1. Zen Buddhism and Siddhartha’s teachings: emphasis on meditation (zazen), direct experience, non-duality, comparison with Pali Canon, Mahāyāna reinterpretations, historical continuity vs innovation 2. Environmental ethics: principle of interconnectedness (pratītyasamutpāda), non-harming (ahimsa), Buddhist ecology, eco-sanghas, scriptural support, critique of modern inaction 3. Upaya (skillful means): Mahāyāna concept, provisional teachings for specific audiences, truth vs expediency, Lotus Sutra, implications for doctrinal authenticity 4. Nibbāna/nirvāṇa as goal: Theravāda focus on liberation, Mahāyāna bodhisattva ideal, Pure Land emphasis on rebirth, practical attainability, reinterpretation in modern contexts 5. Core themes: doctrinal interpretation, environmental activism, Mahāyāna philosophy, religious goals across traditions; tension between orthodoxy and adaptation 6. 40-mark essays; demands philosophical analysis, doctrinal evidence, tradition comparison, and contemporary relevance within global Buddhist discourse