Foundations of the Path

• 458EBuddhanature

  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.
• 424EBodhicitta

  Define both relative and absolute bodhicitta. Assess the personal motivations behind daily choices and adopt practices that turn everyday activities into acts of altruism aimed at benefiting all sentient beings.
• 434EYou 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.
• 435EThe Middle Way between Extremes

  Implement techniques for physical, mental, and emotional balancing, and analyze how equilibrium in each area supports the others.
• 437EThe 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.
• 430AFour Noble Truths Overview

  Experience the basic human feelings of sadness, wanting, and feeling better through simple activities; recognize that everyone feels sad sometimes and there are ways to help ourselves and others feel better; and practice simple kindness actions that help when someone is hurting.
• 430BFour Noble Truths Overview

  Retell the Buddha’s first teaching at Deer Park and explain how his four discoveries help people understand disappointment; connect the four truths to familiar experiences like not getting what you want or losing something important; and demonstrate compassionate responses to others’ suffering.
• 430CFour Noble Truths Overview

  Compare the Buddha’s medical analogy (diagnosis, cause, prognosis, treatment) with modern problem-solving approaches; investigate how the four truths explain patterns of dissatisfaction in different life areas; and develop systematic approaches for applying the eightfold path to specific challenges.
• 430DFour Noble Truths Overview

  Examine personal and social sources of suffering through contemplative inquiry; evaluate how understanding the four truths transforms relationships with disappointment, conflict, and change; and implement mindfulness practices that cultivate emotional resilience and compassionate response to others’ pain.