A Complete Guide to the 35 Buddhas and the Practice of Purification

The 35 Buddhas are an important group of enlightened beings invoked in Mahayana Buddhism, especially within Tibetan Buddhist traditions. They are commonly known as the Thirty-Five Buddhas 35 Buddhas of Confession because practitioners recite their names while acknowledging harmful actions, developing sincere regret, and renewing their commitment to ethical conduct.

The practice is based on a Mahayana scripture often called the Sutra of the Three Heaps, which forms part of the larger Ratnakuta Sutra, or Heap of Jewels Sutra. Its three central elements are confession, rejoicing in virtue, and dedication of merit. Over time, the practice became closely connected with prostrations, visualization, and the recitation known as the Confession of a Bodhisattva’s Downfalls.

Who Are the 35 Buddhas?

The 35 Buddhas are not understood as gods who judge or punish people. In Buddhist teachings, they represent fully awakened wisdom, compassion, and purity. Each Buddha’s name expresses an enlightened quality, such as radiant light, courage, generosity, freedom from sorrow, or the destruction of mental obstacles.

Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha who taught in ancient India, appears first in the traditional list. The remaining Buddhas are invoked as witnesses and sources of inspiration during the confession practice.

English translations of their names differ slightly among Buddhist schools and translators. A commonly used list includes:

1. Shakyamuni Buddha


2. Thoroughly Destroying with Vajra Essence


3. Radiant Jewel


4. Sovereign King of the Nagas


5. Leader of the Warriors


6. Glorious Joy


7. Jewel Fire


8. Jewel Moonlight


9. Meaningful to Behold


10. Jewel Moon


11. Stainless One


12. Glorious Giving


13. Pure One


14. Bestowing Purity


15. Water Deity


16. God of the Water Deities


17. Glorious Goodness


18. Glorious Sandalwood


19. Infinite Splendor


20. Glorious Light


21. Sorrowless Glory


22. Son of the Desireless One


23. Glorious Flower


24. Clearly Knowing through the Enjoyment of Pure Radiance


25. Clearly Knowing through the Enjoyment of Lotus Radiance


26. Glorious Wealth


27. Glorious Mindfulness


28. Glorious Name of Widely Renowned Fame


29. King Holding the Victory Banner of Supreme Power


30. Glorious One Completely Subduing All


31. Utterly Victorious in Battle


32. Glorious One Who Has Gone to Perfect Self-Control


33. Glorious Illuminating One


34. Jewel Lotus Who Completely Subdues All


35. King of the Lord of Mountains, Firmly Seated on Jewel and Lotus

Some versions use names such as Vajra Conqueror, Blazing Jewel, or King of the Nagas. These differences usually reflect translation choices rather than different Buddhas.

The Meaning Behind the Practice

The practice of the 35 Buddhas is primarily concerned with purification. In Buddhism, purification does not mean erasing the past or receiving forgiveness from an external authority. It means transforming one’s relationship with harmful actions and weakening the mental habits that may produce similar behavior again.

Negative karma is created through intentional actions of body, speech, and mind. Actions motivated by hatred, greed, dishonesty, or ignorance can leave impressions that influence future thoughts, choices, and experiences. Purification begins when a person honestly recognizes these patterns instead of denying or defending them.

Confession in this context is therefore an act of responsibility. Practitioners acknowledge what they have done, regret the harm involved, and make a sincere determination to improve. The Buddhas symbolize the possibility of complete awakening and remind practitioners that destructive habits are not permanent.

The Four Opponent Powers

The purification practice is often explained through four opponent powers.

The first is the power of reliance. Practitioners take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha while developing compassion for all living beings. Reliance establishes a positive spiritual direction.

The second is the power of regret. This is different from guilt or self-hatred. Guilt may cause a person to believe that they are permanently bad, while constructive regret recognizes that an action was harmful and should not be repeated.

The third is the power of remedy. Reciting the names of the 35 Buddhas, making prostrations, meditating, studying Buddhist teachings, and performing compassionate actions may all serve as remedies.

The fourth is the power of resolve. Practitioners promise to avoid the harmful behavior in the future. When a permanent promise feels unrealistic, they may commit to avoiding it for a specific and manageable period. Traditional explanations emphasize that the effectiveness of the practice depends on applying these four powers sincerely.

How the 35 Buddhas Practice Is Performed

A traditional session begins by generating the motivation of bodhicitta—the wish to attain awakening for the benefit of all beings. The practitioner then visualizes Shakyamuni Buddha surrounded by the other thirty-four Buddhas.

Different traditions describe their arrangement and appearance in different ways. Some paintings present the Buddhas in five groups of seven, while Tibetan artistic traditions may show them with different colors, hand gestures, or symbolic objects.

The practitioner recites each Buddha’s name and may perform one prostration for every name. A prostration can involve placing the hands together, touching the crown, throat, and heart, and then bowing or lowering the body to the floor. These movements symbolize respect and the purification of actions performed through body, speech, and mind.

People with physical limitations do not need to force themselves into painful movements. Joining the palms at the heart, bowing gently, or mentally imagining prostrations may be used instead. Buddhist teachers emphasize that sincere intention is more important than physical performance.

After reciting the names, the practitioner confesses harmful actions, rejoices in the goodness of others, requests the Buddhas to continue teaching, and dedicates any positive merit to the awakening of all beings.

Benefits of Practicing with the 35 Buddhas

Regular practice can encourage ethical awareness, humility, and emotional responsibility. It gives practitioners a structured way to examine their conduct without becoming trapped in shame.

Reciting the names also reminds them of positive qualities they wish to develop. Names connected with light may represent wisdom, while names associated with victory can symbolize overcoming anger, selfishness, and ignorance.

The practice is not intended to replace apologizing to someone who has been harmed or taking practical steps to correct a mistake. Genuine purification includes making amends whenever it is reasonable and safe to do so. Meditation and prayer become most meaningful when they lead to more compassionate behavior in everyday life.

Purification as a Path of Transformation

The teaching of the 35 Buddhas offers a hopeful understanding of personal change. Everyone makes mistakes, but Buddhist practice teaches that people can recognize harmful patterns, apply appropriate remedies, and choose a wiser direction.

Through confession, prostration, visualization, and ethical resolve, practitioners gradually transform regret into responsibility. The purpose is not to remain focused on past failures but to create the conditions for greater wisdom and compassion.

Ultimately, the practice of the 35 Buddhas teaches that purification is an active process. It requires honesty, effort, mindfulness, and a commitment to benefit others. By repeatedly returning to these principles, practitioners strengthen their confidence that negative habits can be changed and that awakening remains possible.