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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the author call "those who train wholeheartedly in awakening unconditional and relative bodhichitta"?
(a) True yogis.
(b) Saints.
(c) Winners.
(d) Warriors.

2. What did the nineteenth century yogi Patrul Rinpiche suggest we do to train in compassion?
(a) Imagine beings in torment, and put yourself in their place.
(b) Actively listen to others, and imagine how they must feel.
(c) Understand that your problems are not the only ones in the world, and try to help those who are less fortunate.
(d) Try not to hurt others, but do not go out of your way to give when there is no hope of them being kind.

3. What does the author claim that lojong slogans or the slogans of Atisha can help us do?
(a) Learn to meditate in less time than any other method.
(b) Understand the nature of love.
(c) Remember wisdom at emotional moments.
(d) Become a true warrior.

4. What are the three noble principles?
(a) Meditate, exercise, and rest.
(b) Good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end.
(c) Love, hope, and generosity.
(d) Confess your faults, move toward your fears, and release your expectations.

5. How does the author characterize meditation?
(a) As a great way to increase productivity,
(b) As simple and fun.
(c) As difficult but rewarding.
(d) As the only path to a life free from suffering.

6. What does Chodron claim is our relationship to reaching out to others?
(a) She argues that there is no point in trying to do this.
(b) She writes that this is our natural inclination.
(c) She claims that this is always hard work, and never natural for us.
(d) She writes that we can do it only with great effort.

7. How many stages are in the formal practice of tonglen?
(a) Three.
(b) Four.
(c) Two.
(d) Five.

8. What is maitri called in the Shamhala teaching?
(a) "Avoiding hurting others to avoid feeling alone."
(b) "Placing our fearful mind in the cradle of loving kindness."
(c) "Learning through questions."
(d) "Being our own mother."

9. What is the synonym for sitting mediation used by Chodron?
(a) Easy meditation.
(b) Classic relaxation and meditation.
(c) Mindfulness-awareness practice.
(d) Relaxed meditation.

10. Which of the following does the author warn that meditation can become when meditation practitioners do not pay attention to their negative emotions?
(a) Hurtful.
(b) Selfish.
(c) Wasted time.
(d) Repression.

11. How does Chodron suggest we cultivate bravery?
(a) Through affirmations.
(b) Through aspirations.
(c) By trying new things.
(d) Through conversations with spiritual teachers.

12. What is the first stage of the formal practice of maitri?
(a) Engendering loving-kindness for ourselves.
(b) Closing our eyes, and taking a deep breath to relax the body.
(c) Standing in the first yoga position.
(d) Decide that we will do no harm.

13. What does Chodron argue happens when we harm others?
(a) We only feel momentary relief from our own struggle.
(b) We also harm ourselves.
(c) We see ourselves in a negative light.
(d) We receive bad karma.

14. What is the first lord of materialism?
(a) Function.
(b) Personal style.
(c) Sensuality.
(d) Form.

15. Which of the two witnesses does Chodron say we should hold?
(a) "The first."
(b) "The nearest."
(c) "The second."
(d) "The principal one."

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Chodron, what two things do all those who set out on this path discover that we all have?

2. What helps teach us the four qualities of maitri?

3. Who are the two witnesses that Chodron writes about?

4. Why does Chodron work with aspirations?

5. Which answer completes the following quote? "If this process of clear seeing isn't based on self-compassion it will become a process of ______."

(see the answer keys)

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