Starting over

[joshisaurous]

15. It is because

the bodhisattva vows are not something that is easy to keep. That is why it is typical to retake them dozens of times a year. You do need to understand them to keep them. I keep a copy of them with their explanations within 30 feet of me 99.9% of the time, in my travel bag, in my house, in my office, always with me. And periodically I read through them.

This website is a legitimate source of info for Geluk Bodhisattva vows:

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/practice_material/vows/bodhisattva/root_bodhisattva_pledges.html

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/practice_material/vows/bodhisattva/secondary_bodhisattva_pledges.html



&quot 4) Discarding the Mahayana teachings and propounding made-up ones

This means to reject the correct teachings about some topic concerning bodhisattvas, such as their ethical behavior, and to make up in their stead a plausible yet misleading instruction on the same subject, claim it to be authentic, and then teach it to others in order to gain their following. An example of this downfall is when teachers who are eager not to scare away prospective students condone liberal moral behavior and explain that any type of action is acceptable so long as it does not harm others. We need not be a teacher to commit this downfall. We can commit it even in casual conversation with others."