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ISSN 2753-4812
ISSN 2753-4812

Confession Series

Confession

English (30) | Deutsch (8) | Español (5) | Français (7) | Italiano (3) | Nederlands (1) | Português (1) | 中文 (2) | བོད་ཡིག (30)

Whatever negative acts I have committed,

While driven by desire, hatred and ignorance,

With my body, my speech and also with my mind,

I confess and purify each and every one.

Lotsawa House presents the following texts related to the practice of confession (bshags pa):

Canonical Works

from the Words of the Buddha
These verses taken from the Vajrapañjara Tantra, which are often recited as part of longer rituals and practices, include lines for taking refuge and generating bodhicitta.
Taking Refuge Bodhicitta 28 Mar 2020
from the Words of the Buddha
A popular Nyingma version of the famous Bodhisattvas’ Confession of Downfalls (byang chub sems dpa’i ltung bshags), also known as the Sūtra of the Three Heaps (phung po gsum pa’i mdo), invoking the thirty-five buddhas of confession as a means of purifying transgressions of vows and downfalls of the bodhisattva vow.
Thirty-Five Buddhas Nyingma Mönlam Ten Royal Sūtras 5 Jun 2020
from the Words of the Buddha
Another popular liturgy taken from the Immaculate Confession Tantra (Dri med bshags rgyud). The version here is taken from that tantra's eleventh chapter.
Restricted 13 Jan 2020
from the Words of the Buddha
'The Ārya caturdharmanirdeśa nāma mahāyāna sūtra (‘Phags pa chos bzhi bstan pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo, Toh 249) is the ultimate source for the doctrine of the four powers (stobs bzhi), a popular feature of Tibetan teachings on confession. In this initial, canonical presentation, however, the four are referred to as ''factors'', although two are also called ''powers''. They are: 1) the action of total rejection, 2) the action as remedy, 3) the power of restoration, and 4) the power of support.'
Kangyur 26 Apr 2013
from the Words of the Buddha
This confession liturgy, popularly known as Yeshe Kuchokma (ye shes sku mchog ma), is taken from the fourth chapter of the Immaculate Confession Tantra (Dri med bshags rgyud).
Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 10 May 2019
from the Words of the Buddha
These verses from the final, sixteenth chapter of the Immaculate Confession Tantra (Dri med bshags rgyud) make up one of the most popular confessional liturgies in the Nyingma tradition.
Rinchen Terdzö Restricted
by Śāntideva
The second chapter of the Bodhicaryāvatāra (Toh 3871) includes verses on making offerings (mchod pa 'bul ba), taking refuge (skyabs su 'gro ba) and the confession of negativity (sdig pa bshags pa).
Bodhicaryāvatāra Tengyur 18 Feb 2007

Commentaries

by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
A simple guide to the practice known as Narak Kong Shak, or The Confession and Fulfilment that Empties the Hells from their Very Depths.
Reading Methods 11 Sep 2018
by Jigme Lingpa
A word-by-word commentary on the Ultimate Inexpressible Confession practice—popularly known as Yeshe Kuchokma—which is the fourth chapter of the Immaculate Confession Tantra. The commentary belongs to the Collection of Discourses (gtam tshogs) section of Jigme Lingpa’s writings.
Restricted 25 Jul 2024

Outlines

by Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul Rinpoche provides a topical outline (sa bcad) for the confessional liturgy that forms the final chapter of the Immaculate Confession Tantra (Dri med bshags rgyud).
Topical Outlines

Practices

by Aśvaghoṣa
This version of Aśvaghoṣa’s text outlining the fourteen root downfalls of the Vajrayāna differs from the version in the Tengyur; in addition to some minor variations, it contains additional lines to facilitate the confession of all fourteen forms of transgression.
Samaya 11 Jul 2018
by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
This treasure text invoking the Thirty-Five Buddhas of Confession was revealed by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa as part of the cycle of The Great Compassionate One, Lotus Uṣṇīṣa (thugs rje chen po pad+ma gtsug gtor). It presents a concise version of the famous Bodhisattva’s Confession of Downfalls (byang chub sems dpa'i ltung ba bshags pa).
Chokling Tersar 10 Oct 2022
by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
This version of the Yeshe Kuchokma (ye shes sku mchog ma) was arranged by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa (1829–1870) for recitation during the Ngakso Drupchen (sngags gso sgrub chen) and the Khorwa Dongdruk (‘khor ba dong sprug) practice. Chokgyur Lingpa has added an additional line as well as the syllables oṃ, āḥ and hūṃ to the root text.
by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa
This version of the famous confession, revealed as part of the Tukdrup Barché Kunsel (thugs sgrub bar chad kun sel) cycle, differs slightly from the eleventh chapter of the Immaculate Confession Tantra, with minor variations throughout and an additional two lines at the very end.
Termas Chokling Tersar Khyentse Kabab Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 9 Jan 2020
by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje
This popular confessional liturgy, revealed as a terma (gter ma) by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje, is structured around the short six-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva, oṃ vajra sattva hūṃ.
Vajrasattva Termas
by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje
An easily chantable version of the popular confessional liturgy revealed by Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje that incorporates Vajrasattva's six-syllable mantra. Translated by Anne C. Klein.
Vajrasattva Termas 24 May 2023
from the revelation of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk
This practice of confession and fulfilment, popularly known as Narak Kong Shak, was arranged by combining elements of Guru Chökyi Wangchuk’s revelation called Kagye Sangwa Yongdzok together with the Kagye Drakpo Rangjung Rangshar of the Northern Treasures.
Termas Peaceful and Wrathful Deities Kagyé Fulfilment Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 7 Oct 2017
by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye
A simple practice for confessing all forms of non-virtuous action and all impairments and breakages of vows and commitments.
27 Feb 2024
by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
This brief practice of confession and fulfilment (skong bshags) is associated with the Tsokyé Nyingtik revelation.
Chimé Tsokyé Nyingtik Fulfilment Rinchen Terdzö Restricted 18 Feb 2023
by Jigme Lingpa
A simple rite of confession to amend any impairments and breakages of samaya and to purify actions that upset the dharma protectors.
Dharma Protectors Fulfilment Longchen Nyingtik Restricted 3 Mar 2018
revealed by Jigme Lingpa
This short text outlines a simple method for repairing impairments and breakages of the samaya commitments.
Longchen Nyingtik 4 Mar 2024
revealed by Jigme Lingpa
A practice of confession and offering as a means to purify vows and restore commitments related to every level of the path, from the śrāvaka vehicle through to Atiyoga or the Great Perfection. The text was first revealed by Jigme Lingpa in 1760 while he was staying at Samye Chimphu.
Fulfilment Longchen Nyingtik Termas Rinchen Terdzö 8 Oct 2019
by Karma Chakme
Karma Chakme is said to have received this confessional liturgy, which includes a number of mantras, from Yama Dharmarāja (gshin rje chos kyi rgyal po) in a vision.
21 Feb 2016
by Karma Chakme
A brief petition to the earth lords, or spirits of the land (sa bdag), requesting purification for various forms of action that disturb the natural environment.
by Lobzang Chökyi Gyaltsen
A short practice to confess misdeeds and pledge never to repeat them. It incorporates the four powers (stobs bzhi) first introduced in the Caturdharmanirdeśa sūtra: 1) power of support, 2) antidotal power, 3) power of repentance, and 4) power of restraint.
20 Mar 2019
by Lobzang Chökyi Gyaltsen
A simple yet comprehensive practice of confession that incorporates the four powers (stobs bzhi).
20 Mar 2019
by Ngulchu Dharmabhadra
Based on an earlier text by Paṇchen Lobzang Chökyi Gyaltsen (1570-1662), this is a short practice of confession that incorporates the four powers (stobs bzhi): 1) power of support, 2) antidotal power, 3) power of repentance, and 4) power of restraint.
18 Feb 2019
revealed by Nyala Pema Düdul
This practice of invoking and paying homage to various buddhas is said to be a powerful means of purifying obscurations and accumulating merit, tantamount to reciting the Kangyur in its entirety. It belongs to the Profound Secret Teachings of The Natural Liberation Pervading Space (mkha' khyab rang grol) revelation.
Termas 10 Oct 2022
revealed by Nyala Pema Düdul
Although part of the Space-Pervading Self-Liberation (mkha' khyab rang grol) revelation, this confession is virtually identical to the popular Yeshe Kuchokma liturgy that is taken from the Immaculate Confession Tantra (Dri med bshags rgyud).
Termas 11 May 2019

Prayer

by Dudjom Rinpoche
As Dudjom Rinpoche himself explains, this is simultaneously a supplication, confession, and aspiration prayer. It involves the invocation of one's gurus, contemplation and confession of one's faults, and aspiration to overcome such flaws and realise the nature of the guru.
Prayers 29 Nov 2018

Related Topics

Bodhisattva Vow Fulfilment Samaya Seven Branches Sojong Thirty-Five Buddhas Vajrasattva

Vajrasattva

Courtesy of Himalayan Art Resources

Further information:

BDRC T337 (bshags pa)
BDRC T1092 (ltung bshags)
BDRC T1892 (skong bshags)

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ISSN 2753-4812

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