Liberation (Ages 15-18)

• 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.
• 431Setting Boundaries

  Analyze various methods for creating sacred space and practice boundaries in contemplative settings; evaluate how intentional boundary-setting affects group concentration, respect, and spiritual atmosphere; and implement systematic approaches to establishing practice containers that support both individual focus and collective contemplative experience.
• 432Rituals for Personal and Group Practice

  Analyze various ritual forms that support personal practice, and design simple rituals that effectively guide and inspire group practice.
• 433Shrine Room Etiquette

  Analyze shrine room etiquette practices as external expressions of internal reverence for the three jewels; evaluate how mindful behavior in sacred spaces cultivates respect, awareness, and devotion; and implement appropriate ritual conduct while explaining how these practices function as mind-training techniques that transform outer behavior into inner spiritual development.
• 413Mountain-like Equanimity

  Evaluate what it means to be influenced by external circumstances; and implement the slogan—“don’t be swayed by external circumstances”—in your daily life.
• 414Visualization Practices

  Compare and contrast the use of visualization in different Buddhist meditations with its use in modern contexts, and design a visualization to support a personal goal that brings benefit to self and others.
• 421Gain and Loss

  Implement a positive, playful approach to competition without attachment to outcomes; practice observing and releasing arising emotions without dwelling on them; and create expressions of goodwill toward opponents.
• 425Right Livelihood

  Evaluate activities based on their quality of creating benefit or harmony without harming, and analyze the concept of right livelihood.
• 325Abhidharma

  Define abhidharma precisely; analyze how its practice reduces aversion, craving, and suffering; and evaluate examples from personal experience.
• 326The Three Trainings

  Analyze the interconnected relationship between ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom within the three trainings’ framework; then evaluate how each training supports the others in personal transformation. Evaluate how your personal practice of the three trainings fits into daily life in a balanced way that will reduce harm and increase clarity, compassion, and discernment.