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?
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.
Related Questions
With reference to Jainism and Buddhism, answer the following questions:
(a) Give briefly the background of socio-economic conditions in 6th century BCE.
(b) State any three causes for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism.
(c) What caused the division of Jainism into two sects?
With reference to Jainism answer the following questions:
(a) Who was Mahavira? Why was he called Jina?
(b) State the five vows which a Jain householder has to take.
(c) State the Jains view on Karma and salvation.
Buddhism spread far and wide without the assistance of sword. With reference to Buddhism answer the following questions:
(a) Explain briefly the main tenet of Buddha's philosophy that afflicts all human beings. Describe the mechanism described by Buddha to attain salvation.
(b) What was impact of Buddhism on the socio-religious life of the people?
(c) What role did Sangha play in the spread of Buddhism?
With reference to the given pictures, answer the questions that follow:
(a) Identify the two preachers, whose images are given. Name the religions founded by them.
(b) Mention three main teachings of each of the two religions founded by these preachers.
(c) Mention any two similarities and two dissimilarities between the two religions founded by them.