The Eighteen Root Downfalls

1. Praising oneself and belittling others

2. Not sharing with others one’s wealth and the Dharma

3. Not forgiving even when others apologise

4. Doubting and denying the doctrine of the Great Vehicle

5. Taking offerings intended for the Three Jewels

6. Abandoning the doctrine (through sectarianism, etc.)

7. Causing an ordained person to disrobe

8. Committing one of the five crimes of immediate retribution

9. Holding perverted views

10. Destroying places such as towns

11. Teaching emptiness to those untrained

12. Discouraging others from seeking full enlightenment

13. Causing others to break the vows of individual liberation

14. Belittling those who follow the path of individual liberation

15. Proclaiming false realisations (of emptiness, etc)

16. Accepting gifts of articles that have been misappropriated from the belongings of the Three Jewels

17. Laying down harmful regulations and passing false judgement

18. Giving up the pledge of altruistic aspiration (bodhicitta)

Except in the cases of giving up the pledge of altruistic aspiration and holding perverted views, a complete infraction of any of the root vows requires the association with what are called the ‘four factors of thorough entanglement’:

1. Not being mindful of the disadvantages

2. Not reversing the desire to indulge in the infraction

3. Indulging in the act with great pleasure and delight

4. Lack of any shame and conscience

The Forty-Six Secondary Infractions

Seven downfalls related to generosity

1. Not making offerings every day to the Three Jewels

2. Acting out thoughts of desire because of discontent

3. Not paying respect to those senior to one in ordination and in taking the bodhisattva vows

4. Not answering others’ questions out of negligence though one is able to do so

5. Selfishly not accepting invitation due to pride, the wish to hurt others’ feelings, or anger and laziness

6. Not accepting others’ gift out of jealousy, anger etc or simply to hurt the other

7. Not giving the Dharma teachings to those who wish to learn

Nine downfalls in relation to the practice of morality

1. Ignoring and insulting someone who has committed any of the five heinous crimes or defiled his or her vows of individual liberation, or treating him or her with contempt

2. Not observing the precepts of moral conduct because one wishes to ingratiate oneself with others

3. Complying with the minor precepts when the situation demands one’s disregard of them for the greater benefit of others

4. Not committing one of the seven negative actions of body and speech when universal love and compassion deem it necessary in a particular instance

5. Accepting things which are acquired through one of the five wrong livelihoods

6. Wasting time on frivolous actions (such as carelessness, lack of pure morality, dancing, playing music just for fun, gossiping) and also distracting others in meditation

7. Misconceiving that bodhisattvas do not attempt to attain liberation and failing to view delusions as things to be eliminated

8. Not living up to one’s precepts, thinking that doing so might decrease one’s popularity, or not correcting the undisciplined behavior of body and speech which result in a bad reputation that limits one’s ability to carry out the tasks of a bodhisattva

9. Not correcting others whom, motivated by delusions, commit negative actions. Doing so helps them to disclose and purify their actions, whereas concealing them generates suspicions of being disliked by others

Four downfalls related to patience

1. Parting from the four noble disciplines; not retaliating when scolded by others, humiliated by others, hit by others or even killed by others

2. Neglecting those who are angry with you

3. Refusing to accept the apologies of others

4. Acting out thoughts of anger, not opposing the arousal of anger within one’s mind by reflecting upon its harmful consequences etc

Three downfalls related to joyous effort

1. Gathering circles of disciples out of desire for respect and material gain

2. Wasting time and energy on trivial matters; not countering laziness, addiction to excessive sleep, and procrastination

3. Being addicted to frivolous talk

Three downfalls related to concentration

1. Not seeking the appropriate conditions for attaining a single pointed concentration, and meditating upon it without proper guidance

2. Not eliminating the obstacles to one’s concentration

3. Regarding the blissful experience derived from concentration as the main purpose of single pointed meditation

Eight downfalls related to wisdom

1. Abandoning the doctrines of the Lesser Vehicle with the thought that the practitioners of the Great Vehicle need not practise them

2. Unnecessarily expending one’s energy in other directions despite having one’s own Greater Vehicle methods

3. Pursuing non-Dharma studies to neglect of the Dharma ones

4. Studying non-Dharma subjects with great thoroughness, out of attachment to these views, and favouring them

5. Abandoning the doctrines of the Great Vehicle, claiming that they are ineffective and rejecting texts on ground of their literary style

6. Praising oneself and belittling others out of arrogance and hatred

7. Not attending Dharma ceremonies, discourses etc out of laziness or pride

8. Disparaging one’s Guru and not relying on his words

Twelve downfalls related to the ethics of helping others

1. Not helping those who need assistance

2. Avoiding the task of caring for sick people

3. Not working to alleviate other’s suffering, such as the seven types of frustrations: being blind, deaf, lame, exhausted from fatigue, depressed, abused and rebuked by others, and suffering from the hindrances to a calm and single pointed mind

4. Not showing the Dharma way to those recklessly caught up in the affairs of this life alone

5. Not repaying the kindness of others

6. Not consoling those who have mental grief, such as that caused by separation from loved ones

7. Not giving material aid to those who are in need of it

8. Not taking care of one’s circle of disciples, relatives and friends by giving them teaching and material aid

9. Not acting in accordance with other’ wishes

10. Not praising those who deserve praise and their good qualities

11. Not preventing harmful acts to the extent permitted by circumstances

12. Not employing physical prowess of supernatural powers, if one possesses them, at the time needed

http://buddhism.org/Sutras/DHARMA/Tripitaka/BrahamaNet.htm

http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Bodhisattva_vows

http://www.bodhicitta.net/BODHISATTVAVOWS.htm

https://www.kechara.com/documents/BodhisattvaVows.pdf

The Twelve Vows of the Medicine Buddha

🔹I vow that my body shall shine as beams of brilliant light on this infinite and boundless world, showering on all beings, getting rid of their ignorance and worries with my teachings. May all beings be like me, with a perfect status and character, upright mind and soul, and finally attaining enlightenment like the Buddha.

🔹I vow that my body be like crystal, pure and flawless, radiating rays of splendid light to every corner, brightening up and enlightening all beings with wisdom. With the blessings of compassion, may all beings strengthen their spiritual power and physical energy, so that they could fulfill their dreams on the right track.

🔹I vow that I shall grant by means of boundless wisdom, all beings with the inexhaustible things that they require, and relieving them from all pains and guilt resulting from materialistic desires. Although clothing, food, accommodation and transport are essentials, it should be utilized wisely as well. Besides self-consumption, the remaining should be generously shared with the community so that all could live harmoniously together.

🔹I vow to lead those who have gone astray back to the path of righteousness. Let them be corrected and returned to the Buddha way for enlightenment.

🔹I vow that I shall enable all sentient beings to observe precepts for spiritual purity and moral conduct. Should there be any relapse or violation, they shall be guided by repentance. Provided they sincerely regret their wrong-doings, and vow for a change with constant prayers and strong faith in the Buddha, they could receive the rays of forgiveness, recover their lost moral and purity.

🔹I vow that all beings who are physically disabled or sick in all aspects be blessed with good health, both physically and mentally. All who pays homage to Buddha faithfully will be blessed.

🔹I vow to relieve all pain and poverty of the very sick and poor. The sick be cured, the helpless be helped, the poor be assisted.

🔹I vow to help women who are undergoing sufferings and tortures and seeking for transformation into men. By hearing my name, paying homage and praying, their wishes would be granted and ultimately attain Buddhahood.

🔹I vow to free all beings from evil thoughts and its control. I shall lead them onto the path of light through inculcating them with righteousness and honour so that they will walk the Buddha way.

🔹I vow to save prisoners who have genuinely repented and victims of natural disasters. My supreme powers will bless those who are sincere and be freed from sufferings.

🔹I vow to save those who suffer from starvation and those who committed a crime to obtain food. If they hear my name and faithfully cherish it, I shall lead them to the advantages of Dharma and favour them with the best food and eventually lead a tranquil and happy life.

🔹 I vow to save those who suffer from poverty, tormented by mosquitoes and wasps day and night. If they come across my name, cherish it with sincerity and practice dharma to strengthen their merits, they will be able to achieve their wishes.