Quiz questions Part 5 for Precious Garland
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Teachings at Sravasti Abbey 
Nov 6, 2016 
- What is the difference between emptiness of inherent existence and total nonexistence?
- What is the difference between existence and inherent existence?
- Explain how and why ignorance is the root of cyclic existence and why eradicating it overcomes cyclic existence.
- What is the meaning of “conceived object?” What is the conceived object of ignorance?
- What is the meaning of seeing things as illusion-like? Are things illusions? Why or why not?
- What is the difference between being an illusion and being like an illusion?
- What does it mean that things exist by mere name? What does it mean that they exist conventionally?
- Does everything that is designated by name and concept exist?
- What is the meaning of the analogy of snake being imputed on a coiled rope? How is designating snake in dependence on the rope similar to designating person in dependence on the aggregates? How are the two different?
- Review the alternatives for the relationship of the aggregates and the self as presented in Verse 82.
- What is mutual dependence? Do you ever look at things as mutually dependent yet each one of them has its own inherent nature? What is wrong with that picture and how do you correct that in your mind?
- Are conventional phenomena seen in the perspective of meditative equipoise on emptiness? Why or why not? Does it make you feel strange that to the mind that sees things exactly as they exist doesn’t see you and the world? What assumption is behind this feeling of discord?
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.
