Today’s transmission is about the Medicine Buddha, a Buddha found in both the exoteric and esoteric schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Everyone knows and can recite the Medicine Buddha’s twelve great vows, but in terms of lineage, the teachings transmitted today come from Yuthok Yonten Gonpo, the Tibetan King of Medicine. He was one of the earliest disciples of Padmasambhava, named Yuthokpa. Yuthok Yonten Gonpo is the founder of all Tibetan medical traditions, and this is the teaching he passed down.
When making Tibetan medicine, everyone practices a specific method. One type of Tibetan medicine is called “precious medicine,” made from various metals such as gold, silver, copper, and iron, including mercury pills. These are called precious pills. Making these precious pills requires a specific method, hence we call it alchemy, or consecrating medicine, or blessing medicine. This method is practiced for the purpose of longevity and health.
This method is very special; it’s a Guru Yoga practice, and the empowerment is a torma empowerment. The so-called Torma empowerment is a solemn blessing object we create here. It serves as the mandala of the deity. During the Medicine Buddha empowerment, this Torma is used to bless the disciple; this is what we call Torma empowerment.
In terms of the empowerment ritual, the simplest and most sacred one is called the Complete Torma Empowerment. “Complete” means that all empowerments are concentrated together, a method of empowerment where merit and benefits are gathered together.
The ritual is the shortest, yet the most sublime in its blessings, especially in the transmission of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), where there are many Torma empowerments. Torma empowerment exists in every lineage; it is almost entirely transmitted by Guru Rinpoche, whether in the Sakya or Jonang schools.
Whenever Torma empowerment is performed, Guru Rinpoche calls it a mandala empowerment. Torma is a type of mandala; Torma is a different name. It is a complete mandala empowerment, a very sublime form of empowerment.
Due to time constraints, I can’t explain everything in detail right now, but I’ll tell you what to visualize and what to practice each time I do it. Try your best to visualize and contemplate these things each time I tell you.
Okay, now we’ll begin the empowerment. Recording is not allowed during empowerments. You can record lectures, but not empowerments. This is because of certain precepts of empowerment: it cannot exceed the boundaries of the mandala or the surrounding area—what we call the boundaries. Within this room, except for those in the same mandala, no one else can watch.
This rule doesn’t matter for a superior guru or disciple. They are already accomplished beings. For highly accomplished individuals, there is no such boundary. The three realms are the mandala of the deity; the Dharmadhatu is the mandala of the deity. There is no such boundary.
Many empowerments are now authorized online, which is something only the highest-level gurus can do. We don’t object to this; we respect it. It’s permissible. However, for me, I am a guru of ordinary status.
And as for me, I am also a beginner and don’t have this ability. Previously, none of my teachers allowed recording. My teacher, Shakya Rinpoche, absolutely forbade recording. My teacher, Chushang Rinpoche, transmitted many empowerments here, and while recording was permitted for the lectures, recording of empowerments was strictly prohibited. He considered it a confidential aspect of Vajrayana, and those receiving the teachings were not allowed to record.
What my teachers insisted on, I also couldn’t share. First, my meditative power is insufficient; I am not a great accomplished master. Second, several of my teachers, including Langga Rinpoche, Chushang Rinpoche, and Shakya Rinpoche, were very adamant about not allowing recording—no one was permitted to record.
Previously, when a foreigner wanted to record Shakya Rinpoche, he took down the recording equipment and smashed it all. He said, “You can’t spread my sublime teachings with simple mechanical machines. If you spread them like that, my sublime teachings won’t have their blessings.” He didn’t allow recording. Because of this, I usually don’t allow recording during empowerments.
That’s all for today. Now, everyone, adjust your posture, relax, breathe naturally, calm your mind, and keep good thoughts in your heart. Then, let’s receive this empowerment together.