Eight branches

The eight branches (Wyl. yan lag brgyad) for gathering the accumulation of merit, which appear in chapters 2 and 3 of the Bodhicharyavatara are:

1. offerings;
2. prostration;
3. refuge;
4. confession negative deeds;
5. rejoicing;
6. requesting the buddhas to turn the wheel of Dharma;
7. requesting the buddhas not to enter into nirvana;
8. dedication of merit.

The eight branches as antidotes to the five poisons

Traditionally, this set is called the seven branches with refuge as the eighth. Through the practice of the seven or eight branches, the five disturbing emotions will be reduced, the accumulation of merit will be gathered in an easy manner, without any hardship, and all obstacles for developing bodhichitta will be removed.

• Making offerings is taught as a remedy for miserliness and as an antidote to the craving of attachment.
• Paying respect is to annihilate pride and offering prostrations arrogance.
• Taking refuge distances one from the wrong paths, and through bodhichitta you distance yourself from the lower paths.
• Confession is an antidote to ignorance. You accept and acknowledge all the mistakes you have committed in this and all former lifetimes based on ego-clinging. Normally, we cling to our wrong actions and serves the mistakes. Confessing negativity or unskillful volitional action purpose of annihilating the attachment of clinging to what is wrong, annihilating the attachment of holding on to what is inferior and annihilating the attachment to ignorance.
• Rejoicing is an antidote to envy and jealousy. Envy and jealousy are the fear that others are better than you are, or that others own something you lack. Rejoicing in the qualities, achievements, and merit of others destroys attachment to this fear.
• Requesting the buddhas to turn the wheel of Dharma is another remedy for ignorance, since when the buddhas turn the wheel of Dharma the sun of wisdom arises.
• Praying that the buddhas do not enter into nirvana is also an antidote to ignorance. Furthermore, it has the purpose of assuring that the Buddha’s teaching remains for a long time. It incorporates as well the request for the longevity of one’s teacher and spiritual guide. The teacher is the root of the Dharma. The transmission of the ‘Dharma of transmission' and the ‘Dharma of realization is based on one’s teacher and spiritual guide. Without a teacher, one is cut off from the root of the Dharma. Therefore, one requests the buddhas, bodhisattvas and teachers to remain for a long time.
• Dedication is giving to others all the goodness one has acquired through one’s practice.