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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following does Chodron claim most of us are not satisfied to do?
(a) Long for company.
(b) Hope for change.
(c) Retreat from the world.
(d) Create a career in spiritualist practice.

2. What is the role of forgiveness in bodhichitta training?
(a) It is an essential part of it.
(b) It is not important.
(c) The author has concluded in recent years that it is very important.
(d) It is what warriors begin with, and can later leave behind.

3. Who is Jarvis Masters?
(a) A man who was on death row.
(b) A comedian.
(c) Chodron's former boyfriend.
(d) A bank robber that Chodron read about.

4. What did the mother who wanted to help her heroin addicted son feel during her aspiration?
(a) Fearful.
(b) Frustrated.
(c) Hopeful.
(d) Overwhelmed.

5. What does Chodron write that a woman she knew did in traffic?
(a) A consistent 45 minute formal aspiration practice.
(b) "Sitting commute meditation."
(c) A daily negativity "detox."
(d) "Traffic of tonglen."

6. What is another term for the six strengths?
(a) Six paramitas.
(b) Six palomitas.
(c) Six senses.
(d) Six hearts.

7. What tendency is comfort orientation based on?
(a) Avoiding inconvenience.
(b) Being irresponsible.
(c) Overspending.
(d) Hoping for the best.

8. Which of the following is one of the three kinds of laziness?
(a) Lack of sleep.
(b) Running late.
(c) Depression.
(d) Comfort orientation.

9. Why can our good fortune be hard to miss?
(a) Because of its "ordinariness."
(b) Because it is not "our habitual human behavior."
(c) Because it is easier to focus on negativity.
(d) Because society pressures us to have so much that we focus on our lack.

10. What is the far enemy of loving-kindness?
(a) Anger.
(b) Longing.
(c) Hatred.
(d) Jealousy.

11. What is the name of the ship captain in traditional Buddhist stories?
(a) Rudolf.
(b) Compassionate Heart.
(c) Prat.
(d) Scholarly Sam.

12. Chodron writes that we should daily have the same commitment to what happens to us every day.
(a) "Whatever happens, our commitment is to use it to awaken our hearts."
(b) "Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we should try to always be thankful for what we have."
(c) "We should always treat our lives as an experiment, and continue to try new things no matter how difficult it seems."
(d) "Whatever happens to us on a day to day basis, we should recall that we direct our own lives, and we carry the responsibility for our circumstances."

13. What will happen if we "stay with" sorrow or pain?
(a) We will have strengthened personal relationships.
(b) We will understand why we have so many psychological issues.
(c) We will feel lighter and more courageous.
(d) We will feel worse.

14. Where did the Buddha teach groundlessness?
(a) A beach.
(b) The Imperial Forest.
(c) Vulture Peak Mountain.
(d) The Firefly River.

15. How does equanimity compare with our usual perspective?
(a) It is bigger.
(b) It is happier.
(c) It is less happy.
(d) It is less confusing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the first step to an aspiration for joy and happiness?

2. What kind of harmful conduct does the warrior avoid?

3. Who are the best teachers in teaching us to rejoice in the good fortune of others?

4. How long does Chodron say that cultivating equanimity takes?

5. What does Chondron claim is required to forgive?

(see the answer keys)

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