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
Second, as for the power of the remedial action, a seriously sick person must listen to the doctor’s advice and take the prescribed medicine. Likewise, we have been suffering during beginningless lifetimes from the worst of sicknesses, the three poisonous delusions, for which the supreme of medicines are wisdom, love, compassion, and the realization of shunyata. With such practices we must free ourselves from the terrible disease of the delusions!
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.
