Academic Area Pathways

• 206EBuddhist 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.
• 208ESukhavati 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.
• 209EClassic Buddhist Stories and Parables

  Analyze Buddhist stories and parables to extract wisdom for daily living, and differentiate between the forms and functions of history, story, myth, and legend.
• 210EWestern Philosophy and Buddhism

  Analyze the Buddha’s teachings in relation to other philosophical and scientific perspectives, evaluating points of convergence and divergence.
• 212ENoble Beings

  Analyze the qualities of noble beings, evaluate which qualities to cultivate personally, and create strategies to incorporate these qualities into daily activities.
• 214EBuddhist 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.
• 216EBuddhist 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.
• 218ETwenty-one Praises to Tara

  Analyze 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.
• 219ETranslations and Translators

  Analyze the contributions of at least five key translators of the Buddhist canon, evaluating their impact on the transmission of dharma across cultures.