ABSTRACT
By “preparation of disciples” is meant their preparation to evoke deities—a process frequently called in Sanskrit sadhana; and this is to be distinguished from the initiation of disciples. For the purposes of permission and initiation of the disciple, the miniature serves handily. It must be carefully prepared to depict correctly the manner in which the particular deity is to be contemplated. The higher initiations through such deities as Guhyasamaja are intended to empower the candidate to attempt the supreme goal of Buddhahood in the present life. The vows are usually of a general nature, holding for the entire Tantra in which the candidate is initiated and for the entire time after his initiation. The vows that are taken by the disciples during initiation are sometimes shared between different initiations and sometimes peculiar to a certain initiation in which case they are termed “unshared”.
