<p>Lighting a lamp, you need another lamp. Because during self generation you are the Buddha, and in order to have 100% conviction that you are the Buddha, you must be told(initiated) by the Buddha himself. That is why it is said that seeing/recognising the guru as the Buddha himself is important in Tantra. Further the guru himself must have an unbroken lineage starting from the Buddha himself.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-14T13:36:07.260Z
Agreed. Our faculty of faith is weak, so we require external support.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-15T06:50:50.550Z
2017-07-15T07:01:39.663Z
2017-07-15T07:01:39.663Z
tutu
<p>Why does self-generation as a deity (yidam) require annutarayogatantra empowerment (wang, abhiṣeka), while visualizing it as a separate image doesn't?</p>

<tantra>
Tantric self generation as a deity
# Tantric self generation as a deity

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-15)

Why does self-generation as a deity (yidam) require annutarayogatantra empowerment (wang, abhiṣeka), while visualizing it as a separate image doesn't?

**Tags:** tantra


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-07-15. Score: 2

Lighting a lamp, you need another lamp. Because during self generation you are the Buddha, and in order to have 100% conviction that you are the Buddha, you must be told(initiated) by the Buddha himself. That is why it is said that seeing/recognising the guru as the Buddha himself is important in Tantra. Further the guru himself must have an unbroken lineage starting from the Buddha himself.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Agreed. Our faculty of faith is weak, so we require external support.  

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