a) The First Precept — to refrain from harming a living thing, the interpretation of ahimsa by Buddhists with specific examples of how this may be lived, such as vegetarianism, right livelihood and involvement in the armed forces.
b) The role of other beliefs and considerations in the living of ahimsa, including differences in application and importance within different traditions, and in the example of the Buddha.
1 Explore the key teachings of the first precept. (8)
1 Explore the argument that Ahimsa allways means absolutely refraining from harming a living thing. (8)
1 Explore the importance of the first precept in the key teachings and practices of Triratna Buddhism. (8)
1 Explore the success or otherwise of interpretations of ahimsa by Buddhists. (8)
1 Explore the importance of vegetarianism for Buddhists. (8)
1 Explore the key features of right livelihood for Buddhists. (8)
1 Explore Buddhist teaching that leads to involvement in the armed forces. (8)
1 Explore the role of other beliefs and considerations in the living of ahimsa in Mahayana Buddhism. (8)
1 Explore the role of other beliefs and considerations in the living of ahimsa in Theravada Buddhism. (8)
1 Explore the significance of the example of the Buddha for Buddhists in the living of ahimsa in Buddhism. (8)
2 Assess the significance of Buddhist teachings on the first precept for a Buddhist in the modern world. (12)
2 Assess the argument that Ahimsa always means absolutely refraining from harming a living thing. (12)
2 Assess the strengths of the claim that the first precept is the key teaching and practice in Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the weaknesses of Buddhist interpretations of ahimsa by Buddhists. (12)
2 Assess how far it can be said that to be Buddhist one must be vegetarian. (12)
2 Assess the success of right livelihood Buddhist teaching in the interpretation and application of ahimsa for a Buddhist in the modern world. (12)
2 Assess the strengths of Buddhist teaching that leads to involvement in the armed forces. (12)
2 Assess the importance and role of other beliefs and considerations in the living of ahimsa in Mahayana Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the importance and role of other beliefs and considerations in the living of ahimsa in Theravada Buddhism. (12)
2 Assess the significance of the example of the Buddha for Buddhists in the living of ahimsa in Buddhism (12)
3b Analyse the significance of Buddhist teachings on the first precept for a Buddhist in the modern world. (20)
3b Analyse the view that Ahimsa always means absolutely refraining from harming a living thing. (20)
3b Analyse the strengths of the claim that the first precept is the key teaching and practice for Buddhism in the modern world. (20)
3b Analyse the weaknesses of Buddhist interpretations of ahimsa by Buddhists. (20)
3b Analyse how far it can be said that to be Buddhist one must be vegetarian. (20)
3b Analyse the success of right livelihood Buddhist teaching in the interpretation and application of ahimsa for a Buddhist in the modern world. (20)
3b Analyse the strenghts of Buddhist teaching that leads to involvement in the armed forces. (20)
3b Analyse the importance and role of other beliefs and considerations in the living of ahimsa in Mahayana Buddhism. (20)
3b Analyse the importance and role of other beliefs and considerations in the living of ahimsa in Theravada Buddhism. (20)
3b Analyse the significance of the example of the Buddha for Buddhists in the living of ahimsa in Buddhism. (20)
4 Evaluate the meaning and significance of the rise of the Bodhisattva Doctrine. (30)
4 Evaluate the view that the Lotus Sutra is the most significant scripture in Buddhism. (30)
4 Evaluate the strenghts and weaknesses of the claim that there no fundamental differences between Mahayana and Theravada beliefs. (30)
4 Evaluate the status of the Bodhisattva doctrine in Theravada and Mahayana. (30)
4 Evaluate how far it can be said that transcendent Bodhisattvas are mythical. (30)
4 Evaluate the importance of the bodhisattva doctrine for Buddhists in the writings of Arthur Basham and Walpola Rahula. (30)
4 Evaluate he relative importance of Basham's idea of the evolution of the Bodhisattva doctrine for Buddhists. (30)
4 Evaluate the claim that idea of the Bodhisattva-Śrāvaka opposition taught by Nagarjuna and Asanga needs to be re-evaluated. (30) )