Offenses arise from the mind; use the mind to repent. When the mind is forgotten, offenses are no more. Mind forgotten and offenses eradicated, both are empty. This is called true repentance and reform.

I know that my past faults were left uncorrected, yet I know that in the future I may mend my ways. I know that I have not been off the path of confusion for very long, and I am aware of today’s rights and yesterday’s wrongs. (Tao Yuanming, Gui qu lai ci “The Return”)

‘Of all bad karma which I have done based on beginningless greed, anger, and delusion, committed by body, mouth, and mind, I now repent and reform.’ Greed, anger, and delusion are found at the root of our actions, even those which seem to be motivated by selflessness, love and knowledge. Difficult to understand as this at first seems, it will be born out by sufficient inspection.

“The body, mouth and mind are the vehicles which perform the actions motivated by the three poisons: greed, anger, and delusion. The body is capable of killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. The mouth spews forth false speech, confused prattle, harsh speech, and slander. The mind governs body and mouth through greed, anger, and wrong views. These are called the ten paths of unwholesome conduct, and they constitute the greater part of our conduct. However, they can be transformed into their opposites by our efforts; this is called turning toward the good. To change is simply to repent.

Repentance is no emotional outpouring, no futile regret over spilt milk. We regret, we change and that is all there is to it. One gradually learns to stop doing all manner of bad and moves towards all that is good.

Formal repentance is often done publicly, individually before the great assembly, or communally by bowing repentances such as the Great Compassion Repentance or the Repentance before the Ten Thousand Buddhas.

懺悔