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415Karma and HabitAnalyze the relationship between Buddhist teachings on karma and neuroscientific understanding of habit formation; evaluate how conscious repetition of wholesome thoughts, words, and actions creates positive neural pathways; and synthesize understanding by implementing deliberate habit-change practices that demonstrate the intersection of contemplative training and brain plasticity.
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324Five SkandhasAnalyze the five aggregates (skandhas) as the components that create the illusion of a permanent self; evaluate how understanding the constantly changing nature of form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness supports the teaching of anatta (no-self); and synthesize this understanding by implementing daily practices that demonstrate selfless action based on logical analysis of the impermanent nature of identity.
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408Fame and AnonymityEvaluate personal motivations regarding fame and notoriety, and implement actions that are free from both craving recognition and fearing obscurity.
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334DeathAnalyze the three contemplations regarding death; compare Buddhist and non-Buddhist concepts of rebirth; and consider how to develop a more curious and less fearful relationship with mortality.
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333Favorable Conditions of Human ExistenceAnalyze the Buddhist teaching on the rarity and preciousness of human birth using the traditional analogy of the blind turtle; evaluate how understanding life’s rarity influences ethical decision-making and spiritual priorities; and implement daily practices that demonstrate appreciation for human existence while actively working to preserve and benefit the lives of others.
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331The Brain is not the MindIdentify key brain structures on diagrams. Analyze their functions, and compare how neuroscience and Buddhist psychology explain mental phenomena. Apply this knowledge to implement both brain-based regulation techniques and awareness-based practices that address challenges effectively.
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327Sukha or ContentmentAnalyze different definitions of happiness; evaluate how equanimity transforms our relationship to pleasant and unpleasant experiences; and experiment with showing “no preference” toward perceived beauty and ugliness.
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325AbhidharmaDefine abhidharma precisely; analyze how its practice reduces aversion, craving, and suffering; and evaluate examples from personal experience.
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326The Three TrainingsAnalyze the interconnected relationship between ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom within the three trainings’ framework; then evaluate how each training supports the others in personal transformation. Evaluate how your personal practice of the three trainings fits into daily life in a balanced way that will reduce harm and increase clarity, compassion, and discernment.
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310Karma OverviewAnalyze the concept of karma, differentiating between intentional actions and their outcomes, and evaluate how personal choices, including intentions, words, and actions, create effects for oneself and others.