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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The Bodhisattva's mother dreamed of a _____ carrying a lotus on the night he was conceived.

2. One of the ten rules of training for a monk involves refraining from taking _____.

3. Becoming a monk requires going forth and _____.

4. The word sutra literally means _____.

5. The various Indo-Aryan dialects, the vernacular of Buddha's time, are known as _____.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a bhiksu and how is this different from an upasampada?

2. What is the general Buddhist and Indian world view concerning life and death?

3. How was the Rig Veda communicated orally?

4. How does the author compare Buddha and the four truths to modern medicine?

5. Why has the prominence of the ancient oral traditions concerning Buddhism changed?

6. What is the precursor to the Indian caste system?

7. How were the first Buddhist nuns acknowledged? What was the reaction of the Buddha to this?

8. Why does the author say that he wrote this book on Buddhism?

9. What effect did the meeting of Buddha Dipamkara have on Sumedha?

10. Which offenses can result in a probationary period involving loss of full status as a member of the Sangha by a monk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the Indian renouncer tradition. What do people who undertake this tradition do? Why do they do this?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the ordination ceremony of the Sangha.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the Theraveda tradition of Buddhism. Where is it practiced? How does it relate in doctrine and practice to ancient Buddhism?

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