The Lotus Garland

A commentary to the [long] Dewachen wishing prayer

by [Karma] Chagme [Rinpoche] Part 4

The four negative actions [in relation to the bodhisattva vows] which should be given up are :

• to cheat the lama
• to employ means to make someone regret the Dharma (or any dharmic activity),
• to slander the superior ones, (a)
• to have a tricky mind which cheats the inferior ones [the ones who depend on us].

The eighteen root downfalls of a bodhisattva are :

• The five concerning a king (or powerful person) are: (1) to steal the wealth of the [Three] Jewels,(b) (2) to [cause someone to] abandon the Dharma, (3) to strike and punish a monk who has become a lay person [due to having lost his discipline], (4) to commit one of the five crimes with immediate retribution, (5) to have erroneous views and to deny [the law of] cause and effect.
• Of the five downfalls for a minister the first four are the same as above (counted as 6–9), but instead of wrong views we find (10) destroying a town (or country) with an army.
• The eight principal transgressions of ordinary people (practising the bodhisattva path) are: (11) to teach emptiness to those whose mind has not been purified (and is not ready), (12) to create obstacles for the Dharma [practice] of the great vehicle, (13) to (make someone) engage in the Mahayana while giving up the self liberation vows, (14) to instigate others to abandon the Dharma of the smaller vehicle,(c) (15) to denigrate others in order to obtain praise and fame, (16) to lie saying that one has realised emptiness when one has not, (17) to pass on the donations given to the [Three] Jewels to someone who is not worthy to receive them, (18) to take away the provisions of a meditator who then has to abandon [his practice of] meditative absorption and to give them to someone who is just doing recitations without faith.

These are the eighteen root downfalls concerning the [bodhisattva] vows. If such a transgression has occurred, one will fall into Avici, the hell of unspeakable torment. (In order to purify these acts) confess these downfalls again and again in front of the bodhisattva Akashagarbha (Namkai Nyingpo)(d) and promise to keep the vows. In brief, you should never even abandon someone whom you consider as an enemy, (but remain open for when) the time will come that he needs your help. With this attitude I lay open and confess all the transgressions as explained concerning the bodhisattva training.

The confession of transgressions concerning the vows of the tantrayana : (e)

These vows should not be explained in public or to unprepared, feeble minded people. You should keep them secret in your mind. The 14 root downfalls of the mantrayana are:

(1) to disrespect the lama, (2) to transgress the Buddha's word, (3) to be angry at one's [vajra] brothers and sisters, (4) to give up love and (5) to give up bodhicitta, (6) to disrespect (non-Buddhist) spiritual teachings, (7) to disclose secrets (of the vajrayana transmission), (8) to despise the 5 aggregates,(f) (9) to disbelieve pure Dharmas,(g) (10) to have love for malicious ones,(h) (11) to apply discursive concepts,(i) (12) to create regret in those who have faith, (13) not to rely on samaya substances,(j) (14) to disrespect women.

If you keep the tantric vows, they will be the root of all accomplishments. If you damage them, they are the root of all faults and downfalls. Pledging to them, they are the root of all samayas. That is why they are [called] the 14 root downfalls of the mantrayana.

The [transgressions of the] eight secondary vows are :

(1) to rely on a wisdom lady who is not yet mature, (2) to quarrel at the time of the tsog gathering, (3) to accept dütsi with improper characteristics,(k) (4) not to teach the secret mantra to those who are fitting vessels, (5) not to teach the noble Dharma to those who have faith,(l) (6) to stay seven days together with a shravaka who is striving towards a personal benefit,(m) (7) to boast with being a "tantrika" while not having the primordial awareness of the yoga,(n) (8) to explain the Dharma to unfit vessels. These are the secondary tantric vows.

For this reason I lay open and confess the samaya damages of the secret mantra: the 14 root downfalls of the mantrayana, and the transgressions of the eight secondary vows.

I lay open and confess all harmful deeds which I did not understand to be harmful: the non-virtuous deeds that I have committed due to not requesting vows and all evil deeds of which I was not aware of as actually being harmful, like impure conduct (sexual activity), drinking alcohol and so on due to desire.

I lay open and confess the serious transgressions and downfalls due to receiving refuge vows of a genyen,(o) initiations and so on, but not knowing to keep the respective vows and commitments.

Since a confession will not purify if there is no regret, I confess with great remorse, with shame, and with despair at my previous harmful deeds, as if poison had attained the depth of my being. This is applying the "force of repentance" in relation to our previous acts.

Since there will be no purification if I am not keeping to my vows from now on, I promise in my mind, from today onwards, never to commit non-virtuous activity even at the cost of my life. This is applying the "force of renunciation" by keeping the vows present in our mind from now on. For a true confession these two [forces] are very important.

Please, Sugata Measureless Light and your heirs, grant your blessing so that my stream of being may be completely purified.

This concludes the branch of confession.

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Notes :

(a) The superior ones are bodhisattvas and all the people who have taught us : our parents, teachers, etc.

(b) To steal the wealth of the jewels is for example misusing donations given to a community of practitioners or to destroy and rob the precious items found in a temple or monastery etc.

(c) For example by claiming that the smaller vehicle does not lead to liberation from emotions.

(d) Akashagarbha is one of the eight bodhisattvas belonging to the sangha of the Buddha. Here he represents this sangha.

(e) Tantrayana, mantrayana and vajrayana are synonyms. The explanations given here belong more specifically to the anuttara yoga tantra, the highest form of tantra.

(f) To despise the five aggregates means to despise one's body and mind.

(g) To disbelieve pure Dharmas : the Tibetan word chö also means phenomena, so this can also mean to regard phenomena as impure when, in the tantra, they are considered as being pure by nature.

(h) To have love for malicious ones means to engage in close friendship with people whose views are against the Dharma and who intend to harm.

(i) One should not apply discursive concepts on what is free of them by nature, on ultimate truth for example.

(j) Not to rely on samaya substances means not to accept even a tiny bit of a tsog substance because of for example a personal dietary choice against meat or alcohol.

(k) To accept dütsi with improper characteristics means dütsi which is received from an improper consort.

(l) Not to teach the Dharma also means not to answer to sincere questions on the Dharma, but to turn them into derision.

(m) To stay seven days together with a shravaka who is striving towards a personal benefit is a transgression because one might be influenced to rely on a lower vehicle; also the shravaka might be disturbed in his practice.

(n) Yoga refers hear to the union of wisdom and means.

(o) Genyen means friend of virtue and refers to the first level of vows of a lay practitioner.