1. T/F According to Tibetan Buddhism (as presented by Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche), every

2. T/F According to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche, the Buddha was always a god, never a human

3. T/F According to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche, all tülkus (reincarnated Buddhist teachers) know

the dharma (the Buddhist teachings) automatically and have no need to be educated.

4. T/F According to Tibetan Buddhism (as represented by Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche), people

5. T/F According to Tibetan Buddhism (as represented by Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche), only

Tibetan Buddhists can truly be good human beings.

6. T/F According to Tibetan Buddhism (as represented by Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche), people

are utterly lacking in free will, since karmic causes and conditions have already determined all

7. T/F According to Tibetan Buddhism (as represented by Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche), only tulkus

8. Name the ten stages of a Bodhisattva (according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche). (In this case,

you should use the exact words given by the author.)

9. Name the five obstacles to shamatha/ tranquility meditation (according to Kyabgon Traleg

Rinpoche). (In this case, you should use the exact words given by the author.)

10. Name the eight antidotes to shamatha/ tranquility meditation (according to Kyabgon Traleg

Rinpoche). (In this case, you should use the exact words given by the author.)

11. Name the nine stages of shamatha/ tranquility meditation (according to Kyabgon Traleg

Rinpoche). (In this case, you should use the exact words given by the author.)

Section II (5 points each) (Suggested minimum: 15 words each)

Explain one of the following terms (You may explain multiple terms, for 5 points each)

Section III. (10 points each) (Suggested minimum: 30 words each)

1. Explain what occurs in the bardo, according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche’s text.

2. Name each of the six yogas of Naropa, according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche, and describe

one of them. (In this case, you should use the exact words given by the author for each of the six

3. Name the six paramitas, in order, as described by Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche, explain why they

are listed in a different order in the context of the Mahayana path than in the Hinayana path, and

how they operate differently in the Mahayana path than in the Hinayana path.

4. According to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche, Madhyamaka’s Middle Way is in the middle between

___________________ and _____________________. Explain.

5. Name and describe briefly each of the three yanas (paths) of Tibetan Buddhism, (according to

6. Briefly describe each of the three “Turnings” of the “Wheel of Dharma” (according to Kyabgon

7. How are tülkus identified, according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche and/or the videos?

8. Explain how long-term retreats are thought to help students of Tibetan Buddhism to develop in

the Vajrayana path, (according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche and to the videos we watched).

9. Given an example of what can be unusual about some Tibetan Buddhist teachers and yogis’

processes of dying, according to various texts and films, including the Yogis of Tibet film?

Describe one of the other stories of how a lama’s death defied Western assumptions about life,

10. Name and briefly explain each of the four qualities/characteristics of Buddha Nature

described in the Mahayunauttara-tantra Shastra (according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche).

11. What is Bodhichitta, (according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche)? Explain and describe the two

12. Name and explain the two kinds of Bodhisattva (according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche).

13. Describe the difference between Shravaka and Bodhisattva approaches to attaining

Enlightenment (according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche).

14. Explain one of the topics discussed in the book in light of one of the videos we watched. For

example, describe the tulku tradition as described or shown in one of the videos, or the tradition

15. Explain the notion of nihilism discussed in Tibetan Buddhism and the extent to which Tibetan

Buddhists embrace it (according to Kyabgon Traleg Rinpoche).

16. Explain why compassion and wisdom are so important to the paramitas (the transcendental

17. Explain the benefits that are thought to be possible with meditation (according to Kyabgon

18. Explain the following quote from the text (p. 88) :“In most of the world’s religions, except for

within certain mystical teachings, the source of what we perceive to be sacred comes from

somewhere else, a transcendental source. According to Buddhism, however, the source of

19. Explain the following quote from the text (p. 164): “From the Mahayana point of view, we talk

about two levels of truth – the relative and the absolute. Absolute truth is emptiness.”