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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 three fundamental defilements in Buddhism is _____.

3. According the the author, what lies at the heart of Buddhism is _____.

4. One of the ten rules of training for a monk involves refraining from sleeping _____.

5. The followers of Sarvastivada Abhidaharma argue that nirvana should be regarded as _____.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How is food addressed in the Vinaya?

6. Why did the Buddha possibly refuse to give categorical answers to the ten undetermined questions?

7. How does the author feel he acts as a spokesman for Buddhism?

8. How was the Rig Veda communicated orally?

9. Why does the Buddhist saint not harm living creatures?

10. What are the Nikayas/Agamas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism. How does it relate to the Theraveda tradition of Buddhism? How did it originate? Who practices this form of Buddhism?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the brahmanical tradition. Where did the people who founded this tradition in India come from? What effect did they have on Indian society?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the three main activities that the wanderers and ascetics primarily engaged in. Why?

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