Essential Attitudes

• 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.
• 114EBuddhist Approaches to Physical Health

  Analyze the first noble truth’s teaching that sickness is inherent to life while comparing Buddhist, traditional Eastern, and Western approaches to health and healing; evaluate the interconnection between physical and mental well-being from multiple medical perspectives; and synthesize understanding by developing informed criteria for assessing various healing modalities while maintaining openness to different definitions of wellness.
• The Paramita of Sila/Discipline

  Evaluate the relationship between external ethical guidelines and internal moral compass development; synthesize understanding of sila by creating community agreements that reflect Buddhist principles of non-harm (ahimsa); and analyze how disciplined practice creates conditions for wisdom and compassion to emerge naturally.
• 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.
• 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.
• 304DSacred Space and Objects

  Research sacred space practices across Buddhist cultures; evaluate how blessing and consecration practices transform ordinary objects into sacred ones; and create group rituals that establish sacred space for contemplative practice.
• 105CRight Motivation in Leaders

  Investigate the three poisons in leadership decisions by observing how greed, anger, and ignorance affect group dynamics, recognizing these patterns in themselves and others, and implementing strategies to transform poison-motivated actions into helpful ones.
• 304CSacred Space and Objects

  Design and facilitate group rituals for consecrating learning spaces, marking seasonal transitions, and supporting contemplative practice; evaluate how ritual elements like offerings, gestures, and even spoken words (prayers, mantras) create sacred atmosphere; and establish sustainable practices for maintaining sacred space throughout the academic year.
• 105BRight Motivation in Leaders

  Analyze stories of helpful leaders and generous people by comparing characters who help versus those who are bossy, identifying the three antidotes (generosity, loving-kindness, wisdom) in story examples, and creating their own stories about kind leadership.