Academic Area Pathways

• 223Sutta/Sutra Structure

  Differentiate between source texts and commentaries, and analyze how these textual categories function within each of the three yanas.
• 224Cross-Cultural Dialogue

  Design thoughtful, respectful questions to investigate others’ beliefs and lineage, balancing confidence, tact, and humility, and evaluate how this approach enhances cross-cultural understanding.
• 214Buddhist Cosmology

  Compare and contrast Buddhist cosmological narratives with at least two other creation stories (Abrahamic, indigenous, or scientific); analyze how different origin stories influence cultural worldviews and values; and evaluate the impact of cosmological beliefs on human behavior and environmental relationships.
• 206Buddhist Rituals Across Traditions

  Categorize ritual practices across Buddhist traditions according to their functions (purification, mindfulness cultivation, merit generation), analyze how specific rituals engage body, speech, and mind simultaneously, and evaluate the role of ritual in preserving dharma transmission and fostering contemplative awareness.
• 210Western Philosophy and Buddhism

  Analyze the Buddha’s teachings in relation to other philosophical and scientific perspectives, evaluating points of convergence and divergence.
• 216Buddhist Architecture

  Categorize the three main types of Buddhist architecture (stupas, monasteries, temples) according to their functions; analyze how architectural elements support dharma practice and community building; and evaluate the symbolic meaning embedded in specific design features across different Buddhist cultural traditions.
• 220The Life Stories of Buddhist Heroes

  Analyze the biographical narratives of at least five Buddhist heroes from diverse cultural and historical contexts, evaluate how their activities demonstrate core Buddhist principles, and synthesize understanding by identifying specific qualities and actions that demonstrate their transformation from ordinary individuals to exemplars of wisdom and compassion.
• 202The Buddha and Social Hierarchies

  Analyze the radical nature of the Buddha’s teachings on caste, and evaluate their significance within the cultural context in which they emerged.
• 203Buddhism and Indigenous Cultures

  Analyze which indigenous cultures pre-existed Buddhism in at least five regions, and evaluate what has remained constant and what has transformed in Buddhist traditions based on cultural interactions.
• 208Sukhavati Sutras

  Compare 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.