Embodied Dharma

• 129The Buddha’s Equanimity

  Analyze the Buddha’s demonstration of equanimity in the kusa grass story by examining how he transcended social hierarchies and caste distinctions; evaluate how treating all beings with equal dignity challenges contemporary forms of bias and discrimination; and implement practices of unconditional respect that demonstrate recognition of innate goodness in all people regardless of their social status, background, or relationship to oneself.
• 113Eightfold 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.
• 116Not Killing/Vegetarianism

  Formulate a clear rationale for your choice regarding vegetarianism, and evaluate your capacity to demonstrate tolerance and understanding towards those who make different choices.
• 428Environmental Stewardship as Sacred Practice

  Compare and contrast Buddhist, indigenous, and Western perspectives on environmental responsibility; analyze how Buddhist principles of interdependence and compassion inform ecological ethics; and implement environmental practices that demonstrate Buddhist values of non-harm and care for all sentient beings.
• 105Right Motivation in Leaders

  Analyze the motivations behind leaders’ decisions by evaluating evidence of the three poisons versus the three antidotes in their words and actions. Compare how leaders with altruistic versus self-serving motivations impact their communities, then develop criteria for assessing whether leadership decisions align with Buddhist principles of non-harm and benefit to others.
• 101Anatta and Service

  Analyze systemic issues within the community by evaluating their root causes and interconnected effects, then design and implement collaborative social action initiatives that prioritize collective wellbeing over individual recognition, while critically examining their own motivations to align actions with the principle of anatta (selflessness).
• 124Engaged Buddhists

  Analyze the work of exemplary, socially engaged Buddhists; implement their principles in daily life; and evaluate how modern engaged Buddhism aligns with the Buddha’s original teachings.
• 107Challenging Others’ Views

  Evaluate invalid assumptions and harmful dogmas, and generate skillful responses to challenge them using discriminating intelligence. Model and implement respectful inquiry techniques.
• 109Being Peace

  Evaluate personal conduct and motivations through systematic self-reflection, analyzing alignment between inner development and outer engagement. Implement practices that cultivate genuine peace and non-aggression as foundations for authentic social action, demonstrating how contemplative self-awareness enhances the integrity and effectiveness of efforts to create beneficial change.
• 112Mindful Consumption

  Analyze the food cycle, differentiating its causes, conditions, and effects. Evaluate how elements from the outer environment transform into the body’s inner elements through eating and drinking. Guide others in a practice of mindful consumption.