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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. How did the author feel when his meditation teacher told him that his frustration with meditation was a good sign?

2. What is NOT an element the author lists as being said by Jesus Christ?

3. What is NOT one of the five aggregates named by The Buddha when he first split the self into five aggregates?

4. What adjective does the author apply to the phenomenon of road rage?

5. The Buddah lived and taught how many years ago?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author use the example of bodily fluids in order to demonstrate the differences between Western Buddhism and Traditional Buddhism?

2. Explain the concept of “beneffectance” (82) set forth by the psychologist Anthony Greenwald.

3. What does the author say about ways in which people should NOT "conceive of modules" (86)?

4. How does the author shine a spotlight on his own flaws and for what purpose does he do so?

5. What is the nature of the author's characterization of a meditation retreat?

6. Discuss an example or anecdote used by the author to demonstrate the value of mindfulness mediation.

7. Discuss the author's purpose in using the example of Thich Quang Duc’s public self-immolation.

8. How does the author use the example of the scar experiment?

9. Discuss the author's decision to begin the book with an allusion to the film The Matrix.

10. What does the author say about his own level of enlightenment and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose a symbolic object from Robert Wright's book Buddhism is True, such as the chocolate bar, the lizard, or some other symbolic object and discuss its overall meaning and its connection to themes within the text.

Essay Topic 2

What ultimate message is Robert Wright's book Buddhism is True sending about the nature and value of continually examining one’s own thought patterns and behaviors?

Essay Topic 3

How does the author use sensory details in order to paint a vivid portrait of the historical events he depicts within the book? Discuss at least two scenes that include extensive use of sensory details and pull quotes from these scenes to support your claim.

(see the answer keys)

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