sugataGarbha

The 35 Buddhas of Confession

You should pay homage to these thirty-five Fully Awakened Beings through the three gates of your body, speech and mind. The awakening warriors who were mentioned previously did not actually commit any downfalls, but this prayer was intended for use by people in later times. Thinking that this prayer is particularly meant for you, you should make sincere confession.

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The 35 Tathagathas: Ratnapadmasupratisthitasailendraja

In the north, in the celestial field of ‘precious jewels’ sits the one the “One Thus Gone, the Foe Destroyer, the Completely Perfected Fully Awakened Being, the King of Powerful Mount Meru who is firmly Seated upon a Jewel and a Lots” (de-bzhin gshegs-pa dgra-bcom-pa yang-dag-par rdzogs-pa’I sangs-rgyas rinpoche dangpadmalarabtu-bzhugs pa ri-dbang-gyi rgyal-po, Ratnapadmasupratisthitasailendraja). His throne consists of a lotus, moon, lions and precious jewels. He is sky-blue and his two hands support Mount Meru. You should understand that “Jewel” and “Lotus” refer to both his throne as well as to that of the others, indicating their excellences, function and primordial awareness is unshakable like the king of mountains and his excellent quality is like Mount Meru. “King” indicates his function of doing what is needed to be done.

The 35 Tathagathas: Ratnapadmavikrami

In the westeren direction, in the heavenly field 'endowed with glory' sits the 'One who Subdues by jewel and a Lotus' (rin-chen padmai rnam-par gnonpa, Ratnapadmavikrami) He is red in color and holds a jewel and a lotus. "Jewel" refers to his excellence; "Lotus" indicates that his primordial awareness is stainless; and "Subdues" refers to his function as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Samantavabhasavyuhasri

"The Glorious One Who Enhances and Illuminates Tottaly" (kun-nas snang bkod-pai-dpal, Samantavabhasavyuhasri) is in the southern direction in the celestial field "Where luminosity is enhanced." He is yellow and holds a sun and the stem of a precious jewel. "Illuminates Tottaly" refers to his function which is to eliminate the ignorance of sentient beings through his pristine awareness; "Enhances" indicates that his pristine awareness is limitless; and "glorius" refers to his excellence.

The 35 Tathagathas: Vikrantagamsri

"The Glorious One who has trancended by vanquishing within" (rnam-par gnom-pai gshegs-pai-dpal, Vikrantagamsri) is seated to the east of Sakyamuni in the heavenly field "endowed with glory." He is white and his hands are positioned in the earth-touching and fearless gestures. "Vanquishing Within" refers to vanquishing the inner enemies of conflicting emotions and contaminated actions; and "Glorious" refers to his excellence as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Yuddhajaya

Below the "Glorious One Without Sorrow" in the celestial field 'where there are no conflicting emotions.' sits the "One who is Utterly Victorious in Battles Within" (gyul-las shin-tu rnam-par rgayal-ba, Yuddhajaya). He is black and holds a shield and a sword. "Victorious in Battles Within" indicates his function of turning back inner enemies which are conflicting emotions and contaminated actions of all sentient beings; "Extremely" refers to his primordial awareness; and "Victorious" refers to his excellent quality of being endowed with the ability to gain victory over cyclic existence for the sake of himself and others.

This concludes the third group of awakened beings. Outside the immediately preceding circle of fully awakened beings are the remaining four.

The 35 Tathagathas: Suvikranta

“The Glorious One Who Vanquishes Utterly Within” (shin-tu rnam-par gnon-pa’I-dpal, Suvikranta) is seated in the north-east in the heavenly field ‘endowed with merriment.’ He is white and sits in the earth touching posture. “Perfectly” refers to his primordial awareness which is perfect; “Subdues” indicates that his function is to destroy the emotional afflictions and malevolent forces within all sentient beings; and “Glorious” refers to his excellences as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Indraketudhvajaraja

“The King of the Victory Banner of the Pinnacle of Sensory Powers” (dbang-po’I tog-gi rgyal-mtshan-gyi rgyal-po, Indraketudhvajaraja) is seated in the north in the celestial field of ‘clear sensory powers.’ He is yellow and holds a victory banner and its precious pinnacle. The “Pinnacle of Sensory Powers” refers to his primordial awareness because, just as we perceive objects through our sensory powers, he perceives the truth of reality through his pristine awareness; and it is like a pinnacle since it beautifies reality; “Victory Banner” refers to his excellent quality of being victorious over cyclic existence; and “King” indicates that his function is to do all that is needed to be done.

The 35 Tathagathas: Suparikirtitanamaghepasri

“The Glorious One Whose Name is Extremely Renowned” (mtshan-dpal zhin-tu yongs-grags, Suparikirtitanamaghepasri) is seated in the northwest in the celestial field ‘without any name.’ He is green and with his two hands he holds the crown of a Buddha above his head. “Name” refers to his excellent quality is such that his great fame pervades throughout the three realms of the universe.

The 35 Tathagathas: Smritisri

“The Glorious One Who is Mindful” (dran-pa’I-dpal, Smritisri) is seated in the western direction in the heavenly field ‘endowed with clarity.’ He is yellow and holds a text and a sword. “Mindful” indicates that his great primordial awareness never forgets; it also indicates that his excellence which is his inconceivable ability to remember his previous life; and ‘Glorious’ refers to his function as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Dhanasri

"The Glorious Gem" (nor-dpal, Dhanasri) abides in the south-west in the heavenly field 'endowed with gems.' He is brilliant-red and holds his hands in the gesture of two great and unceasing; it also indicated his function of fulfilling all desires by being endowed with great marvellous attributes like the qualities of a gem; and his excellence is indicated by "Glorious" which has two implications as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Tathagatapadmajyotvikridibhijina

"The One Thus Gone who Understands Clearly, Enjoying the Radiant Light of the Lotus" (de-bzhin gshegs-pa padmai odzer rnam-par rolpas mngon-par mkhyen-pa, Tathagatapadmajyotvikridibhijina) sits in the south in the heavenly field 'endowed with lotuses.' He is red and his hands are in the gesture of a lotus and a sun. :Lotus" refers to his primordial awareness which blossoms and is not attracted to worldly faults; and "Clearly Understands, Enjoying the Radiant Light" refers to his function and good qualities as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Tathagathabrahamajyotivikriditabhijna

"The One Thus-Gone who Understands Clearly, Enjoying the Radiant Light of Purity" (de-bzhin gshegs-pa tshang-pai od-zer rnam-par rol-pas mngon-par mkhyen-pa, Tathagathabrahamajyotivikriditabhijna) sits in the south-east in the heavenly field 'pervaded by purity.' He is white and holds a lotus and a pool of light. The epithet "One Thus Gone" is ascribed to this and the following full Awakened Being, but it should be remembered that it applies equally to all thirty-five Awakened Ones.
"Purity" refers to his primordial awareness as noted before; "Radiant Light" refers to his excellence, his great ability that is extremely clear; "Enjoying" indicates his function of benefiting sentient beings through such feats as miraculous emanations; and through his primordial awareness of mind he clearly understands such things as the means for being of benefit.

The 35 Tathagathas: Kusumasri

"The Glorious Flower" (me-tog-dpal, Kusumasri) resides in the eastern direction in the celestial field 'where many flowers blossom.' He is yellow and holds a yellow flower and glorious fruit. "Flower" indicates that his primordial awareness is like a flower because it is unfolding; and "Glorious" refers to his function of endowing everyone with complete perfection like himself.

The 35 Tathagathas: Narayana

Elevated above Sakyamuni in the celestial field 'separated from passion' sits "the Son of the Passionless One" (srid-med-kyi-bu, Narayana). His body is blue and his hands are in the gesture of Mount Maru and a lotus. "Passionless" refers to his primordial awareness which is divorced from discursive thought; and also his function of freeing sentient beings from their attachment to cyclic existence; and "Son" indicates his excellent quality of being born like a son from the fully awakened state, and refers to his good qualities such as loving kindness.

The 35 Tathagathas: Asokasri

"The Glorious One Without Sorrow" (mya-ngan-med-pa'i-dpal, Asokasri) is seated below the Stainless One in the celestial field 'separated from obscuration.' He is pale blue and holds an Ashoka tree. "Without Sorrow" refers to his primordial awareness which transcends cyclic existence and is separated from all obscurations; also it indicates his function of liberating all senteint beings from the sorrows of suffering and the cycle of existencel; and "Glorious" refers to both his function and his excellent quality as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Prabhasasri

"The Glorious Light" (od-dpal, Prabhasasri) abides in the north-east in the heavenly field 'endowed with great significance.' His body is white in color and he holds a ring of white light. "Light" refers to his pristineawareness which, like the sun, dispels the gloom of both the obscurations to liberation and omniscience of himself and others' "Glorious" refers to both his function and his excellent quality as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Anantatejas

"The One of Unlimited Splendour" (gzi-brijid-mtha'yas, Anantatejas) resides in the north in the celestial field 'endowed with splendour.' He is red in colour and holds two suns in his hands and is surrounded by a large retinue. "Splendour" refers to his pristine awareness which is clear and is able to supress and bring others to clarity; "Limitless" indicates that his function is to benefit innumerable sentient beings and that his pre-eminent qualirties are infinite.

The 35 Tathagathas: Chandanasri

"The Glorious Sandalwood" (tsan-ldan-dpal, Chandanasri) sits in the north-westeren direction in the celestial field 'pervaded by a sweet perfume.' He is orange and holds the trunk of a sandalwood tree and a glorious fruit. "Sandalwood" refers to his primordial awareness since it cools and cleanses the pain of emotional afflictions such as ignorance; it also refers to his excellence since, (just as the scent of sandalwood prevades the whole room), all things are likewise imbued with his supreme qualities such as his powers; and "Glorious" refers to his function as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Sribhadra

"The Glorious Good" (dpal-bzang, Sribhadra) is seated in the west in the heavenly field 'endowed with bliss.' He is red and holds a lotus and a twing from the wish-fulfilling tree. "Glorious" indicates his excellence fo possessing complete perfection for the sake of himself and others; "Good" refers to his primordial awareness which is extremely supreme; and also his function of leading others along the good path to the state beyond sorrow.

The 35 Tathagathas: Varunadeva

"The Deity of the Water Deity" (chu-lha'i-lha, Varunadeva) is seated in the south-west and his body is white in color. He holds the circle, or mandala of the Water Deity and a mirror. "Water" refers to the pristine awareness as noted before; "Deity" refers to his function which is to work for the sake of all sentient beings through performing tasks such as miraculous emanations; and also refers to his excellent quality as noted before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Varuna

"The Water Deity" (chu-lha, Varuna) sits encircled by water in the south in the 'stainless' celestial field. He is blue and is in the gesture of bestowing dharma. "Water" refers to his pristine awareness which is extremely clear and and unstained; it also refers to his function of compassionately moistening the mental continuum of sentient beingswith the scared Truth of Dharma; "Deity" indicates his marvellous quality of having magical powers by which he can conjure up emanations.

The 35 Tathagathas: Brahmadatta

"The One Who Gives out of Purity" (tshang-pas-sbyin, Brahmadatta) is seated in the south-east in the celestial field 'without sorrow.' He is yellow and holds a moon and a lotus. "Purity" refers to his pristine awareness and excellence as noted before. His function is to "Give" all sentient beings pure happiness.

The 35 Tathagathas: Brahma

"The Pure One" (tshang-pa, Brahma) sits in the eastern direction in the heavenly field 'free from obscuration.' He is orange in color and holds a lotus and a sun. His pristine awareness is "Pure" since it is free from all obscurations; also his function is to purify since he cleanses all sentient beings from cyclic existence; and furthermore his excellent qualities are pure because, through the strength of his immeasurable excellence, he cleanses both himself and others.

The 35 Tathagathas: Suradatta

The One This Gone who is "Bestower of Courage" (dpa'-sbyin, Suradatta) resides in the direction above Sakyamuni in the celestial field 'endowed with glory.' His body is white in color and he holds a tree trunk with leaves and fruits. "Courage" refers to his primordial awareness that puts an end to all discursive thoughts; it also refers to his excellence of unflinchingly giving total completeness and happiness to others; and "Bestower" indicates that his function is to bestow pleasure or whatever is wished for on all sentient beings of the three realms.

The 35 Tathagathas: Vimala

"The Stainless One" (dri-ma med-pa, Vimala) is seated directly below Sakyamuni in the celestal realm 'covered by ash particles.' His body is the color of smoke and he holds two stainless mirrors. "Stainless" indicates his pristine awareness without obsurations; (that his function abides in) his ability to make others stainless, and that his his excellent qualities, such as his power to brilliantly illuminate beings, distinguishes them from the traces of beings affected by unexpected occurrences.

That is is the first group of ten Fully Awakened Beings around Buddha Sakyamuni to whom you should pay homage. The second group of ten is placed directly above the first group.

The 35 Tathagathas: Ratnacandra

"The Jewel Moon" (rin-chen zla-ba, Ratnacandra) is seated in the north-east in the celestial field 'abounding in radiant light.' He is pale-green in color and he holds a precious jewel and a moon. "Jewel" refers to his excellent quality as noted before and "Moon" refers to his pristine awareness and function as stated before.

The 35 Tathagathas: Amoghadarsi

In the north sits the "One With Vision and a Purpose" (mthong-ba-don-yod, Amoghadarsi) in the heavenly field of 'drum-beat.' He is green in color and holds the two eyes of a full awakened being. "Vision" indicates that his primordial awareness is un-obscured; it also refers to his excellent quality that his eyes of intelligent awareness is un-obscured; it also refers to his excellent quality that his eyes of intelligent awareness and compassion clearly see the truth of reality itself (chos-nyid, dharmata) and the purpose of sentient beings. His function is that he has a "Purpose" to lead all sentient beings to partake in the fruit of definite goodness and higher status.

The 35 Tathagathas: Ratnachandraprabha

The "Jewel Moonlight" (rin-chen zla-'od, Ratnachandraprabha) sits in the north-west in the celestial field of 'good light.' His body is white in color and he holds in his hands a jewel and a moon. "Jewel" refers to his excellence as before, "Moon" refers to his pristine awareness that is full, bright and cool; "Light" indicates his function to clear away contaminated actions and conflicting emotions, and that he illuminates the actual Truth of phenomena.

The 35 Tathagathas: Ratnagni

"The Jewel Fire" (rin-chen-me, Ratnagni) is seated in the west in the heavenly field 'endowed with luminosity'. He is red and holds a precious jewel and a ring of fire. "Jewel" refers to his primordial awareness which fulfils his purpose without discursive thought; it also refers to his excellence from which arises meditative absorption and total completeness (phun-sum-tsogs-pa, sampanna) which is beyond worldly actions; and "Fire" refers to his function of benefiting sentient beings with his primordial awareness and great energy which burns away their emotional afflictions.

The 35 Tathagathas: Viranandi

"The one pleased to be a Warrior" (dpa'-bo dgyes, Viranandi) is seated in the southwest in the heavenly field 'endowed with pleasure.' His body is orange in color and he holds in hands a sun and a red lotus. "Warrior" refers to his primordial awareness and functions as stated before, and "Pleased: refers to his excellence of mind which, because of its compassionate nature, is pleased to engage in activities for the benefit of sentient beings.

The 35 Tathagathas: Virasena

"The leader of the Warriors" (dpa'-bo'i-sde, Virasena) is seated in the south in the heavenly field 'endowed with warriors' he is yellow and holds in his hands a scripture and a sword. "Warrior" refers to his primordial awareness which is matchless and indefeatable; warrior also refers to his function of destroying all battles that arise in the cycle of existence, and "Leader" refers to his excellent quality of being endowed with many accumulations of excellences.