Question 1

According to the passage, someone who does not take the lead over the whole world will perish.

Accepted Answer

The passage does not state that someone who does not take lead over the whole world will perish.

Question 2

The passage describes the Tao as

Accepted Answer

The passage describes the Tao as "nameless," "eternal," and "great," therefore the best choice is D, "All of the above."

Question 3

The word for inaction is

Accepted Answer

Wu-wei is a concept in Taoism meaning "non-action" or "non-doing". It advocates going with the flow of life and letting things happen naturally without forcing them.

Question 4

The word for virtue is

Accepted Answer

Te is the Chinese word for virtue, which is often translated as "power" or "potentiality". Tao refers to the "way" or "path", Ching refers to classic texts, and wu-wei refers to the concept of effortless action.

Question 5

According to the passage, we should keep and cherish

Accepted Answer

The passage mentions that we should keep and cherish mercy, frugality, and refusal to take the lead. Therefore, the best choice is D, which includes all three options.

Question 6

The passage closes with a description of

Accepted Answer

The answer of The passage closes with a description of
...

Question 7

The Tao Te Ching is a classic text of

Accepted Answer

The Tao Te Ching is a fundamental text of Taoism, a philosophy and religion that originated in ancient China.

Question 8

The Tao Te Ching consists of

Accepted Answer

The Tao Te Ching consists of both cryptic sayings (such as "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao" in Chapter 1) and sections of poetry and prose (such as Chapter 20's "Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles").

Question 9

The literal meaning of Tao is

Accepted Answer

Tao literally means "way" or "path" in Chinese.

Question 10

According to the text, the highest good is like water, because water

Accepted Answer

The text states that the highest good is like water because it benefits all things generously, is without strife, and dwells in the lowly places that men disdain.

Question 11

According to the text, to achieve without cherishing and to be a leader but not master is called the

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, to achieve without...

Question 12

Pick any one of the twelve Zen stories. Explain what you think we are supposed to learn from reflecting on it. Explain why, if anything, that lesson has to do with traditional Buddhist or Taoist ideas.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pick any one of the twelve Zen...

Question 13

In the Zen story "A Cup of Tea," what do you think Nan-in means he says that the professor must "empty [his] cup" of his own "speculations and opinions" before he, Nan-in, can "show [him] Zen"? Do you think Nan-in is correct that we must "empty our cup" in that way before we can understand Zen? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Zen story "A Cup of...

Question 14

In the Zen story "Muddy Road," what does the Zen monk Tanzan mean when he tells Ekido, "I left the girl there [at the intersection]. Are you still carrying her?" What does this suggest about the rule that Buddhist monks should not "go near women"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Zen story "Muddy Road," what...

Question 15

In the Zen story "Is That So?", the Zen master Hakuin takes in and then gives up a baby that was not his, saying only "Is that so?" on each occasion. How might this story be interpreted as reflecting Taoist ideas about wu-wei?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Zen story "Is That So?",...

Question 16

In the Zen story "Every-Minute Zen," Nan-in's question to his former student, Tenno, is supposed to demonstrate that Tenno has not yet mastered Zen.

Accepted Answer

Nan-in's question about pouring tea demonstrates that Tenno is still attached to his preconceptions and has not yet achieved true Zen mastery.

Question 17

The Zen story "Real Prosperity," about the Zen master who teaches a rich man about truly prosperous families, could be interpreted as an expression of the Taoist idea of living in accordance with the natural cycles of yin and yang.

Accepted Answer

The story emphasizes the importance of balance and understanding the natural cycles of life, which is a key concept in Taoism. By teaching the rich man about the simple life and the natural prosperity of his own family, the Zen master is promoting the idea of living in harmony with nature and the principles of yin and yang.

Question 18

The primary goal of presenting these twelve stories together is

Accepted Answer

The stories presented in this text aim to provoke reflection on ideas that are important in Zen Buddhism. While they do illustrate interactions between teachers and students, the primary focus is on the philosophical concepts underlying Zen Buddhism rather than specific teaching methods. Additionally, while the stories touch on some key principles of Zen Buddhism, they do not comprehensively cover all twelve principles.

Question 19

Based on the twelve Zen stories, which of the following best characterizes Zen masters' typical style of teaching?

Accepted Answer

The Zen masters in the twelve Zen stories typically teach through the use of cryptic statements, actions, and questions that are designed to provoke thought and insight in their students. They do not rely on scripture or storytelling as much as they do on direct experience and inquiry, and they often demonstrate their teachings through their own behavior and actions.

Question 20

Which of the following Zen stories best illustrates the Taoist idea of wu-wei, as described by Roy Billington in the previous reading?

Accepted Answer

"Is That So?" best illustrates the Taoist idea of wu-wei, as the Zen master in this story practices effortless action and non-interference by simply caring for the baby without intention or attachment. He follows the natural flow of life, without trying to manipulate or control it, which is the central idea of wu-wei in Taoism. This story highlights the importance of letting go and allowing things to unfold naturally, without active interference.

Quiz 5: Religion