Root bodhisattva downfalls
Venerable Sangye Khadro 
Shantideva Teachings at Sravasti Abbey 
Dec 3, 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.
- The nature of a bodhisattva vow
- Root bodhisattva downfalls 3 through 10:
- Not listening to others’ apologies or striking others
- Discarding the Mahayana teachings and propounding made-up ones
- Taking offerings intended for the Three Jewels
- Forsaking the holy Dharma
- Disrobing monastics or committing such acts as stealing their robes
- Committing any of the five heinous crimes
- Holding a distorted, antagonistic outlook
- Destroying places such as towns
You can access Alex Berzin’s explanation of the root downfalls here.
26 Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Deeds: Root Bodhisattva Downfalls (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.
