2026.08.25
The Confession of the Thirty-Five Buddhas — the Swiftest, Most Powerful Practice for Purifying Karma
The practice of the Confession of the Thirty-Five Buddhas (also called the "Confession Liturgy of the Thirty-Five Buddhas" or the "Names of the Thirty-Five Buddhas") is highly esteemed in both Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism, regarded as one of the swiftest and most powerful means of purifying karma. The Thirty-Five Buddhas are the names proclaimed by Śākyamuni Buddha as able to dispel the five heinous acts and immeasurable negative karma.
Purifying Karmic Obscurations
It purifies the gravest negative karma, including the five heinous acts (killing one's father, one's mother, or an arhat; creating a schism in the saṅgha; drawing the blood of a buddha).
It removes the causes of the three lower realms and lessens suffering in this life and the next.
Confessing Past Misdeeds
Whether done intentionally or unintentionally, negative acts of body, speech and mind can be purified through confession.
It has the power to suppress and uproot the seeds of past karma.
Purifying the Mind
Through prostration and the recitation of the names, the mind is purified and the obscurations of affliction and of knowledge are lessened.
It increases humility and a heart of contrition, so that practice more readily bears fruit.
Increasing Merit and Wisdom
Bowing to the buddhas and reciting their names gathers the accumulation of merit and opens the accumulation of wisdom.
It supports awakening and the realization of the dharmakāya.
Receiving the Protection of the Buddhas
The Thirty-Five Buddhas all vow to protect those who practise, keeping them from adverse conditions and obstacles.
At death they are received by the buddhas, spared from falling into the lower realms.
Averting Present Misfortune
It can lessen illness, legal troubles and obstacles in one's work, turning danger into safety.
It has blessing power to dispel nightmares and inauspicious signs.
How to Practise
With utmost sincerity and reverence, bow and recite the names of the Thirty-Five Buddhas, openly confessing and vowing not to repeat the misdeeds.
Confession rests on knowing shame, not concealing, and not repeating — only then is karma truly purified.
With gratitude for the Rinpoche's teaching. May all beings have their karmic obscurations purified, their merit and wisdom increase, and be free of suffering. 📿🙏