Justice

• 106EWork as Practice

  Analyze the Buddhist concept of right livelihood as it applies to contemporary work and service; evaluate how transforming daily tasks into mindfulness practice affects both personal well-being and contribution to others; and synthesize understanding by implementing work-as-practice approaches that demonstrate dignity, presence, and selfless service in various life contexts.
• 104EMerit

  Analyze the relationship between virtuous actions and their karmic effects; evaluate how motivation influences the merit generated by specific behaviors; and synthesize understanding of merit by designing anonymous acts of service that demonstrate the Buddhist principle of selfless giving.
• 103EAhimsa in Society

  Analyze systemic structures through the lens of ahimsa (non-aggression) by identifying who benefits and who is harmed by specific economic, social, or political systems; evaluate personal participation in potentially harmful systems using Buddhist ethical frameworks; and synthesize understanding by designing alternative approaches that prioritize ahimsa and pratityasamutpada (dependent origination) in social change efforts.
• 102EAlleviating Dukkha

  Apply the four noble truths framework to analyze a specific community issue by identifying the suffering, investigating its causes, envisioning cessation, and designing a path to resolution; evaluate the effectiveness of proposed solutions through the lens of reducing kleshas (mental afflictions); and implement community action that demonstrates understanding of both relative and ultimate approaches to alleviating suffering.
• 105ERight Motivation in Leaders

  Analyze the motivations behind leaders’ decisions by evaluating evidence of the three poisons versus the three antidotes in their words and actions. Compare how leaders with altruistic versus self-serving motivations impact their communities, then develop criteria for assessing whether leadership decisions align with Buddhist principles of non-harm and benefit to others.
• 129DThe Buddha’s Equanimity

  Examine the Buddha’s revolutionary rejection of caste hierarchy through critical analysis of the kusha grass encounter, evaluate how this ancient story provides guidance for modern social justice activism, and synthesize understanding of how equanimity enables effective challenge to systemic oppression.
• 133DExploring Boundaries

  Investigate local land history by researching indigenous peoples who originally inhabited your area, analyze how current boundaries compare to traditional territories, evaluate how different cultural perspectives shape boundary creation, and create presentations that demonstrate understanding of how historical boundary decisions continue to affect communities today.
• 105DRight Motivation in Leaders

  Apply right motivation principles from the eightfold path to evaluate leadership decisions by practicing the assessment of personal and others’ motivations using Buddhist criteria, implementing right intention in their own leadership opportunities, and designing intervention strategies when witnessing harmful leadership motivations.
• 221DThe Life Story of the Buddha Shakyamuni

  Analyze the Buddha’s life within the social, political, and religious context of ancient India; evaluate how his background as a prince influenced his later teachings; and assess the revolutionary nature of his message within the caste system of his time.