The Bodhisattva's Confession of Ethical Downfalls

Prostrations to the Thirty-Five Buddhas

To increase the benefit of each prostration, first prostrate three times while reciting:

    om namo manjushriye namo sushriye namo uttama shriye soha

Continue to prostrate while reciting the names of the Buddhas and the confession prayer.

    I, (say your name) throughout all times, take refuge in the Gurus; I take refuge in the Buddhas; I take refuge in the Dharma; I take refuge in the Sangha.

    To the Founder, the Transcendent Destroyer, the One Thus Gone, the Foe Destroyer, the Fully Enlightened One, the Glorious Conqueror from the Shaykas I bow down.

    To the One Thus Gone, the Great Destroyer, Destroying with Vajra Essence I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Jewel Radiating Light I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the King with Power of over the Nagas I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the the Leader of the Warriors I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious Blissful One I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Jewel Fire I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Jewel Moonlight I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, Whose Pure Vision Brings Accomplishments I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Jewel Moon I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Stainless one I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious Giver I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Pure One I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Bestower of Purity I bow down.

    To the One Thus Gone, the Celestial Waters I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Deity of the Celestial Waters I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious Good I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious Sandalwood I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the One of Unlimited Splendor I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious Light I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious One without Sorrow I bow down.
    To the One Thus Gone, the Son of the Desireless One I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious Flower I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, Who Understands Reality Enjoyig the Radiant Light of Purity I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, Who Understands Reality Enjoyig the Radiant Light of of the Lotus I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious Gem I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious One who is Mindful I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious One Whose Name is Extremely Renowned, I bow down

    To the One Thus Gone, the King Holding the Banner of Victory over the Senses I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious One Who Subdues Everything Completely I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Victorious One in All Battles I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious One Gone to Perfect Self-control I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Glorious One Who Enhances and Illuminates Completely I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Jewel Lotus Who Subdues All I bow down
    To the One Thus Gone, the Foe Destroyer, the Fully Enlightened One, the King with Power over Mount Meru, Always Remaining in the Jewel and the Lotus I bow down.

    All you thirty-five Buddhas, and all the others, those thus gone, foe destroyers, fully enlightened ones and transcendent destroyers who are existing, sustaing and living throughout the ten directions of sentient beings' worlds – all you Buddhas, please give me your attention.

    In this life, and throughout beginningless lives in all the realms of samsara, I have created, caused others to create, and rejoiced at the creation of negative karmas such as misusing offerings to holy objects, misusing offerings to the Sangha, stealing the posessions of the Sangha of the ten directions; I have caused others to create these negative actions and rejoiced at their creation.

    I have created the five heinous actions, caused others to create them and rejoiced at their creation. I have committed the ten non-virtuous actions, involved others inthem, and rejoiced at their involvement.

    Being obscured by all this karma, I have created the cause for myself and other sentient beings to be reborn in the hells, as animals, as hungry ghosts, in irreligious places, amongst barbarians, as long-lived gods, with imperfect senses, holding wrong views, and being displeased with the presence of a Buddha.

    Now before these Buddhas, transcendent destroyers who have become transcendental wisdom, who have become thae compassionate eye, who have become witnesses, who have become valid and see with their omniscient minds, I am confessing and accepting all these actions as negative. I will not conceal or hide them, and from now on, I will refrain from committing these negative actions.

    Buddhas and transcendent destroyers, please give me your attention: in this life and throughout beginningless lives in all the realms of samsara, whatever root of virtue I have created through even the smallest acts of charity such as giving one mouthful of food to a being born as an animal, whatever root of virtue I have created by abiding in pure conduct, whatever root of virtue I have created by fully ripening sentient beings' minds, whatever root of virtue I have created of the highest transcendent wisdom.

    Bringing together all these merits of both myself and others, I now dedicate them to the highest of which there is no higher, to that even above the highest, to the highest of the high, to the higher of the high. Thus I dedicate them completely to the highest, fully accomplished enlightenment.

    Just as the Buddhas and transcendent destroyers of the past have dedicated, just sa the Buddhas and transcendent destroyers of the future will dedicate, and just as the Buddhas and transcendent destroyers of the present are dedicating, in the same way I make this dedication.

    I confess all my negative actions separately and rejoice in all merits. I implore the Buddhas to grant my request that I may realize the ultimate, sublime, highest transcendental wisdom.

    To the sublime kings of the human beings living now, to those of the past, and to those who have yet to appear, to all those whose knowledge is as vast as the infinite ocean, with my hands folded in respect, I go for refuge.

From Pearl of Wisdom - Book I compiled by Ven. Thubten Chodron.

Source

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