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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 tradition of Mahayana Buddhism found in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam is called _____ Buddhism.

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

3. The scholar Etienne Lamotte was from _____.

4. What are stupas?

5. There are _____ Nikayas.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How was the Rig Veda communicated orally?

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

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

5. Why does the author believe that there is some basis in history for the existence of the Buddha?

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

7. Who are the four great authorities in Buddhism? Why would a monk go to them?

8. What does the author say is the 'textbook' view of Buddhism?

9. Why was the oral tradition of communicating the concept of dharma considered to be more accurate than the written tradition by some people?

10. Why is stealing not permitted by a monk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain nirvana in Buddhism. What is this? How is it reached?

Essay Topic 2

Explain Abhidharma. What does this word mean? How does it appear in texts? What is its significance in Buddhism?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the role of merit or karma in Buddhism. How does this affect the conduct of the Buddhist? Why?

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