The four powers (of purification) are:
1) The power of the basis
2) the power of remedial action
3) the power of regret
4) the power of not reverting to faulty conduct
First, the power of the basis is the object before whom we confess and purify, such as the supreme of deities for purification, Vajrasattva, or any guru, Buddha, or Bodhisattva visualized in the space before us as the witness to our confession.
The Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Conduct says:
From today henceforth I go for refuge in the Buddhas,
Lords of Beings,
Who persevere in protecting living beings,
Who powerfully dispel danger with great power.Previously I transgressed your instructions,
Now, seeing the danger,
I take refuge in you,
Please quickly dispel the danger!
Thus, seeking refuge in the assembly of deities before whom we make our confession, recognizing the harmful nature of our action, with intense regret, we should purify that very karma which we have created, like an emergency trip to the doctor when we have mistakenly eaten some poison.
Excerpt of text written by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, from the book Precious Teachings, chapter entitled “A Brief Explanation of the Four Powers of Purification of Negative Karma,” page 113 in the paper book, and page 121 in the PDF version.
