The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class One
1) Give a brief definition of the perfection of wisdom. 

2) Name the three principal sutras on the perfection of wisdom, and explain why they
are called The Mother. When were they spoken? 

3) The root text for our study of the perfection of wisdom is the Ornament of Realizations.
Who spoke this work, and to whom? What is the estimated date of the work? 

4) Who wrote the early Indian commentary on the Ornament that forms the basis for our
study, and what are his dates? Who wrote the Tibetan monastic commentary on this
commentary , and what are his dates?

5) What are the Three Jewels, in which we take refuge?

6) Give the definition of the Buddha Jewel, and explain at least three of this Jewel's
qualities.

7) Give the definition of the Dharma Jewel, and give one example each of a cessation
and a path.

8) Give the definition of the Sangha Jewel, and explain what "realized being" means here.

9) What makes something an "ultimate" refuge?

Memorization assignment: Memorize the definition of the Buddha Jewel and the Dharma
Jewel.

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then contemplate what
each of the Three Jewels really are.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Twoe
1) Give the definition of taking refuge. 

2) Describe the taking of refuge which is shared with practitioners of a lesser scope.

3) Describe the taking of refuge which is shared with practitioners of a medium scope.

4) Describe how practitioners of a greater scope take refuge.

5) Do you think it is possible to have all three of these last three kinds of taking refuge
at the same time?

6) Describe result refuge. 

Memorization assignment: Memorize the definition of the taking of refuge which is shared
with practitioners of a lesser scope.

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then contemplate on
whether or not you have this minimum kind of taking refuge.

Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Three
1) Give the detailed definition of the greater way's wish for enlightenment. 

2) What thing is not this wish for enlightenment, but might be confused with it, if we
left the word "main" out of the definition?

3) What thing is not this wish, but might be confused with it, if we left out the word
"mental"? 

4) What thing is not this wish, but might be confused with it if we left out the words
"belonging to the greater way"?

5) What thing is not this wish, but might be confused with it, if we left out the word
"total"? 

6) What thing is not this wish, but might be confused with it, if we left out the words
"for the benefit of others"? 

Memorization assignment: Memorize the short definition of the Wish for enlightenment,
as expressed in Lord Maitreya's Ornament of Realizations.

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then contemplate the
closest you have come to this Wish in the last 24 hours.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Four
1) Name and describe the four types of the wish for enlightenment.
a)
b)
c)
d)

2) Name and describe the three types of the wish for enlightenment.
a)
b)
c)

3) Name and describe the two types of the wish for enlightenment. (If you know two
different ways of dividing the wish into two, you may write either one.) 
a)
b)

Memorization assignment: Memorize the definitions of the Wish of prayer and the Wish
of enlightenment.

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then contemplate how
close you have come to exchanging yourself and others in the last 24 hours.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Five
1) Give the definition of nirvana.
2) What does "individual analysis" mean here? (Tibetan track also give Tibetan for this
phrase.)
3) What is a "mental-affliction obstacle"? (Tibetan track also give Tibetan for this
phrase.)
4) What is "natural nirvana"? Is it actually nirvana? (Tibetan track also give Tibetan for
this phrase.)
Memorization assignment: Memorize the definition of nirvana.
Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then imagine what it
would be like to have achieved nirvana.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Six
1) Describe the difference in this school (Madhyamika Svatantrika) between nirvana with something left over, and nirvana with nothing left over. 

2) There is a kind of nirvana called "nirvana which does not stay." What is the meaning
of the phrase "does not stay"? 

3) What is a foe destroyer, and what are the three results of the path that leads up to it?

4) Describe the three main parts of the method for achieving nirvana.
a)
b)
c)

Memorization assignment: Memorize the description of the method to achieve nirvana
given in the second paragraph of page fourteen in the reading.

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then imagine what it would be like to achieve nirvana yourself, according to the definition of nirvana you have learned.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Seven
1) Why is it important to identify the object that we deny?

2) It is said that if something really existed, it would have to exist in the opposite way
that it exists deceptively. What two things are necessary for something to exist
deceptively, according to the Svatantrika school?

3) Explain the three different perceptions of the three different people in the metaphor
of the magic show. Who are the three types of real people that these three represent?

Memorization assignment: Memorize the short description of what it is in this school to
exist deceptively.

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then review mentally the
example of the magic show, and the three people there.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Eight
1) Give just the names for the five types of reasoning used to prove selflessness.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
2) In the reasoning called the "Emptiness of One or Many," what things are we trying
to prove do not exist really?

3) Do you think these things exist as one or many, neither, or both?

4) Do you think it is true if we say they do not exist really?

5) What example is used to support this reasoning, and what does it mean?

6) Write out the reasoning called the "Emptiness of One or Many."

Memorization assignment: Memorize the reasoning called the "Emptiness of One or Many."

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then review mentally
the reasoning of the "Emptiness of One or Many."
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Nine
1) The proof called "The Emptiness of One or Many states: "Consider the three--basic
knowledge, path knowledge, and the knowledge of all things. They do not really exist;
for they exist neither as one thing which really exists, nor as many things which really
exist." Let's confirm the first part of the proof; we want to know if it's true that the three
knowledges are neither one thing which really exists, nor many things which really exist.
Give the proof for the first part: that the three knowledges are not one thing that really
exists. 

2) Let's confirm each part of this proof too. First of all, why is it true that if something
has parts, it cannot be one thing which really exists?

3) The Svatantrika system says that the reason here, "having parts," applies to every
object that exists, and therefore applies to the subject of our proof (the three
knowledges). To prove this you must prove that both changing things and unchanging
things have parts. To prove that changing things have parts, you must prove that
physical things have parts, and that mental things have parts. To prove that physical
things have parts, you must prove that gross physical things have parts, and that subtle
physical things have parts. What is a good example to prove that gross physical things
have parts?

4) What is a good example to prove that subtle physical things have parts?

5) Explain briefly how to prove that mental things have parts.

6) There are three main types of unchanging things: cessation, empty space, and
emptiness. Take any two of these and explain how each of them has parts.
a)
b)

Memorization assignment: Memorize the proof for establishing that the three knowledges
do not exist as one thing really.

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then go through each step
of confirming the proof called Emptiness of One and Many.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):

The Asian Classics Institute
Course II: Buddhist Refuge

Homework, Class Ten
1) In the section of the commentary known as the Text of Maitreya, a debater comes and
argues that Maitreya has no state of mind aspiring to fulfill his own needs, and so he
has written the Ornament of Realizations only for the sake of others. Perhaps the debater
is assuming that Maitreya is already a Buddha. If he does assume this, what mistake
has he made? 

2) Suppose Maitreya really is already a Buddha.
a) Does he still have the wish for enlightenment?
b) If yes, does this wish fit the short definition of the wish for enlightenment?

3) Can a Mahayana person still have the aspiration to fulfill his or her own needs?

4) Do the open teachings of Buddhism mention the secret teachings? Do they accept
their validity? 

5) The eighth century master Dharmakirti, in his root text on Buddhist logic, says that
two elements must be present for tantra to work. Name them. 
a)
b)

Memorization assignment: Memorize the names of the topics we have covered (the names of each reading handed out.)

Meditation assignment: 15 minutes per day, breathe to ten and then review mentally the
relation between satisfying your own needs and others' needs.
Dates and times meditated (homework without these will not be accepted):