Bodhisattva root downfalls 11-18
Venerable Sangye Khadro 
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey 
Dec 10, 2020 Part of an ongoing series of teachings based on Shantideva’s classic text, "Bodhisattvacharyavatara", often translated as “Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds.” Venerable Thubten Chodron also refers to the outline of the commentary by Gyaltsab Dharma Rinchen and the commentary by the Abbot Dragpa Gyaltsen.
- Cultivating the determination to help all sentient beings and guide them to full awakening
- Root bodhisattva downfalls 11 through 18:
- Teaching emptiness to those whose minds are untrained
- Turning others away from full awakening
- Turning others away from their pratimoksha vows
- Belittling the shravaka vehicle
- Proclaiming a false realization of emptiness
- Accepting what has been stolen from the Three Jewels
- Being biased against serious practitioners and favoring those with fewer attainments
- Giving up bodhicitta
You can access Alex Berzin’s explanation of the root downfalls here.
27 Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds: Bodhisattva Root Downfalls 11-18 (download)
Venerable Sangye Khadro
California-born, Venerable Sangye Khadro ordained as a Buddhist nun at Kopan Monastery in 1974 and is a longtime friend and colleague of Abbey founder Venerable Thubten Chodron. She took bhikshuni (full) ordination in 1988. While studying at Nalanda Monastery in France in the 1980s, she helped to start the Dorje Pamo Nunnery, along with Venerable Chodron. Venerable Sangye Khadro has studied with many Buddhist masters including Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, and Khensur Jampa Tegchok. At her teachers’ request, she began teaching in 1980 and has since taught in countries around the world, occasionally taking time off for personal retreats. She served as resident teacher in Buddha House, Australia, Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore, and the FPMT centre in Denmark. From 2008-2015, she followed the Masters Program at the Lama Tsong Khapa Institute in Italy. Venerable has authored a number books found here, including the best-selling How to Meditate. She has taught at Sravasti Abbey since 2017 and is now a full-time resident.
