History
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213Comparative ReligionAnalyze Buddhism’s characteristics compared to Abrahamic, indigenous, and other world religions; evaluate different conceptual frameworks that position Buddhism as philosophy, science of mind, or religion; and synthesize understanding through respectful interfaith dialogue that identifies both unique approaches and shared human concerns across traditions.
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219Translations and TranslatorsAnalyze the contributions of at least five key translators of the Buddhist canon, evaluating their impact on the transmission of dharma across cultures.
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216Buddhist ArchitectureCategorize the three main types of Buddhist architecture (stupas, monasteries, temples) according to their functions; analyze how architectural elements support dharma practice and community building; and evaluate the symbolic meaning embedded in specific design features across different Buddhist cultural traditions.
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210Western Philosophy and BuddhismAnalyze the Buddha’s teachings in relation to other philosophical and scientific perspectives, evaluating points of convergence and divergence.
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201Discerning Authentic DharmaAnalyze what is presented as buddhadharma by evaluating its source and differentiating its key characteristics from non-authentic teachings with a solid grounding in the core teachings to evaluate new ideas and avoid being misled.
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200Lineage TraditionsCompare how the three main Buddhist traditions (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana) pass down teachings, evaluating the strengths of each approach. Examine your own cultural and family traditions, and analyze which ones benefit people and which might cause harm. Evaluate how these ideas were transmitted to you, and how you transmit them to others, and develop criteria for responsibly choosing which ideas and traditions are worth continuing or changing.
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202The Buddha and Social HierarchiesAnalyze the radical nature of the Buddha’s teachings on caste, and evaluate their significance within the cultural context in which they emerged.
