History of India

Q.51  How do the Jatakas relate to Buddhism?

1.       In Theravada Buddhism, they are considered a textual division of the Pali Canon.

2.       They are literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha.

Which of the above is/are correct?

(a)      1 only

(b)      2 only

(c)      Both 1 and 2

(d)      None

Solution: (c)

 The Jataka tales are a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. The future Buddha may appear as a king, an outcast, a god, an elephant—but, in whatever form, he exhibits some virtue that the tale thereby inculcates.

In Theravada Buddhism, the Jatakas are a textual division of the Pali Canon, included in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka. The term Jataka may also refer to a traditional commentary on this book.

Many stupas in northern India are said to mark locations from the Jataka tales; the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang reported several of these.

Q.52  The term Boddhisattvas have been subject to multiple interpretations in Buddhism. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

(a)      Bodhisattva was primarily used to refer to Gautama Buddha in his former life.

(b)      Bodhisattva meant someone on the path to liberation.

(c)      Bodhisattva was someone who delayed his final liberation to help other sentient beings.

(d)      Bodhisattva was someone who became enlightened by the good karma of the Sangha.

Solution: (d)

 In early Indian Buddhism, the term bodhisattva was primarily used to refer specifically to Gautama Buddha in his former life.

From this Jataka tales, Bodhisattva originally meant the Buddhism practitioner of austerities.

In later Theravada literature, the term “bodhisatta” is used fairly frequently in the sense of someone on the path to liberation.

According to some Mahayana sources a bodhisattva is someone on the path to full Buddhahood. Others speak of bodhisattvas renouncing Buddhahood.

However, under the new tradition most accepted definition is the one who aspires to become buddha as soon as possible and then help sentient beings.

Q.53  Abhidhamma Pitakas contain?

(a)      Contemporary research into the fundamental Buddhist ideas available in different languages

(b)      Teachings attributed to the Buddha or his close companions

(c)      Philosophical and psychological discourse and interpretation of Buddhist doctrine

(d)      Rules and regulations of monastic life ranging from dress code and dietary rules to prohibitions of certain personal conducts

Solution: (c)

 The Tripitakas of Buddhism are known as the Sutta, the Vinaya and the Abhidhamma Pitakas.

Out of them, the Abhidhamma Pitaka is a detailed scholastic reworking (interpretation and comment) of material appearing in the Suttas, according to schematic classifications. It does not contain systematic philosophical treatises, but summaries or enumerated lists.

Abhidhamma has been variously described as philosophy, psychology, and metaphysics.

Tradition holds that the Buddha thought out the Abhidhamma immediately after his enlightenment then taught it to the gods some years later. Later the Buddha repeated it to Sariputta who then handed it on to his disciples.

Scholars, however, generally date the Abhidhamma works to originating sometime around the third century BCE, 100 to 200 years after the death of the Buddha. Therefore, the seven Abhidhamma works are generally claimed by scholars not to represent the words of the Buddha himself, but those of disciples and scholars

Q.54  Which of the following texts deals with Buddhism?

(a)      Swayambhu Purana

(b)      Markandey Purana

(c)      Bhagavata Purana

(d)      Skanda Purana

Solution: (a)

Learning: Swayambhu Purana is a Buddhist scripture about the origin and development of Kathmandu valley. Swayambhu Purana gives details of all the Buddhas who came to Kathmandu. It also provides information about the first and the second Buddhas in Buddhism.

The Swayambhu Purana is one of the oldest texts of Nepal’s Newar Buddhist cult.

Q.55  Nyngma, Kagyud, Shakya and Geluk are sects/schools of?

(a)      Mahayana Buddhism

(b)      Theravada Buddhism

(c)      Vajrayana Buddhism

(d)      None of the above

Solution: (c)

Inscribed in 2012 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Buddhist chanting of Ladakh is an important part of monastic life.

In the monasteries and villages of the Ladakh region, Buddhist lamas (priests) chant sacred texts representing the spirit, philosophy and teachings of the Buddha.

Two forms of Buddhism are practised in Ladakh – Mahayana and Vajrayana – and there are four major sects, namely Nyngma, Kagyud, Shakya and Geluk. Each sect has several forms of chanting, practised during life-cycle rituals and on important days in the Buddhist and agrarian calendars.

Chanting is undertaken for the spiritual and moral well-being of the people, for purification and peace of mind, to appease the wrath of evil spirits or to invoke the blessing of various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, deities and rinpoches. The chanting is performed in groups, either sitting indoors or accompanied by dance in monastery courtyards or private houses.

Q.56  The first Buddhist Council was held at Rajagraha under the chairmanship of Mahakasapa immediately after the

(a)      Mahaparinibbana of the Buddha

(b)      First sermon of the Buddha

(c)      Initiation of Rahula, Buddha’s son

(d)      Separation of Buddhism into Mahayana and Theravada

Solution: (a)

Its purpose was to maintain the purity of the teachings of the Buddha. The second Buddhist Council was convened at Vaisali around 383 B.C.

The third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Asoka. Moggaliputta Tissa presided over it.

The final version of Tripitakas was completed in this council. The fourth Buddhist Council was convened in Kashmir by Kanishka under the chairmanship of Vasumitra. Asvagosha participated in this council.

Q.57  In the context of Buddhism, the term Boddhisattvas can be used to refer to?

1.       Gautam Buddha in his former lives

2.       Compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts not to attain nibbana but to help others

3.       Jataka story tellers who were appointed by the Sangha

4.       Bodhi masters who renounce their physical bodies for the benefit of sentient beings Select the correct answer using the codes below.

(a)      1 and 2 only

(b)      2, 3 and 4 only

(c)      1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Solution: (a)

 Bodhisattva is the Sanskrit term for anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated Bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish and a compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.

In early Indian Buddhism, the term bodhisattva was primarily used to refer specifically to Gautama Buddha in his former life.

The Jataka tales, which are the stories of the Buddha’s past lives, depict the various attempts of the bodhisattva to embrace qualities like self-sacrifice and morality.

According to the Jataka tales, the term “bodhisattva” originally referred to the pre- enlightened practitioner of austerities

The worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of Mahayana tradition.

Q.58  In the context of Buddhist history, what is common between Jetavana and Venuvana?

(a)      Both were Buddhist Viharas.

(b)      Both were donated to the Buddha by Anathapindika.

(c)      Both are very close to Griddhakuta where Buddha gave majority of his teachings.

(d)      All of the above

Solution: (a)

Learning: Jetavana Grove, one of the eight major sites relating to the life of the Buddha, has long served as one of the major destinations for Buddhist pilgrims. The grove is located inside the ancient city of Śrāvastī (Savatthi, Pāli) in the Indian state now known as Uttar Pradesh.

During his ministry, the Buddha was said to have spent 25 out of the 45 rainy seasons at or around this grove; he also delivered a wide range of teachings that are transmitted in canonical sūtras and performed a multitude of miracles.

As the legend is told, the grove was given to the Buddha gift from both Anāthapiṇḍika, a wealthy merchant, and Prince Jetakumāra after a boastful challenge to cover the entirety of the grounds withgold was met.

It was the second vihara donated to Gautama Buddha after the Venuvana in Rajgir.

Q.59  Earliest Viharas were built for Buddhist monks and nuns because

1.       It served as a permanent shelter for the wandering monks and nuns during rainy season.

2.       It was planned to serve as a centre for propagation of Buddhism. Which of the above is/are correct?

(a)      1 only

(b)      2 only

(c)      Both 1 and 2

(d)      None

Solution: (a)

 Statement 1: Buddhist monks went from place to place throughout the year, teaching people. The only time they stayed in one place was during the rainy season, when it was very difficult to travel. Then, their supporters built temporary shelters for them in gardens, or they lived in natural caves in hilly areas.

As time went on, many supporters of the monks and nuns, and they themselves, felt the need for more permanent shelters and so monasteries were built. These were known as viharas.

Statement 2: There was no Buddhism when the earliest Viharas were made. Buddhism, as an organized religion, came into being after the death of the Buddha.

So, the purpose of preaching dhamma was a later purpose, and not the reason for establishing viharas.

Q.60  In Ancient India, Kutagarashala was?

(a)      A place where intellectual debates among Buddhist mendicants took place

(b)      A place housing artefacts of high value

(c)      An open place where royal religious processions took place

(d)      A subsidized public homestay for travellers around the kingdom Solution: (a)

Learning: There were many sects or schools of thought in that period (especially Buddhist period). Lively discussions and debates took place between the teachers of these schools of thought.

Teachers like Buddha and Mahavira travelled from place to place, trying to convince one another as well as laypersons, about the validity of their philosophy or the way they understood the world.

Debates took place in the kutagarashala (a hut with a pointed roof) and in groves where travelling mendicants halted.

If a philosopher succeeded in convincing one of his rivals, the followers of the latter also became his disciples. So support for any particular sect could grow and shrink over time.

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