WorksheetsRelying on the Teacher
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 12mins
There are 10 traits of a Teacher, out of which, 6 are the good qualities obtained for oneself. Which are NOT part of the 6?
Disciplined, Serene
Knowledge of reality, Skills in instructing
Thoroughly pacified, Has good qualities surpassing students
Energetic, Has a wealth of scriptural knowledge
There are 10 traits of a Teacher, out of which, 4 are the good qualities for looking after others. Which are NOT part of the 4?
Loving concern
Skills in instructing
Abandoned dispiritedness
Good qualities surpassing students
What are the 5 qualities of a teacher, mentioned by Bo-do-wa, to be the “foremost”?
Disciplined, Serene, Thoroughly pacified, loving concern, knowledge of reality
Disciplined, Serene, Scriptural knowledge, loving concern, knowledge of reality
Disciplined, Serene, Thoroughly pacified, loving concern, Skills in instructing
Disciplined,Thoroughly pacified, loving concern, Good qualities surpassing students, knowledge of reality
In degenerate times, it is difficult to find a teacher with the 10 qualities in its entirety. What should we do?
Find a teacher with a minimum of one tenth of all the defining characteristics
Find a teacher with a minimum of half of all the defining characteristics
Find a teacher with a minimum of one eighth of all the defining characteristics
Find a teacher with a minimum of one fourth of all the defining characteristics
What are not one of the 9 attitudes needed to rely on the teacher?
Like a diamond
Like a worldly servant
Like the mountains
Like a foundation
Which is NOT a reason why we should train in faith?
Faith is the prerequisite of all good qualities
Faith is the source of all temporary happiness and certain goodness
Virtues will not arise in people who have no faith
Faith will lead to production of a single good quality and the reduction of a single fault
Why should we try our best not to examine our guru(s) for faults?
Our arrogance will become greater
Our fault-finding habits become the norm
May not accept the Dharma and stop practising
Block your Guru's attainments
Sam buys chicken rice to eat. Before he eats, he offers it to the Buddha. Is this okay?
Yes
No
What should we do when we find it hard to be motivated to do something?
Contemplate on the benefits of doing it
Contemplate on the disadvantages of not doing it
Give up
Find out what are the steps to do it
The Array of Stalks Sutra says: Child of good lineage, bodhisattvas whom teachers properly support do not fall into miserable realms. What are the traits of the “child of good lineage”?
Abandonment of the three faults of a vessel
Reliance on the six ideas
Have the defining characteristics of the student
Endowed with the four characteristics of the student
Which are the faults of a vessel you should abandon?
Upturned cup
Leaky cup
Dirty cup
Spilled cup
Which are not one of the six ideas of Listening?
Think Of the Instructor’s Explications As Medicine
Think of earnest practice as the way to cure your disease
Think Of the Tathagatas As Excellent Beings
Wish That The Teachers Will Be Around For A Long Time
What is not one of the defining characteristics of a student?
Nonpartisan
Intelligent
Obedient
Diligent
What are not one of the four characteristics that "child of good lineage" should be endowed with? (Candrakirti’s commentary)
Strive very diligently at the teaching
Focus their hearing well when listening to the teaching
Have great respect for the teaching and its instructor
Discard bad explanations and retaining good explanations
What is The Kindness the Excellent Teacher has given me?
They search for me through cyclic existence
They pull me out of the depths of existence
They increase all my virtues
They guide me to the state of omniscience
Which, among the 3 avenues to rely in practice, is the one that the Teacher will be happiest about?
Offering materials gifts
Respect and serve with body and speech
Practice in accordance with their words
How many benefits are there when we Rely on the Teacher?
7
8
9
Your friend who is a Buddhist attended a Buddhism class and proclaimed “ being respectful to the teachings is enough”.Based on the text, how would you respond?
Agree — respect keeps the mind open.
Disagree — without faith, teachings remain external and unused.
Encourage them to start with ethics first.
Tell them to respect all religions equally.
Your teacher assigns you many tiring tasks. You start to resent the workload.
How should you reframe this according to the text?
Serving your teacher accumulates merit and clears obstacles — it’s a privilege.
It’s just karma; accept it.
You should refuse politely.
The teacher is testing your obedience.
A fellow student says: “I only follow the Dharma, not any teacher.”
What clarification aligns with the teaching?
The teacher is unnecessary once you read scriptures.
True reliance on teachings includes reliance on a virtuous teacher.
Teachers are only symbolic.
Dharma practice should be solitary.
