Inner Awareness

• 452EStillness Practices

  Analyze various stillness practices, evaluate their value in daily life, and implement discerning choices about energy expenditure, recognizing that sometimes the best option is to do nothing.
• 456ESense Restraint

  Analyze the Buddha’s teachings on sense restraint; evaluate how sensory input influences mental states, thoughts, and emotions; and develop the habit of pausing before reacting to sensory experiences.
• 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.
• 449EPrajnaparamita Mantra

  Identify the function of mantra practice within Buddhist meditation traditions. Analyze how the prajnaparamita mantra connects to the Heart Sutra’s teachings on emptiness, and demonstrate competency by accurately reciting the mantra and explaining its meaning.
• 446EPraise and Blame

  Analyze the role that praise and blame play in human motivation; evaluate the role of praise and blame in your own motivations; and aspire to act with a motivation free from craving approval or fearing criticism.
• 445EPleasure and Pain

  Investigate the experience of practicing equanimity with naturally-arising pleasurable and unpleasurable experiences; and develop some patience and resilience with discomfort and non-attachment toward pleasure.
• 444EEquanimity Overview

  Analyze interpersonal conflicts as learning opportunities, and develop a habit of acceptance and goodwill rather than avoidance and animosity when relating to difficult people.
• 443ECompassion

  Analyze the nature of karuna/compassion; guide unscripted meditation practices to generate this quality; and implement compassionate actions based on understanding beings’ desire for well-being and safety.
• 409ERight Effort

  Implement the principles of right effort in daily life; analyze opportunities to cultivate wholesome thoughts and actions; and evaluate how this practice transforms well-being and relationships.