Contemplative Curiosity

• 401ADhyana: Meditation Techniques

  Experience and explore different ways to sit quietly and breathe by practicing simple meditation activities like rock pose, balloon breath, and cushion care; demonstrate taking a seat with gentle attention; and show how bell sounds help create quiet time for awareness.
• 201EDiscerning Authentic Dharma

  Analyze what is presented as buddhadharma by evaluating its source and differentiating its key characteristics from non-authentic teachings with a solid grounding in the core teachings to evaluate new ideas and avoid being misled.
• 319EDukkha

  Differentiate between the three types of dukkha by analyzing specific examples from personal experience; evaluate how recognizing unsatisfactoriness in all experience cultivates compassion for oneself and others; and demonstrate understanding of how awareness of suffering motivates the pursuit of liberation through dharma practice.
• 132EEhipassiko

  Analyze Buddha’s non-dogmatic teaching approach as exemplified by ehipassiko (“come and see”); contrast this method with authoritarian approaches to sharing knowledge; and implement communication strategies that invite inquiry and personal investigation rather than demanding acceptance of ideas based on authority alone.
• 113EEightfold Path: Overview

  Analyze how the eight components of the path work together to reduce suffering, then apply these principles to daily life situations. Evaluate the effectiveness of Buddhist ethical guidance through personal reflection, and demonstrate how the eightfold path can inform decision-making in real-world scenarios.
• 121EEmpathy and Compassion

  Differentiate between cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and compassion by analyzing how each contributes to understanding others’ perspectives and experiences; evaluate how dependent origination explains the uniqueness of individual viewpoints using examples like “The Blind Men and the Elephant”; and implement mindful listening and perspective-taking practices that cultivate empathy and transform it into compassionate action for alleviating others’ suffering.
• 140EEquanimity versus Apathy

  Analyze the critical distinction between equanimity and apathy by examining how each responds to witnessing harm or injustice; evaluate when compassionate action requires skillful intervention versus accepting what cannot be changed; and implement discernment practices that demonstrate caring engagement without emotional overwhelm, using skillful means to address harmful situations while maintaining inner balance and open-heartedness.
• 222EEvolving Languages of Transmission

  Analyze the evolution of dharma transmission across linguistic boundaries from Magadhi Prakrit to contemporary languages; evaluate the challenges and benefits of translating Buddhist concepts while preserving essential meaning; and synthesize understanding by comparing original Sanskrit/Pali terms with modern translations to demonstrate both what is gained and lost in cross-linguistic dharma preservation.
• 133DExploring Boundaries

  Investigate local land history by researching indigenous peoples who originally inhabited your area, analyze how current boundaries compare to traditional territories, evaluate how different cultural perspectives shape boundary creation, and create presentations that demonstrate understanding of how historical boundary decisions continue to affect communities today.