Repentance Text before Taking the Eight Precepts

The original text from the Sixteenth Volume of the Ekottarika Āgama, "High Banner Chapter": At that time, the instructor should teach the recipient to say thus: "I now uphold the Tathāgata's precepts of abstinence. Until dawn tomorrow, I will cultivate pure precepts, eliminating all evil dharmas. If there are evil actions committed by the body, evil words spoken by the mouth, or evil thoughts arising in the mind—whether the three evils of the body, the four of speech, or the three of the mind—all evil deeds already committed or to be committed, whether performed due to greed, hatred, delusion, pride of noble birth, influence of evil companions, actions done in this life, future lives, or countless lives; whether arising from ignorance of the Buddha and the Dharma, disrupting the monastic community, killing parents, venerable ones, or teachers—I now confess them all. I do not conceal them. Relying on the precepts and the Dharma, I will perfect my precept practice and receive the Tathāgata's eight precepts of abstinence."

Explanation: At this time, the instructor teaching the precepts guides the recipient to say: "I now uphold the Tathāgata's eight precepts of abstinence until dawn tomorrow, cultivating pure precepts and eliminating all evil dharmas. If I have committed evil actions with the body, spoken evil words with the mouth, or harbored evil thoughts in the mind—whether the three evils of the body, the four of speech, or the three of the mind—all evil deeds already committed or to be committed, I now fully confess them without concealment. This includes evil deeds committed due to greed, hatred, or delusion; evil deeds intentionally performed relying on noble birth; evil deeds committed under the influence of evil companions; evil deeds done with this present body, future bodies, or countless bodies; evil deeds arising from ignorance of the Buddha and the Dharma; evil deeds disrupting the monastic community; or evil deeds such as killing parents, all venerable ones, or teachers. All such evil deeds, I now confess fully myself, no longer concealing or hiding them. Relying on the precepts and the Dharma, I will perfect my precept practice and receive the Tathāgata's eight precepts of abstinence."

This content is the confession text before receiving the precepts. By confessing and exposing one's evil deeds, one purifies the mind and repents of transgressions. Only after the obstructions of transgressions are removed through repentance can one receive the eight precepts of abstinence, attain the substance of the precepts, and achieve perfect precept practice. Among these, the gravest transgressions are killing parents and teachers, followed by disrupting the monastic community and harming the Three Jewels—these evil deeds bring extremely severe retribution. Some transgressions arise from ignorance of the Buddha and the Dharma, failing to distinguish good from evil. Others occur despite encountering the Buddha and the Dharma but following the misguided teachings of evil companions. Due to delusion, one cannot distinguish virtuous from evil companions, following their every word as absolute truth and thus committing evil deeds, indulging all afflictions of the mind and even generating new ones. Grave transgressions require prolonged and earnest repentance to be purified. Only afterward can wisdom arise, enabling one to discern right from wrong, abandon evil, cultivate good, and attain purity of mind.