She is shown with her right leg extended, ready to come to the aid of others, and her left leg folded in meditation, showing her deep inner peace and wisdom. People pray to Green Tara for protection, healing, courage, and quick help in times of trouble.
The mantra of Green Tara is OM TARE TUTARE TURE SOHA
White Tara (Longevity)
White Tara is a profoundly peaceful and nurturing initiation that connects you directly with Tara’s enlightened aspect of long life, healing, and compassionate wisdom. In the Gelug tradition, this empowerment is considered both a life-empowerment and a realization empowerment, opening the practitioner’s subtle channels to Tara’s radiant white light — the energy of longevity, vitality, and clarity of awareness. White Tara (Sitatara) embodies the motherly compassion of all Buddhas. She is the healing, life-sustaining energy that restores balance to the body and clarity to the mind. White Tara is often invoked for oneself or others during illness, exhaustion, or major life transitions.
The mantra for White Tara is OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUH PUNYE JÑANA PUSHTIM KURU SOHA
Zambala (Wealth and Prosperity)
With this empowerment, we can engage in the Practice of Dzambhala,”Summoning Good Fortune”, and create the causes and conditions which will lead to the generation of wealth and prosperity, the cessation of material suffering, the relief of poverty and the development of Bodhicitta mind to attain enlightenment.
The mantra for Zambala is OM DZAMBHALA DZALENDRAYE SOHA
White Umbrella (Generosity and Abundance)
Dug-kar is the Victorious White Umbrella deity. Her parasol indicates the ability to protect sentient beings. She is white in color, symbolizing the power necessary to accomplish the enlightened energy of pacification. Dug-kar with her thousand eyes and thousand arms represents the power of active compassion, protecting and assisting all beings. By identifying with Dug-kar, we are able to evoke within us the ability to create beneficial results. The practice of Dug-kar can bring about transformation of unhappy, negative states into happy, positive ones.
The mantra for White Umbrella is HUM MA MA HUM NI SOHA
Vajrasattva (Buddha of Purification)
The Vajrasattva empowerment is a deeply purifying Vajrayana initiation that connects the practitioner to the power of purification and renewal and the ability to cleanse obscurations, negative karma, and emotional defilements at their root. In the Gelug tradition, Vajrasattva represents the pure essence of all Buddhas and the innate purity of body, speech, and mind that remains untouched by delusion. His empowerment is the gateway to all higher tantras and a foundation for every serious Vajrayana practitioner. It is said that Vajrasattva’s blessings purify karmic imprints accumulated over countless lifetimes, preparing the mind for deeper tantric realization.
The mantra for Vajrasattva is OM VAJRASATTVA HUM PHAT
Amitābha Buddha of Infinite Light
Sanskrit: Amitābha, meaning “Infinite Light”) is one of the five Dhyani Buddhas in Mahayana Buddhism. He symbolizes infinite wisdom and compassion. According to Buddhist teachings, Amitabha resides in the Pure Land called Sukhavati (“Land of Bliss”), a realm free from suffering. He vowed to help all beings be reborn there through faith, chanting his name, and virtuous deeds. In art, he is often shown red in color, seated in meditation with his hands forming the Dhyana Mudra (meditation gesture). Amitabha Buddha represents boundless light and life, guiding beings toward enlightenment and liberation from samsara.
The mantra for Amitābha is OM AMI DEWA HRIH