Special Interest Pathways

• 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.
• 120ESkillful Communication in Action

  Analyze complex communication scenarios (family conflicts, social tensions, leadership challenges, literary or public media sources) and synthesize Buddhist speech principles with conflict resolution techniques to create approaches that promote healing, understanding, and positive social change.
• 430EFour 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.
• 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.
• 118ENot Taking Life

  Analyze the first precept’s prohibition against killing in relation to Buddhist teachings on interdependence and compassion; evaluate the ethical complexities of protecting life in contemporary contexts (environmental conservation, food choices, medical decisions); and synthesize understanding by implementing life-affirming practices that demonstrate reverence for all sentient beings while addressing practical challenges of modern living.
• 130EMeasures of Wealth

  Analyze how conventional definitions of wealth based solely on material accumulation can lead to dukkha and competitive harm; evaluate alternative measures of success that incorporate ecological sustainability, community wellbeing, and psychological health; and synthesize understanding by designing career pathways that embody right livelihood principles while demonstrating how redefining wealth creates conditions for both personal contentment and collective benefit.
• 132EEhipassiko

  Analyze Buddha’s non-dogmatic teaching approach as exemplified by ehipassiko (“come and see”); contrast this method with authoritarian approaches to sharing knowledge; and implement communication strategies that invite inquiry and personal investigation rather than demanding acceptance of ideas based on authority alone.
• 443ECompassion

  Analyze the nature of karuna/compassion; guide unscripted meditation practices to generate this quality; and implement compassionate actions based on understanding beings’ desire for well-being and safety.