Liturgy of Confession for the Manas

I repent myself, from beginningless time until this present life,

Never ceasing to steal all the treasures of the Buddha.

Foolishly arrogant, claiming them as my own, universally scheming,

Clutching at everything, unaware that all is originally Buddha.

How could there be a self? Self and what belongs to me, seeing profit and forgetting righteousness,

Unaware of kindness and nurture, because of grasping, never escaping.

Deep in the pit of karmic obstacles, impoverished life after life, suffering rebirth after rebirth,

I repent myself, from beginningless time until this present life.

Discriminating everything, clinging to it as self, the view of self and self-conceit,

Self-love and self-delusion, constantly contemplating and pondering, the parikalpita (imagined nature).

Considering sight as myself, hearing as myself, smell as myself,

Taste as myself, touch as myself, consciousness as myself,

Considering myself capable of all deeds, myself capable of discerning

All principles of Dharma, myself capable of becoming an incomparably virtuous and honored one.

Today I finally know that in truth, I am nothing at all.

I repent myself, from beginningless time until this present life.

Clinging to my physical body, clinging to my material world, clinging to my spiritual powers,

Clinging to my virtues and abilities, clinging to my becoming a Buddha, clinging to my propagating the Dharma,

Clinging to my liberating beings. Today I finally know that in truth,

I am capable of nothing. From the past until now, deludedly clinging to the mundane,

Up to this very moment, deludedly clinging to the supramundane. Such deluded clinging

Makes me deeply perceive that the World-Honored One will not confer predictions upon me.

Longing for predictions, the thieving mind refuses to die—when will I ever ascend

The supreme precious throne? From now on, where shall I go, what shall I do?

Thief or gentleman, I must choose one. I will cleanse my heart and reform,

Correct my faults and renew myself, returning all that is not mine,

Utterly naked and free, spontaneously at ease, acting effortlessly and departing.