THE RITE OF REMEDY FOR MANTRA DOWNFALLS
(Make three PROSTRATIONS, stand and say): All buddhas and bodhisattvas, dwelling in the ten directions, and community of knowledge-holders, please listen to this rite of remedy for measureless transgressions I have committed in violation of the Vajra vehicle discipline from what are described as grounds for defeat, and grounds for gross misconduct.
(The Vajra Master replies): Please proceed in accordance with the teachings and discipline.
(SQUAT down and recite): All buddhas and bodhisattvas dwelling in the ten directions and community of knowledge-holders please consider me. I, knowledge-holder, (secret name), have committed measureless transgressions in violation of the Vajra Vehicle discipline from what are described as grounds for defeat, I have committed measureless transgressions which are gross misconducts with incomplete branches and approximations of them, that belong to the class of fourteen root downfalls: such as disparaging the master, taught as the first root downfall, because of which Vajradhara said: “Attainment comes from following the master,” etc. I have committed measureless transgressions in violation of the vajra vehicle discipline from what are described as grounds for gross misconduct. I have committed measureless transgressions which are actual downfalls belonging to the class of gross misconduct and approximations of it: the eight gross misconducts such as taking a wisdom consort by force, taking her nectar by force, etc., not properly performing the preparations, teaching secrets to the unfortunate, teaching the physical mudra to a mudra who is not an expert, performing mandala activities without having properly performed the approach retreat, etc.; unnecessarily transgressing the two vows: pratimoksha and bodhisattva, etc. Furthermore, I have committed measureless transgressions that are actual downfalls and approximations of them in violation of commitments and vows of the five families in general and individually, which I have sworn to protect. I have committed measureless transgressions of actual downfalls and approximations of them in violation of what I have sworn to protect, such as the twenty five ascetic practices. In particular, not recollecting six times daily the meaning of the commitments and vows of the five families in general and individually, not enumerating six times daily the root and branch commitments and vows, not conforming to the way of serving the spiritual guide as explained in “The Fifty Verses of Devotion to the Spiritual Guide”, stepping over things of divine significance, old ritual substances, etc.; breaking the six sessions yoga of vowed intention, not making an effort in four session yoga, the torma offering of the last session, the yogas of sleeping, rising, washing, and eating, and not meditating on whatever appears as divine sport. Furthermore, not praising the deity and the spiritual guide with the “Eight Legged Praise”, not meditating on, prostrating to and circumambulating women, not making an effort in the left side practice, and the offering of the tenth day. In brief, I have committed measureless transgressions in violation of the vajra vehicle discipline. I, (your secret name), with the title of knowledge-holder, confess these transgressions of mine before all the buddhas and bodhisattvas dwelling in the ten directions, and the community of knowledge holders. I reveal them, I do not conceal them, henceforth I take up restraint. If I reveal and confess them, I will live in happiness, but if I do not reveal and confess them, that will not happen. (3x) CONCLUSION (Vajra master): Do you see these as transgressions? (Di-nam-la nang-par zig-la-sam) (Others): I do. (Chin chä lek-par dom-mam?) (Vajra master): Henceforth, do you properly restrain yourself? (Others): I will keep up most restraint in accordance with the teachings and discipline. (3x)
(Vajra master): This is the way. (Tap-yin-no)(Others): It is well. (Then another bhikshu puts the questions to the vajra master).
(Make three PROSTRATIONS, stand and say):All buddhas and bodhisattvas dwelling in the ten directions, and community of knowledge-holders, it is very kind of you to listen to this rite of remedy for measureless transgressions I have committed in violation of the vajra vehicle discipline from what are described as grounds for defeat and grounds for gross misconduct.
(The vajra master replies): It is most wonderful that you act in accordance with the teachings and discipline.