III. ABHISEKHA – (Guan Ding – Initiation or empowerment ceremony)

By Indian tradition, Abhisekha, the empowerment ceremony, is done by pouring water on the crown. When the prince succeeded the throne, the king used water from four seas or rivers, contained in four precious vases, which he successively sprinkled on the prince’s crown. Then the king proclaimed three times that the prince has received his title and the power to govern the people in the four directions of the earth.

By Secret Buddhism, ‘Guan’ is using the Compassion Water or the Great Compassion Light of the Buddhas to give blessings. ‘Ding’ means to reward by promoting one to a higher position. The Secret sect uses “Quan Ding” as a means to help the practitioner receive the spiritual power of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

There are 4 levels of Quan Ding (Abhisekha):

1. Receiving the Vow Abhisekha
When the student follows the Acarya (spiritual teacher) to learn the doctrine of the Three Secrets, he receives the “Vow Abhisekha” and becomes bonded with the Buddha’s Path. From then on his bad karma will gradually be eliminated.

2. Career Abhisekha
With this Abhisekha, one receives all of the different levels of abhisekhas rituals to become a master of Abhisekha.

It is written in the “Vairocana Sutra”: “Vajrasattva! (The Diamond-Hand Bodhisattva), if you see anyone having an inborn spiritual ability and who meets the criteria of having deep knowledge and belief, of being detached from the world, of being diligent and hard working and who often thinks of benefiting others, say to him: ” This is the Dharma, the true doctrine of the Great Vehicle Buddhist School that I only explain to the one who has affinity with the Great Vehicle system. You should use your intelligence as a way to attain Buddhahood and you will certainly succeed”.

The Vajrasekhara Sutra says: “If the Acarya sees anyone who could implement the doctrine, one who is simple, honest, courteous, intelligent, and also has solid faith, even if he does not seek the doctrine out or enter any religious school, the Abhisekha master should tell him: ” The rites of the secret Sutra of the Great Vehicle Buddhism is rarely heard of. If you want to achieve the genuine wisdom of Buddha, you must devote yourself practicing this doctrine to attain the supreme seed of intelligence of this world.”

3. Secret Abhisekha
When the Acarya cannot perform all the rites of Abhisekha due to lack of time, he should instead perform the Secret Abhisekha. During this ritual, all the Buddhas would pat the receiver’s head with their hands.

4. Holy water Abhisekha
During this ritual the Acarya uses water in five vases to pour on the student’s head. At the same time, the Buddhas use the Holy Water Of Intelligence to pour on him. By doing so, all the bad karmas of the receiver will be eliminated and he will gradually attain salvation.