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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. What does Sogyal state can help remove pain?

2. What is a person able to do if he accepts death?

3. What does Sogyal say is the purpose of life?

4. What religion is Rinpoche a student of?

5. How does the frog die?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Sogyal suggest we can overcome negative feelings about someone when we see them dying?

2. Describe Sogyal's first experience with death.

3. Describe the story Sogyal tells about the woman who visited Dudjom in New York.

4. What does the name Rinpoche mean?

5. What are the two certainties of death?

6. How will people with pure vision see the world?

7. What does Sogyul realize when Samten finally dies?

8. What was Sogyul's relationship with Samten?

9. Describe the four bardos.

10. What is the fundamental state of mind?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the following statement and write a argument either in support or against. The author has no real understanding of the western world and therefore his criticism lacks conviction.

Essay Topic 2

Examine Rinpoche's writing style. How would you describe his prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does Rinpoche's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

Rinpoche talks about things that are specific to Tibetan culture. Choose one of these cultural references and discuss its relevances to Tibetan culture in terms of the following:

1) History.

2) Identity.

3) Spirituality.

(see the answer keys)

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