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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 Chodron write about "shoulds" and "should nots"?

2. What will happen if we "stay with" sorrow or pain?

3. What can the six ways of compassionate living do?

4. What did Trungpa Rinpoche say his students should do instead of listening to the radio?

5. Chodron writes that we should daily have the same commitment to what happens to us every day.

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the Buddha teach his students on Vulture Peak Mountain?

2. How does Chodron characterize pettiness, arrogance, and being judgmental?

3. What does the author claim can be achieved through the six ways of compassionate living?

4. What is lhenchak?

5. What are the three near enemies of compassion?

6. Why does the author claim that with bodhichitta practices, we eventually feel more joy?

7. What are the three futile strategies?

8. What is a traditional aspiration for awakening joy and appreciation?

9. What are the near and far enemies of the four limitless qualities?

10. What does the author write about self-deception?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the author compare our fears in life to? What analogy does she make? Do you think this is an effective analogy? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

What is groundlessness for Chodron? Why is this important?

Essay Topic 3

In The Places That Scare You, what do the terms maitri and tonglen mean? How does Chodron write that these are these cultivated?

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