Think of empowerments (wang) as ceremonial “keys” unlocking specific tantric practices, while transmissions (lung) pass along the unbroken lineage instructions. It all starts with finding a qualified lama and formally taking refuge and generating bodhicitta—literally planting the seeds of compassion and commitment. That groundwork honors the samaya vows that hold the entire Vajrayāna path together.

During the wang ceremony, the altar is arranged with traditional implements—vase, bell, vajra, and sometimes precious offerings. Four empowerments are conferred in sequence:

• Vase Empowerment (Wylie: bum wang) – Purifies body and establishes the basic permission to engage in deity practice.
• Secret Empowerment (gsang wang) – Cleanses speech and initiates the use of mantras.
• Wisdom Empowerment (yeshe wang) – Transforms the mind, unveiling the deity’s enlightened vision.
• Word Empowerment (thig le wang) – Grants access to the subtle channels and drops, completing the interior opening.

Each stage involves mantra recitation, mudras, visualization of the lama as the yidam, and the blessing “rain” of nectar. Recent years have seen many lineages—like the Kagyu and Nyingma—offering livestream empowerments, which, while unconventional, still uphold the core principle: direct transmission from teacher to student.

Transmissions, or lung, tend to follow. In a lung session, the teacher reads the entire text aloud in Tibetan, preserves its pronunciation and rhythm, and then explains crucial points. This name-to-name lineage recital ensures that the instructions remain unbroken. It’s similar to learning a traditional song by hearing it sung, rather than merely reading sheet music.

Afterward comes the real test: integrating those blessings into daily sadhana. Upholding samaya—treating every instruction like a precious heirloom—keeps the practice alive. Modern retreats blending Zoom and small in-person gatherings show that centuries-old rituals can adapt without losing their soul. When empowerments and transmissions are woven together with disciplined practice, the door to Vajrayāna’s living wisdom swings wide open.