Chapter 2: Preparing The Ground (part 3/3)
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- 1.The author took her children to see the Sixteenth Karmapa. She asked His Holiness to say something that didn't require any understanding of the dharma. Without hesitating, he told them: "You are going to die; and when you do, you will take nothing with you but your state of mind." Why did he say this to teenagers who had no understanding of Buddhism?
- A.
Because life is impermanent even if you're young. There is no guarantee that any one person is going to be alive the next day. His Holiness wanted to emphasize impermanence is order to prepare the children for the afterlife.
- B.
Because even without the knowledge of Buddhism, the concept of death is universal and easily penetrates our mind. He talks about death in to healthy teenagers because the knowledge that nothing lasts but your state of mind is a good motivator for them to improve their mind.
- C.
His Holiness wanted to scare the teenagers using the horros of death. With this technique, they're less likely to commit harmful actions and realize that it will have consequences
- D.
Because attachment causes suffering and is the reason why we're still in samsara. His Holiness wanted to emphasize that they will take only their state of mind with them after they die, and nothing else. He spoke plainly about death because he wanted them to start letting go now before it causes them suffering at the end of their time.
- 2.Karma is not punishment; it's the consequences that we're temporarily stuck with. We can undo it by following the path
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 3.What are some reasons that people "seek help, with panic-stricken eyes" at the time of their deaths?
- A.
They are not prepared to die
- B.
They are looking for buddhas and bodhisattvas for help
- C.
They've spent their lives relying on outside help i.e. shopping, addictions, money
- D.
They have nothing solid to hang on to
- E.
They rely on the groundless and inconceivable heart of bodhichitta
- 4.An analogy mentioned in this section presents the Buddha as the _______, and the teachings as the _________.
- 5.Samsara is also presented in an analogy as the __________.
- 6.AHHHH! I'm finally realizing I'm going to die one day! How can I reconcile and relax with this knowledge and not panic while I'm still alive?
- A.
We can relax by simply being mindful of our panicking mind
- B.
We can relax by meditating on emptiness
- C.
We can relax by regularly applying the four powers of confession
- D.
We can relax by going to see the new movie that just came out in theatres this weekend.
- 7.According to Shantideva, a friend is the good advisor that helps you along the path, and an enemy is one who hurts us and encourage us to do harmful deeds.
- A.
True
- B.
False
- 8.What's one motivator to resist the urge to do harmful things?
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