Meditation

• 315Parting from the Four Attachments

  Identify the four types of attachment described in this teaching. Examine how each manifests in contemporary life, then evaluate personal motivations and priorities to identify which attachments most strongly influence decision-making.
• 225Homage and Praise as Practice

  Actively pay homage and express gratitude to those who have taught, guided, and transmitted wisdom—showing appreciation for those who bring us closer to the truth.
• 218Twenty-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.
• 121Empathy and Compassion

  Differentiate between cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and compassion by analyzing how each contributes to understanding others’ perspectives and experiences; evaluate how dependent origination explains the uniqueness of individual viewpoints using examples like “The Blind Men and the Elephant”; and implement mindful listening and perspective-taking practices that cultivate empathy and transform it into compassionate action for alleviating others’ suffering.
• 139Engaging with Equanimity

  Analyze how attachment to idealistic expectations creates suffering in social engagement; evaluate how equanimity enables balanced responsiveness to change while maintaining compassion; and implement community service approaches that demonstrate neither detached indifference nor rigid attachment to outcomes.
• 401Dhyana: Meditation Techniques

  Compare and contrast multiple Buddhist meditation techniques (shamatha, vipassana, loving-kindness, walking meditation), analyze how each method addresses specific mental states and obstacles, and design appropriate meditation practices for different situations and temperaments.
• 140Equanimity versus Apathy

  Analyze the critical distinction between equanimity and apathy by examining how each responds to witnessing harm or injustice; evaluate when compassionate action requires skillful intervention versus accepting what cannot be changed; and implement discernment practices that demonstrate caring engagement without emotional overwhelm, using skillful means to address harmful situations while maintaining inner balance and open-heartedness.
• 111Practicing Refuge for Others

  Implement awareness practices to generate a calm, grounded center, and evaluate how being present and nonjudgmental serves as effective support for others.
• 463The Paramita of Dhyana/Meditation

  Differentiate between ordinary concentration and the paramita of dhyana as described in Buddhist texts; analyze the role of meditative absorption (samadhi) in developing wisdom and compassion; and demonstrate competency by designing and leading basic meditation sessions that cultivate both individual focus and group harmony.
• 437The Qualities of the Buddha

  Analyze the Buddha’s qualities as described in traditional texts across multiple sources; evaluate which Buddha qualities most effectively inspire personal development; and implement contemplative practices that cultivate specific Buddha qualities while assessing their impact on daily ethical decision-making and relationships with others.