Liberation (Ages 15-18)
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204The Decline of BuddhismAnalyze factors contributing to Buddhism’s decline historically, and create strategies to preserve dharma traditions in contemporary contexts.
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208Sukhavati SutrasCompare Pure Land Buddhism with other forms of Buddhism, analyzing how the practice of chanting Amitabha’s name serves both as devotion and meditation and how visualizing a perfect realm can inspire positive daily actions.
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209Classic Buddhist Stories and ParablesAnalyze Buddhist stories and parables to extract wisdom for daily living, and differentiate between the forms and functions of history, story, myth, and legend.
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212Noble BeingsAnalyze the qualities of noble beings, evaluate which qualities to cultivate personally, and create strategies to incorporate these qualities into daily activities.
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213Comparative ReligionAnalyze Buddhism’s characteristics compared to Abrahamic, indigenous, and other world religions; evaluate different conceptual frameworks that position Buddhism as philosophy, science of mind, or religion; and synthesize understanding through respectful interfaith dialogue that identifies both unique approaches and shared human concerns across traditions.
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217Buddhist IconographyAnalyze Buddhist iconography and symbolism, and differentiate the characteristic visual elements associated with different Buddhist traditions.
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218Twenty-one Praises to TaraAnalyze specific examples of Tara’s virtues (compassion, fearlessness, and wisdom) as described in selected verses from the Twenty-one Praises to Tara, and evaluate how devotional practices like chanting or recitation can cultivate positive mental qualities in practitioners.
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219Translations and TranslatorsAnalyze the contributions of at least five key translators of the Buddhist canon, evaluating their impact on the transmission of dharma across cultures.
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125Buddhist DebateAnalyze diverse perspectives through structured debate, and demonstrate the application of gestures and concepts from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of debate.
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126Mantra of CompassionAnalyze the symbolic meaning of each syllable in OM MANI PADME HUM; evaluate how mantra recitation functions as both meditation practice and a method for cultivating compassion; and implement regular practice while documenting personal observations about the relationship between mantra repetition and emotional patterns or responses to challenging situations.
