Thirty-five Buddhas Repentance Ritual
The Repentance Ritual of Paying Homage to the Names of Thirty-five Buddhas as Spoken by the Buddha
From the Chinese version by the Tripitaka Master Ven. Bu Kong
Translated by Dr. Yutang Lin
[Note: While performing prostration to one of the thirty-five Buddhas listed below keep repeating that Buddha's name. Do prostration to each and every Buddha in the list according to the sequence given. Each Buddha's name is preceded by "Namo" which means "I take refuge in and pay homage to." After finishing prostration to all thirty-five Buddhas, repeat sincerely the remaining text of the ritual.]
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha
Namo Vajra-firm Destroyer Buddha
Namo Gem Flame Buddha
Namo Dragon King of Ease Buddha
Namo Diligent Brave Army Buddha
Namo Diligent Brave Joy Buddha
Namo Gem Fire Buddha
Namo Gem Moonlight Buddha
Namo Non-vacuous View Buddha
Namo Gem Moon Buddha
Namo No Filth Buddha
Namo Filth-free Buddha
Namo Generous Giving Buddha
Namo Pure Conduct Buddha
Namo Pure Giving Buddha
Namo King of Water Buddha
Namo God of Water Buddha
Namo Skillful Auspicious Buddha
Namo Boundless Awe-inspiring Virtue Buddha
Namo Sandalwood Auspicious Buddha
Namo Light Auspicious Buddha
Namo Worry-free Auspicious Buddha
Namo Narayana Auspicious Buddha
Namo Flower Auspicious Buddha
Namo Lotus Light Playing Supernatural Powers Buddha
Namo Wealth Auspicious Buddha
Namo Idea Auspicious Buddha
Namo Well-known Epithet Auspicious Buddha
Namo King of Imperial Banner Buddha
Namo Combat Victory Buddha
Namo Brave Vigorous Auspicious Buddha
Namo Brave Vigorous Advance Buddha
Namo All-shining Grandeur Auspicious Buddha
Namo Gem Lotus Roaming Buddha
Namo Gem Lotus Wondrous Abiding King of Mountains Buddha
All such Buddhas, who appear, preside and roam in all the worlds in the ten directions, may you watch over me with great compassion. In this life or other lives, since time without beginning, a wide variety of sinful actions have been committed either by myself or by others with my approval or instigation. For example, stealing or robbing Buddhist possessions or the belongings of monks and nuns either by myself or by others with my approval or instigation. Or, committing the five unending sins or the ten non-virtuous types of karmas either by myself or by others with my approval or instigation. Such karmic hindrance covers and restricts both body and mind, resulting in birth in eight kinds of disadvantageous environments. They are: Falling into hells, animal realms or hungry ghost realms; or in areas without Dharma and races that are antagonistic to the Dharma; or in long-lasting heavenly realms that have no mental activities; or born as disabled humans; or adopting wrong views to insist on no causality; or disliking the appearance of Buddhas in the world. Now in front of all Buddhas, world-honored ones, who possess all-encompassing wisdom, possess five kinds of eyes, attain realization of reality in exact measure, know and see, I sincerely repent over all such karmic hindrances, and dare not conceal any. May my Sila observance be redeemed to its original perfection. Furthermore, may all Buddhas, world-honored ones, accept and take care of me and be my witness. If in this life or other lives, since my transmigration from time without beginning, have I ever given animals one ball of food, or sustained one rule of pure conduct, or practiced pure conducts and cultivated roots of goodness, or cultivated in small measure the good roots of unsurpassable wisdom, then all such merits are to be gathered and counted together so as to dedicate all of them toward the unsurpassable right and all-encompassing enlightenment, just as all Buddhas in their most supreme and unsurpassable dedication of merits would do in the past, present and future.
Repent for all sins.
Rejoice over all merits.
Pleading to all Buddhas
For attaining utmost wisdom.
In the past, present and future
Honored one among humans,
Immeasurable ocean of merits,
To thee I prostrate in homage.
Notes:
Narayana: a god with mighty strength.
Five unending sins: patricide, matricide, murdering Arhat, intentionally causing Buddha's body to bleed, and causing discord in Sangha.
Ten non-virtuous types of karmas: killing, stealing or robbing, sexual misconduct, lying, divisive speech, abusive speech, gossip, greed, anger, and wrong views.
Five kinds of eyes: flesh eyes, heavenly eyes, wisdom eyes, Dharma eyes, and Buddha eyes.
Sila: rules of conduct.
Epilog
In my English translation above notes have been added by me at the beginning and at the end of the ritual text. The notes would help novices to practice and understand the ritual.
Even though this ritual is simple and succinct, it nevertheless contains the essential ideas of all repentance rituals in general. Precisely due to its simplicity and conciseness, it is convenient for ordinary people to practice. It could even be included into a daily practice session. Repentance prostration could easily diminish karmic hindrances. Whoever understands the causal connection of karma and its consequences should pay attention to this kind of practice, and actively engage in it.
Written in Chinese on Buddha's Birthday in 1996
Translated into English on February 20, 2001
El Cerrito, California
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