Entrance into Esoteric or Tantric Buddhism is not a matter of private decision alone, but of formal introduction into a living lineage through what is known as abhiṣeka, or empowerment. This requires approaching a qualified vajra master who has received authorization within an unbroken line of transmission, and who is able to assess a student’s motivation, ethical grounding, and basic understanding of Buddhist principles. Typically, the aspirant first takes refuge in the Three Jewels and receives bodhisattva vows, thereby orienting practice toward the awakening of all beings. In this way, initiation is framed not as a special privilege, but as a deepening of responsibility within the Mahāyāna vision.

The empowerment itself is a carefully structured ritual that opens the disciple to a specific mandala, deity, or tantric system. In the ceremony, the teacher guides the disciple through visualizations of deities and mandalas, bestows ritual implements such as vajra and bell, and may assign a secret mantra and associated visualization practice. Through these actions, the disciple is ritually introduced to the meditational deity and to the symbolic universe in which tantric practice unfolds. The process is not merely symbolic; it is regarded as a transmission of capacity to engage in particular methods of transformation.

Alongside the ritual form, initiation entails explicit commitments. The disciple undertakes samaya, or tantric vows, which include maintaining ethical discipline, honoring the teacher–disciple relationship, and upholding the integrity of the practices received. Different levels of empowerment, including those associated with higher tantras, may require increasingly strict observances and more complex visualizations. In this sense, initiation is both gateway and covenant: a doorway into esoteric methods and a binding promise to use them responsibly.

After empowerment, the real work begins in the form of sustained practice. The disciple is expected to perform the prescribed sādhana, often on a daily basis, integrating mantra recitation, visualization of the deity and mandala, and the use of mudrās. Ongoing guidance from the teacher helps refine understanding and correct errors, allowing gradual maturation within the tantric path. Thus, initiation functions less as a single dramatic event and more as the formal beginning of a disciplined, relational, and lifelong engagement with Esoteric Buddhism.