The practice is based on the Sutra of the Three Heaps, known in Sanskrit as the Triskandhadharmasutra. It is associated with three important spiritual activities: acknowledging harmful actions, rejoicing in virtue, and dedicating merit for the awakening of all beings.
Rather than presenting purification as punishment, the practice encourages practitioners to recognize their mistakes honestly, develop responsibility, and establish a sincere intention to act more wisely in the future.
Who Are the 35 Buddhas?
The 35 Buddhas, also called the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas, are enlightened beings invoked as witnesses and sources of inspiration during confession. In Mahayana understanding, each Buddha represents complete wisdom, compassion, ethical purity, and freedom from mental obscurations.
According to traditional explanations, these Buddhas made powerful aspirations while following the bodhisattva path. Their prayers were directed toward helping living beings purify negative karma, overcome obstacles, and progress toward enlightenment. This is why reciting their names is considered an important part of the practice.
The central figure is usually Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha of the present age. The remaining Buddhas may be visualized around him in organized groups. Different Tibetan traditions sometimes use slightly different translations, colors, gestures, or visual arrangements.
The Names of the 35 Buddhas
Common English translations of the names include:
- Shakyamuni Buddha
- Thoroughly Destroying with Vajra Essence
- Jewel of Radiant Light
- Powerful King of the Nagas
- Leader of the Warriors
- Glorious Bliss
- Jewel Fire
- Jewel Moonlight
- Meaningful to See
- Jewel Moon
- Stainless One
- Bestowed with Glory
- Pure One
- Bestowed with Purity
- Water Deity
- Deity of the Water Deity
- Glorious Excellence
- Glorious Sandalwood
- Infinite Splendor
- Glorious Light
- Glorious One Without Sorrow
- Son of the Desireless One
- Glorious Flower
- Clearly Knowing through the Enjoyment of Pure Radiance
- Clearly Knowing through the Enjoyment of Lotus Radiance
- Glorious Wealth
- Glorious Mindfulness
- Glorious Name of Widely Renowned Fame
- King Holding the Victory Banner of Foremost Power
- Glorious One Totally Subduing
- Utterly Victorious in Battle
- Glorious Transcendence through Total Subduing
- Glorious Manifestations Illuminating All
- Jewel Lotus Who Totally Subdues
- King of the Lord of Mountains, Firmly Seated on Jewel and Lotus
English versions of these names can vary because translators may interpret the original Sanskrit and Tibetan expressions differently. Therefore, practitioners are normally encouraged to follow the wording used by their teacher, monastery, Dharma center, or authorized practice text.
What Do the Names Mean?
The names of the 35 Buddhas contain repeated images of jewels, light, purity, victory, glory, lotuses, and freedom from sorrow. These images describe enlightened qualities rather than ordinary material achievements.
Jewels and Spiritual Richness
A jewel symbolizes something rare, valuable, and capable of fulfilling meaningful wishes. Names containing “jewel” can remind practitioners that wisdom, compassion, patience, and ethical conduct are more valuable than temporary possessions.
Light and Clear Awareness
Radiance and moonlight represent wisdom that reveals reality clearly. Just as light removes darkness, awareness and understanding help remove confusion, ignorance, and harmful habits.
Purity and Freedom from Defilements
Names such as Stainless One and Pure One point toward a mind no longer controlled by greed, hatred, or ignorance. In Buddhist practice, purification does not mean that a person is permanently bad and must somehow become acceptable. It means that harmful mental patterns are temporary and can be transformed.
Victory and Inner Strength
Victory banners and triumph in battle symbolize victory over inner obstacles. The “battle” is not against other people but against anger, selfishness, carelessness, attachment, and misunderstanding.
The Lotus and Transformation
A lotus grows from muddy water while remaining beautiful and clean. It therefore represents the possibility of developing wisdom and compassion even while living in difficult conditions.
The Purpose of Purification
In Buddhism, karma refers to intentional actions and the effects they create. Harmful actions can influence habits, relationships, emotional well-being, and future experiences. Purification practice is intended to weaken these negative patterns before they produce further suffering.
Confession does not erase responsibility. Instead, it strengthens responsibility by encouraging the practitioner to stop denying or defending harmful behavior. The individual acknowledges what happened, understands its consequences, and makes a serious commitment to improve.
The aim is not to become trapped in shame. Excessive guilt can make people feel hopeless, while honest regret can motivate positive change. Purification transforms regret into ethical awareness, compassion, and constructive action.
The Four Opponent Powers
The practice of the 35 Buddhas is commonly explained through four opponent powers. Traditional teachings describe these four elements as essential parts of complete purification.
The Power of Reliance
The practitioner renews refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha while generating compassion and the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. Reliance restores a positive spiritual direction.
The Power of Regret
The practitioner honestly recognizes harmful actions of body, speech, and mind. Regret differs from self-hatred. It is the clear realization that an action was unwise and should not be repeated.
The Power of the Remedy
A positive practice is performed to counteract negativity. In this tradition, the remedy includes visualizing the Buddhas, reciting their names, confessing downfalls, reflecting on emptiness, and performing prostrations.
The Power of Resolve
The practitioner develops a sincere determination not to repeat harmful actions. When a permanent promise feels unrealistic, a person may begin with a manageable period and gradually strengthen the commitment.
How the Practice Is Performed
A traditional session begins by establishing a compassionate motivation. The practitioner imagines the 35 Buddhas in the space ahead, often with Shakyamuni Buddha at the center.
The names are then recited while prostrations are performed. Prostration involves body, speech, and mind: the body bows, speech recites the names, and the mind recalls enlightened qualities. Practitioners with physical limitations may place their palms together or perform a mental prostration instead of a full physical movement.
After the names, the confession prayer acknowledges various harmful actions. The practitioner reflects without excuses but also without believing that mistakes define their permanent identity.
The practice concludes by rejoicing in virtue, requesting spiritual guidance, and dedicating any merit to the welfare and awakening of all beings.
Practicing with Understanding
The practice of the 35 Buddhas is most meaningful when it is joined with ethical change. Recitation alone should not become a replacement for apologizing, correcting damage, or changing harmful behavior.
Beginners can learn the prayer gradually and receive guidance from a qualified Buddhist teacher. Accurate instruction is especially valuable for understanding visualization, refuge, bodhicitta, karma, emptiness, and dedication.
Ultimately, the 35 Buddhas represent hope in the possibility of transformation. The practice teaches that mistakes should be recognized, harmful patterns can be purified, and every sincere effort toward wisdom and compassion contributes to the path of awakening.