If You See the Buddha, Kill the Buddha

Homework 1 (due 9/8):

Meditate at least 5 minutes at home (set up a quiet space) Notice how you feel before meditating. Write in Meditation Journal after meditating. At the top of the page, put "Meditation 1," the date and amount of time you spent meditating. Write one full page minimum, in full sentences, legibly and honestly, answering the following:

• What, if any, personal philosophy do you have? Describe its basic ideas and how they help you.

• If you do not have a personal philosophy, what ideas might you have to develop one and how they might help you?

• Include any questions you may have about this or your meditation experience.

Homework 2 (due 9/15): 

Meditate at least 5 minutes at home. Notice how you feel before meditating. Write in Meditation Journal after meditating. At the top of the page, put "Meditation 2," the date and amount of time you spent meditating. Write one full page minimum, in full sentences, legibly and honestly, answering the following:

• What is one way in which you have suffered or have been dissatisfied in your life? (It could be something large or something small.) 

• What was the cause? 

• Was it something you could have controlled or changed? Explain why.

• Include any questions you may have.

If you were not in class 9/15, 9/16, or 9/17, you will need to watch what you missed of the first hour and 10 minutes of this video and take notes on this Study Guide. Note: you will need the answers to these for a quiz later.

Homework 3 (due 9/22): 

Meditate at least 6 minutes at home. Notice how you feel before meditating. Write in Meditation Journal after meditating. At the top of the page, put "Meditation 3," the date and amount of time you spent meditating. 

Write one full page minimum, in full sentences, legibly and honestly, answering ALL of the following questions:

• When, in your life (just one example), was your behavior extreme (too much or too little)? Describe it fully.

• What were the consequences? Describe them fully.

• Why do you think you did it? Explore this! "I don't know" is not acceptable.

Homework 4 (due 9/29): 

Meditate at least 7 minutes at home. Notice how you feel before meditating. Write in Meditation Journal after meditating. At the top of the page, put "Meditation 4," the date and amount of time you spent meditating. 

Write one full page minimum, in full sentences, legibly and honestly.

• Look over your notes on the background and life of the Buddha. Find one part that is of particular interest to you (for any reason). Note: you may not write about his leaving his wife and child, as you've already done that.

• Say what part it is and explain why it is of particular interest to you. What struck you about it? Why do you think it is part of the story? What can be learned from it? 

• Include any questions you may have.

Kindly disregard anything below this line, as it is from a previous year. You will be responsible for it once it moves above this line.

Homework 5 (due 10/6): 

Meditate at least 7 minutes at home. Write in Meditation Journal after meditating. At the top of the page, put "Meditation 5," the date and amount of time you spent meditating. 

Write one full page minimum, in full sentences, legibly and honestly, answering ALL of the following questions:

• What do you crave or grasp onto (it could take the form of anything)? Why? What do you think it could bring you? How might it cause you suffering?

• What do you hate or have an aversion to (pick one thing)? Why? How might this cause you suffering?

• What delusion (about anything - think about it) might you be under? Why? How might this delusion cause you suffering?

• Note: be ready to share these in class.

Homework 6 (due 10/12): FIVE PRECEPTS PROJECT (PART ONE)

• After you've practiced your assigned precept for the week, you will reflect on the experience. See the questions here: The Five Precepts with Questions

• Make sure you answer each and every question fully and honestly in your journal.

• Put the date at the top of the page, along with which precept you are doing.

• Be prepared to share your answers and experiences in groups and with the whole class.

• Extra credit: meditate for eight minutes and write about your experience (one paragraph minimum).

TEST ON WEDNESDAY 10/18: Eightfold Path, Five Precepts, Four Noble Truths, Three Fires (and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeee.....)

Homework 7 (due 10/19): FIVE PRECEPTS PROJECT (PART TWO)

• After you've practiced your assigned precept for the week, you will reflect on the experience. See the questions here: The Five Precepts with Questions

• Make sure you answer each and every question fully and honestly in your journal.

• Put the date at the top of the page, along with which precept you are doing.

• Be prepared to share your answers and experiences in groups and with the whole class.

• Extra credit: meditate for nine minutes and write about your experience (one paragraph minimum).

Homework 8 (due 10/26): FIVE PRECEPTS PROJECT (PART THREE)

• After you've practiced your assigned precept for the week, you will reflect on the experience. See the questions here: The Five Precepts with Questions

• Make sure you answer each and every question fully and honestly in your journal.

• Put the date at the top of the page, along with which precept you are doing.

• Be prepared to share your answers and experiences in groups and with the whole class.

• Extra credit: meditate for ten minutes and write about your experience (one paragraph minimum).

Homework 9 (due 11/2): FIVE PRECEPTS PROJECT (PART FOUR)

• After you've practiced your assigned precept for the week, you will reflect on the experience. See the questions here: The Five Precepts with Questions

• Make sure you answer each and every question fully and honestly in your journal.

• Put the date at the top of the page, along with which precept you are doing.

• Be prepared to share your answers and experiences in groups and with the whole class.

• Extra credit: meditate for eleven minutes and write about your experience (one paragraph minimum).

Buddhist Art Research and Presentation Project

• Decisions on subject due Monday 10/30

• Decisions on how you will present due Wednesday 11/1

• Presentations will be on Monday 11/6 and Wednesday 11/8, picked randomly. Make sure to email Phil with any slides, pics or video by Sunday 11/5 evening!

• For full explanation of project and requirements, see below...

Homework 10 (due 11/9): FIVE PRECEPTS PROJECT (PART FIVE)

• After you've practiced your assigned precept for the week, you will reflect on the experience. See the questions here: The Five Precepts with Questions

• Make sure you answer each and every question fully and honestly in your journal.

• Put the date at the top of the page, along with which precept you are doing.

• Be prepared to share your answers and experiences in groups and with the whole class.

• Extra credit: meditate for twelve minutes and write about your experience (one paragraph minimum).

Attention: the assignment below is from an even previous trimester. Therefore, it is subject to change. The assignment BELOW this line is not valid until it is ABOVE this line.

Homework 6 (due):

As always, put "Meditation 6," the date, and amount of time you spent meditating, on the top of the page. 

1. Meditate at least 9 minutes. After meditating, write at least one paragraph describing your experience. 

2. Finish reading Karma and answer the following questions in your journal:

• Do you think Karma is real, either in terms of past and future lives or within one's own lifetime? Why? 

• Have you ever personally experienced Karma? If so, explain what happened.

• The article states that later Tibetan Buddhist teachings "suggest that all the good and bad things that happen to us are the result of past actions," while earlier Buddhist writings "suggest that not all we experience is the result of past action; it may be due to natural events of one sort or another." Which do you agree with and why?

EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS GIFTS FOR YOU!

• Loving Kindness Meditation (script)

• 11 recorded guided meditations you can use anytime for a variety of needs: Mindfulness for Teens