Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.11) Measuring the Dharma through logic:

The eleventh is intellectualizing the understanding of substantiality, lack of substantiality, and mental labels as truth.

This downfall occurs if one attempts to measure or realize uncontrived, fundamental nature of emptiness, with or without substance, only through conceptualizing intellect. Believing intellectual understanding to be absolute understanding, when it is only the measure of one’s own conceptualizations and mental limitations, constitutes the eleventh downfall.

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.10) Failing to liberate if the ten prerequisites are met:

The tenth is failing to liberate or express love when there is potential and when the ten prerequisites are complete.

The word of honor concerns that which brings harm to the doctrine, namely the physical enemies of the Three Jewels and more specifically the physical enemies of own’s own lama, those who have failed to restore deteriorated words of honor, those who have embraced the view and conduct of mantra and who have then developed incorrect view or have rejected the view and conduct, those who have hatred or anger toward the lama or the vajra family, those who have entered the secrete teachings without authorization, those who have brought harm to sentient beings or who are harming pure upholders of samaya, and those who continue to accumulate extremely negative karma. Such individuals qualify as objects of liberation through profound compassion. Any one of these nine causes for suffering must be present, along with the fact that these individuals wills surely fall to the three lower realms and experience unendurable suffering as a result of their conduct. Including the point that the results of their negative karma will surely be fatal constitutes the ten prerequisites. If any of these ten are complete, and especially if the potential to liberate exists, failure to accomplish this constitutes the tenth downfall.

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.9) Doubting the Dharma:

The ninth is explained as doubting the innate purity and liberating nature of the foundation, path and result.

The foundation, path, result, and all meanings are explained as the natural, perfectly pure nondual clear light bodhicitta, which is the originally pure fundamental essence of the sugatas. To believe that this path of Dharma is merely meant to lead one to a happier state but does not have the ultimate potential to bring about full awareness of one’s buddha nature, and to then doubt it so that faith and confidence are lost, constitutes the ninth root downfall.

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.8) Disrespecting the aggregates

The eighth is physically abusing oneself out of disrespect for the five aggregates, which are actually the five buddhas.

In inner Vajrayana practice, the five aggregates are viewed as the five buddhas. At the time of empowerment, the body itself becomes a support for the offering of all desirable objects and the increase of bliss. In dependence upon the body, primordial wisdom is actualized. Not knowing this and so maintaining the view that the body is a source of suffering, and further belittling the body verbally or physically–such as by actually severing one’s own limbs and so forth–constitutes the eighth downfall.

The following is respectfully quoted from “Perfect Conduct” with commentary by Dudjom Rinpoche:

4.b.3(b.7) Revealing secrets:

The seventh is openly revealing secret teachings to unsuitable vessels, to those with incomplete and unperfected ritual, or to those with deterioration who fear the profound.

Teaching certain aspects of secret mantra to spiritually immature individuals is a root downfall. Spiritually immature individuals are those who have not completed prerequisite training; who have not been empowered; who have incomplete practice; who have not received the three higher initiations; who, although having received empowerment, have allowed words of honor to deteriorate; who are afraid of the profound party; and who, like the śravakas and pratyekas, are not mature enough to receive the secret teachings. To intentionally expose such individuals to the uncommon substances and materials of secret mantra and their secret meaning so they lose faith constitutes the seventh downfall.