Foundations of the Path

• 434You Are Your Own Master

  Analyze how the Buddha’s teaching on self-mastery challenges common assumptions about external salvation or rescue, and synthesize understanding by designing accountability practices that demonstrate personal responsibility for ethical choices and inner development.
• 437The Qualities of the Buddha

  Analyze the Buddha’s qualities as described in traditional texts across multiple sources; evaluate which Buddha qualities most effectively inspire personal development; and implement contemplative practices that cultivate specific Buddha qualities while assessing their impact on daily ethical decision-making and relationships with others.
• 435The Middle Way between Extremes

  Implement techniques for physical, mental, and emotional balancing, and analyze how equilibrium in each area supports the others.
• 458Buddhanature

  Analyze how the concept of buddhanature may affect one’s outlook on life; compare and contrast the principle of buddhanature with other religious or philosophical beliefs; and assess how the understanding of innate goodness transforms relationships.
• 424Bodhicitta

  Define relative and absolute bodhicitta., Evaluate personal motivations underlying daily decisions, and implement practices that can transform ordinary activities into expressions of altruistic intent for the benefit of all sentient beings.
• 430Four Noble Truths Overview

  Analyze each of the four noble truths by connecting traditional teachings with personal contemplative insights; evaluate how understanding dukkha—its causes, cessation, and the path—is relevant to working with contemporary psychological and social challenges; and evaluate how contemplating these truths can help develop renunciation, compassion, confidence, and commitment to the eightfold path.