Quiz questions Part 3 for Precious Garland
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Teachings at Sravasti Abbey 
Apr 6, 2016 
Quiz questions covering Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland of Advice for a King.
- What are nihilistic views? Give some examples and explain why they are nihilistic. Do you have any of those views or doubts tending toward them?
- What are absolutist views? Give some examples and explain why they are absolutist. Do you have any of those views or doubts tending toward them?
- Which is more detrimental, failing to nihilism or absolutism? Why?
- How do we overcome notions of existence and nonexistence?
- In what way does a cause depend on its effect?
- What is the meaning of “conceptual fabrication”?
- What do Svatantrikas and Prasangikas mean by true existence and inherent existence? Which one(s) do they negate and/or assert?
- Explain the analogy of the mirage.
- Why do some people say the Prasangika view is nihilistic? How would you refute that?
- Explain the meaning of the body not existing in the past, present, or future.
- When inherently existent coming and going are refuted, what are we really talking about? What doesn’t inherently come and go?
- What is the meaning of samsara and nirvana are equal?
- Do you ever feel that you are fundamentally permanent but superficially change? Give examples of that way of thinking? Why is it erroneous?
- How do you refute time being inherently existent?
- Why didn’t the Buddha respond when asked if the world has an end, doesn’t have an end, both or neither?
Venerable Thubten Chodron
Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.
