Cognitive Flexibility

• 205EApproaches to Refuge in the Three Yanas

  Analyze the distinctive approaches to taking refuge across the three Buddhist vehicles, evaluate how different motivations (personal liberation, universal awakening, rapid transformation) shape refuge practices, and synthesize understanding of how the three jewels function as sources of protection across diverse Buddhist traditions.
• 215EAstrology in Buddhist Cultures

  Compare and contrast astrological systems used in Buddhist cultures (Chinese/Tibetan and Western zodiacs) with Buddhist teachings on karma and self-determination; analyze how cultural worldviews influence self-perception and understanding of reality; and evaluate the relationship between traditional astrological beliefs and core Buddhist principles such as dependent origination and personal responsibility.
• 311EBodhicaryavatara

  Analyze the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life text, its structure, author, and importance. Differentiate between aspirational and ultimate bodhicitta, and evaluate how impermanence is a basis for generating compassion.
• 203EBuddhism and Indigenous Cultures

  Analyze which indigenous cultures pre-existed Buddhism in at least five regions, and evaluate what has remained constant and what has transformed in Buddhist traditions based on cultural interactions.
• 441EBuddhist and Ordinary Refuge

  Analyze the fundamental differences between Buddhist refuge (three jewels) and ordinary refuge practices by evaluating their effectiveness in providing protection from fear and suffering. Create criteria for assessing the wholesomeness of various refuge sources using the eightfold path as a framework, then apply these criteria to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of refuge in contemporary life experiences.
• 114EBuddhist Approaches to Physical Health

  Analyze the first noble truth’s teaching that sickness is inherent to life while comparing Buddhist, traditional Eastern, and Western approaches to health and healing; evaluate the interconnection between physical and mental well-being from multiple medical perspectives; and synthesize understanding by developing informed criteria for assessing various healing modalities while maintaining openness to different definitions of wellness.
• 214EBuddhist Cosmology

  Compare and contrast Buddhist cosmological narratives with at least two other creation stories (Abrahamic, indigenous, or scientific); analyze how different origin stories influence cultural worldviews and values; and evaluate the impact of cosmological beliefs on human behavior and environmental relationships.
• 335EBuddhist Debate

  Analyze diverse perspectives through structured debate, and demonstrate the application of gestures and concepts from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of debate.
• 206EBuddhist Rituals Across Traditions

  Categorize ritual practices across Buddhist traditions according to their functions (purification, mindfulness cultivation, merit generation), analyze how specific rituals engage body, speech, and mind simultaneously, and evaluate the role of ritual in preserving dharma transmission and fostering contemplative awareness.