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History & Civics

With reference to Buddhism, answer the following questions:

(a) Who was Gautama Buddha? How did he achieve enlightenment?

(b) What is known as 'Dharamachakrapravartana'?

(c) Why did Buddha have a large following?

Jainism & Buddhism

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Answer

(a) Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. He was a Kshatriya prince who left his home to find solution for pain and sufferings of men.
After leaving home, Gautama studied under renowned teachers of Rajgriha and then went to Gaya. He practised severe penance and led a life of extreme austerity and at the age of thirty-five he attained enlightenment.

(b) After enlightenment, Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon at Deer Park in Sarnath near Varanasi in presence of five ascetics. This event in the history of Buddhism is known as 'Dharamachakrapravartana' meaning the turning of the wheel of sacred law.

(c) Buddha gave importance to conduct and values rather than claims of superiority based on births. Buddha insisted on feeling of compassion for the young and weak. He preached universal brotherhood of mankind. He wanted people to live in peace, setting aside all their difference. He gave people a simple and inexpensive way to salvation. These are a few ways by which Lord Buddha got a large following.

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