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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. Why are students taught to bow to others and to objects in the Zen tradition?

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

3. How does equanimity compare with our usual perspective?

4. Which of the following is one of the six ways of compassionate living?

5. How long does Chodron say that cultivating equanimity takes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author believe we cultivate the conditions for joy to expand?

2. How does Chodron recommend we react when life is pleasant?

3. What are the three futile strategies?

4. How does Chodron describe laziness characterized by wanting to avoid inconvenience?

5. How do lhenchak and loving-kindness compare?

6. What does Chodron write are the best ways to practice not doing harm?

7. What is lhenchak?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Chodron define joy? How does she suggest we cultivate it?

Essay Topic 2

The author suggests we notice the things that bring us happiness. Does she recommend any particular practice to do this? Why is this useful?

Essay Topic 3

For Chodron, what role do spiritual leaders that are mentioned throughout the text have? What importance does she give spiritual teachers in general? How does she characterize their relationships with their students? According to Chodron, what responsibilities do students have?

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