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The confession must possess the four characteristics known as the four powers to become effective: intense remorse, sincere restoration, remedial action, and reliable support. | The confession must possess the four characteristics known as the four powers to become effective: intense remorse, sincere restoration, remedial action, and reliable support. | ||
<h5>4. Rejoicing</h5> | |||
The fourth limb of the practice is to rejoice in the good works of both oneself and others. From the enlightened activities of the buddhas of the three times and the virtuous activities of all saints to the wholesome deeds of all beings, one must feel proud of them and truly rejoice in them. Rejoicing in good works is considered to be an easy way to gain merit. | |||
<h5>5. Requesting to Teach</h5> | |||
It is the light of Dharma that is required to clear ignorance, the root cause of suffering. Yet, the teachers are reluctant to teach without earnest interest from the students, as the truth is profound and sentient beings are generally preoccupied with vanity. Thus, in the manner of Brahmā and Indra requesting the Buddha to stop his silence after his enlightenment and teach, a student must request the buddhas and teachers to teach or turn the wheel of Dharma. | |||
<h5>6. Requesting to Live Long</h5> | |||
The Buddha is said to have extended his life after receiving the request to live longer. As the existence in samsara is marred with pain and suffering, the enlightened beings who have attained the power to transcend the ordinary cycle of rebirth are said to often choose to exit from worldly existence and enter nirvana. Thus, the buddhas and masters are requested to not enter the state of nirvana but to remain in the world for the benefit of sentient beings. | |||
<h5>7. Dedication</h5> | |||
Finally, one takes the merit accumulated from the six above-mentioned practices and all the other merit one has accumulated and dedicates that to the welfare of sentient beings. This is done with the following prayer: "May these virtuous actions help sentient beings reach the complete and perfect state of the Buddha." | |||
The seven-limb prayer is often carried out by chanting the verses from ''The King of Aspiration Prayers: Samantabhadra’s Aspiration to Good Actions'' (link to Zangchö Mönlam), which are taken from ''The Stem Array Sūtra'' from the ''Buddhāvataṃsaka'' collection. The verses from chapter 2 and 3 of Śāntideva's ''Way of the Bodhisattva'' are also used as a liturgy for conducting the seven-limb prayer. | |||
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