One of the Great Tantric Protection Methods: The Fourfold Protection

On August 17 2025, after practicing the Padmakumara Guru Yoga, Reverend Shi Lian Jie of Yen Ming Temple gave a dharma teaching with the topic of “ The Fourfold Protection”. 

The Reverend explained that Tantric protection methods include self-protection, altar protection, and house protection.

Practicing protection and establishing barriers are all meant to prevent invasion by demons, monsters, and ghosts. Invasion by these evil spirits can hinder practice, lead to unexpected disasters, and easily lead to evil thoughts and deviation from the correct path. Tantric practitioners must cultivate protection. Establishing protective barriers can prevent interference from demons, monsters, and evil spirits.

Reverend Lian Jie continued, “True Buddha School has many protective methods, including the Great Compassion Mantra Water Barrier, the Avalokiteshvara Body Shrine Disaster-Averting Sadhana, the Great White Umbrella Barrier, and the Sleeping Protection. Among these, the Fourfold Protection is an important and simple protective method.” Tantric Buddhism employs extensive methods for self-defense and altar defense.

Reverend Lian Jie then demonstrates the mudra, mantras, and visualisations for the Fourfold Protection. Please watch Grand Master’s video demonstration.

To practice the Fourfold Protection, one must first establish the vajra kilaya  (as shown in the picture). These kilaya  are positioned around the altar or the practitioner. Once four vajra kilaya  are established, a vajra net descends from the sky. A vajra wall is then erected around these four kilaya, and vajra flames rise from the walls. This is the Fourfold Protection.

The vajra kilaya represent the earth realm, the vajra net represents the heaven realm, the vajra wall represents the surrounding realm, and the vajra flames represent the protective realm.

This requires visualisation. Visualise the four vajra kilaya being established, the vajra net descending from the sky, a vajra wall erected around them, and vajra flames rising from all four walls. In this way, your practice and your altar will be safe and secure, and all evil spirits will be kept out. This is called the Fourfold Protection.

The Fourfold Protection has four Mudras (as shown in the picture).

The first is the Vajra Kilaya Mudra. When performing the Vajra Kilaya Mudra, focus on the four vajra kilayas.

Spread the thumbs apart, forming the Vajra Net. Visualise the Vajra Net descends from the void and rests on the four vajra kilaya.

Next, establish the Vajra Wall. Turn your previous mudra upside down, and it becomes the Vajra Wall, standing upright on all four sides.

Light the Vajra Flame with your index finger and palm. This represents the rising fire. Light it! The fire is rising. This is the Vajra Flame.

All four mudras are in place: the Vajra Kilaya, the Vajra Net, the Vajra Wall, and the Vajra Flame. When performing each mudra, do the corresponding visualisation.

We usually practice Armor Protection or do the Fourfold Protection when practicing Dharma. You can also perform the Fourfold Protection at night before you sleep, and this will prevent demonic obstacles.

There are mudras, visualisations, and mantras. During the practice, chant the mantra of Amrita Vidyaraja: “Om, Amida, Hum, Paan.”

Later, Reverend Lian Jie explained that the Fourfold Protection Practice requires an empowerment. Those who have not received this empowerment can request a remote empowerment from Grand Master. After receiving the empowerment, you can then begin practicing this protection method.

The Guardian Practice can be practiced before each dharma practicing, before going out, or before going to sleep to protect yourself, your altar, and even your house.

Reference: The Fourfold Protection Practice is taught in detail in one of the Living Buddha Lian-sheng’s books, Volume 114, 《The Spells of Tantric Buddhism》.