Vajrasattva Practice

For the second time I have participated in Vajrasattva Practice with my vajra brothers and sisters at Katsel Dharma Center. Although I have not yet had the empowerment, but soon hope to receive it when Khenpo Tsultrim is here next month, this practice has been a powerful experience both times.
The most I can do to describe it is that it has the best aspects of a "good confession" as I knew them when I was Russian Orthodox. There is a powerful sense of cleansing and a great weight being lifted. However there is no feeling of guilt involved, but rather the anticipation of a new beginning.
The cleansing, renewing and uplifting in this practice seems to come from the "four powers" or strengths which are essential to its fruitfulness: the power of support or reliance, the power of regret, the power of the antidote or remedy, and the power of resolution or confidence. That on which we depend for support, that on which we rely, for the effectiveness of this practice is our own "buddha-nature." However, as one who has not yet attained Enlightenment, I can also rely, in the meantime, on Vajrasattva and my guru to be the ground by which I am supported as I walk this path. Hence, in the visualization I take within myself Varjasattva.
Nonetheless, it is within myself that I find the power of regret. Here it is beneficial to contemplate, even beforehand, the suffering and harm from any negative karma. It is also most useful to develop and generate bodhicitta, because not only does negative karma harm me but it also harms others in their progress toward Enlightenment. Therefore, with this regret I form the positive desire to be cleansed of all nonvirtues and take whatever action may be required. Thus we have the various elements which constitute the "antidote or remedy." Hence, we have, among other things, the offering mudras, meditation, and mantra recitation.
The fourth power, "the power of resolution or confidence" now means that we receive the purification which we seek. In the text of the practice we are told that we have been "completely purified." Herein we must exercise our faith in the effectiveness of this practice. Furthermore, having been thus purified we commit ourselves to change ourselves and abstain from these same nonvirtues.
I realize that my experience is most elementary and my understanding is that of a beginner. Nevertheless, I look forward to the Vajrasattva Empowerment and the change that it will bring.