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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 must one do every day?

2. What does Mama Chia draw?

3. What does the tiger do?

4. Where does Mama Chia say Dan will help for a few days?

5. To where does Mama Chia lead Dan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens with Dan and the punks and do you think it will have significance later?

2. Why do you think Dan dreads what lies ahead?

3. What do you think Mama Chia means when she says that "The Great Leap" is frightful, but above the heart, it becomes "an elevator ride?"

4. From whom does Dan ask permission to be there and what do you think this is symbolic of?

5. Explain the incident with the starfish and the possible meaning of it.

6. What does Mama Chia say about second-floor energies?

7. What do you think Mama Chia means when she says one must clean the lower floors before ascending to higher floors?

8. Explain Mama Chia's thoughts about who she, Dan and Socrates are.

9. What task does Mama Chia give Dan and how does he handle it?

10. What vision does Dan have as he meditates by the waterfall?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mama Chia tells a story about Sachi, who goes up to her baby brother and asks, "'Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget.'" Discuss the following:

What do you think this story means?

Do you think traditional religions would have an explanation for this story?

Do you think infants and young children are closer to God than older children and adults? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

When Dan admits to Mama Chia that he is drained and depressed, she says that he is on the right track. Discuss one of the following:

How do you think something like depression or fatigue can mean one is on the right track in a search for spiritual enlightenment? Discuss fully with examples from the text and personal experience.

If Dan is on the right track as he is feeling drained and depressed, what do you think Mama Chia's response would be at this point in the book if Dan said he is elated and optimistic? Explain fully.

What can states of being such as depression teach someone? Elaborate fully.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

Compare and contrast Dan as who he is at the beginning of the book to who he seems to be at the end of the book.

Compare and contrast Mama Chia's spiritual ideas with those of your own.

Compare and contrast Dan's experience on the surfboard with the most harrowing experience you have had and what you both learned from your experience.

(see the answer keys)

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