Buddhism

<<–2/”>a >img class=”alignright size-full wp-image-7158″ src=”https://chhattisgarh.pscnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Buddhism.jpg” alt=”” width=”275″ height=”183″ /> is a world religion and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the Buddha (literally the Enlightened One or Awakened One). Siddhārtha Gautama was the historical founder of Buddhism. After asceticism and meditation, he discovered the Buddhist Middle Way—a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. Early texts suggest that Gautama was not familiar with the dominant religious teachings of his time until he left on his religious quest, which is said to have been motivated by existential concern for the human condition.

Siddhartha was born in a royal Hindu Kshatriya family. The Buddha’s father was King Śuddhodana, the leader of Shakya clan, whose capital was Kapilavastu, Uttar Pradesh. Queen Maya, his mother, on her way to her father’s kingdom gave birth to her son at Lumbini, Nepal, in a garden beneath a sal tree. The infant was given the name Siddhartha (Pāli: Siddhattha), meaning “he who achieves his aim”. During the birth celebrations, the hermit seer Asita journeyed from his mountain abode and announced that the child would either become a great king (chakravartin) or a great holy man.

When he reached the age of 16, his father arranged his marriage to a cousin Yaśodharā They had a son, named Rahul. Siddhartha is then said to have spent 29 years as a prince in Kapilavastu. Although his father ensured that Siddhartha was provided with everything he could want or need, Buddhist scriptures say that the future Buddha felt that material wealth was not life’s ultimate goal.

At the age of 29, Siddhartha left his palace to meet his subjects. Despite his father’s efforts to hide from him the sick, aged and suffering, Siddhartha was said to have seen an old man. When his charioteer Channa explained to him that all people grew old, the prince went on further trips beyond the palace. On these he encountered a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. These depressed him, and he initially strove to overcome ageing, sickness, and death by living the life of an ascetic and hence left his princely abode for the life of a mendicant.

Gautama initially went to Rajagaha and began his ascetic life by begging for alms in the street. After King Bimbisara’s men recognised Siddhartha and the king learned of his quest, Bimisara offered Siddhartha the throne. Siddhartha rejected the offer, but promised to visit his kingdom of Magadha first, upon attaining enlightenment. He left Rajagaha and practised under two hermit teachers. After mastering the teachings of Alara Kalama (Skr. Ārāda Kālāma), he was asked by Kalama to succeed him.

Siddhartha and a group of five companions led by Kaundinya are then said to have set out to take their austerities even further. They tried to find enlightenment through deprivation of worldly goods, including food, practicing self-mortification. After nearly starving himself to death by restricting his food intake to around a leaf or nut per day, he collapsed in a river while bathing and almost drowned. Siddhartha began to reconsider his path. Then, he remembered a moment in childhood in which he had been watching his father start the season’s plowing. He attained a concentrated and focused state that was blissful and refreshing, the jhāna.

According to the early Buddhist texts, after realizing that meditative jhana was the right path to awakening, but that extreme asceticism didn’t work, Gautama discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way—a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.

Gautama was famously seated under a banyan tree – now known as the Bodhi tree – in Bodh Gaya, India, when he vowed never to arise until he had found the truth. Kaundinya and four other companions, believing that he had abandoned his search and become undisciplined, left. After a reputed 49 days of meditation, he is said to have attained Enlightenment. From that time, Gautama was known to his followers as the Buddha or “Awakened One” (“Buddha” is also sometimes translated as “The Enlightened One”). He is often referred to in Buddhism as Shakyamuni Buddha, or “The Awakened One of the Shakya Clan.”

According to Buddhism, at the time of his awakening he realized complete insight into the cause of suffering, and the steps necessary to eliminate it. These discoveries became known as the “Four Noble Truths”, which are at the heart of Buddhist teaching. Through mastery of these truths, a state of supreme liberation, or Nirvana, is believed to be possible for any being. The Buddha described Nirvāna as the perfect peace of a mind that’s free from ignorance, greed, hatred and other afflictive states, or “defilements” (kilesas). Nirvana is also regarded as the “end of the world”, in that no personal identity or boundaries of the mind remain. In such a state, a being is said to possess the Ten Characteristics, belonging to every Buddha.

After his awakening, the Buddha met two merchants, named Tapussa and Bhallika, who became his first lay disciples. The Buddha intended to visit Asita, and his former teachers, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta, to explain his findings, but they had already died. He then travelled to the Deer Park near Vārānasī (Benares) in northern India, where he set in motion what Buddhists call the Wheel of Dharma by delivering his first sermon to the five companions with whom he had sought enlightenment. Together with him, they formed the first Sangha: the company of Buddhist monks. All five become Arahants, and within the first two months, with the conversion of Yasa and fifty four of his friends, the number of such Arahants is said to have grown to 60. The conversion of three brothers named Kassapa followed, with their reputed 200, 300 and 500 disciples, respectively. This swelled the Sangha to more than 1000.

For the remaining years of his life, the Buddha is said to have travelled in the Gangetic Plain, in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern Nepal, teaching a diverse range of people: from nobles to outcaste street sweepers, murderers such as Angulimala, and cannibals such as Alavaka. From the outset, Buddhism was equally open to all races and classes, and had no caste structure. The Sangha traveled through the subcontinent, expounding the Dharma. This continued throughout the year, except during the four months of the Vassana rainy season when ascetics of all religions rarely travelled. One reason was that it was more difficult to do so without causing harm to animal life. At this time of year, the Sangha would retreat to monasteries, public parks or forests, where people would come to them.

The first Vassana was spent at Varanasi when the Sangha was formed. After this, the Buddha kept a promise to travel to Rajagaha, capital of Magadha, to visit King Bimbisara. During this visit, Sariputta and Maudgalyayana were converted by Assaji, one of the first five disciples, after which they were to become the Buddha’s two foremost followers. The Buddha spent the next three seasons at Veluvana Bamboo Grove monastery in Rajagaha, capital of Magadha.

Upon hearing of his son’s awakening, King Suddhodana sent, over a period of time, ten delegations to ask him to return to Kapilavastu. On the first nine occasions, the delegates failed to deliver the message, and instead joined the Sangha to become Arahants. The tenth delegation, led by Kaludayi, a childhood friend of Gautama’s (who also became an Arahant), however, delivered the message.

Two years after his awakening, the Buddha agreed to return, and made a two-month journey by foot to Kapilavastu, teaching the Dharma as he went. Buddhist texts say that King Suddhodana invited the Sangha into the palace for a meal, followed by a Dharma talk. After this he is said to have become a Sotapanna. During the visit, many members of the royal family joined the Sangha. The Buddha’s cousins Ananda and Anuruddha became two of his five chief disciples. At the age of seven, his son Rahul also joined, and became one of his ten chief disciples. His half-brother Nanda also joined and became an Arahant.

Of the Buddha’s disciples , Sariputta , Maudgalyayana , Mahakasyapa, Ananda and Anuruddha are believed to have been the five closest to him. His ten foremost disciples were reputedly completed by the quintet of Upali, Subhoti, Rahula, Mahakaccana and Punna. In the fifth Vassana, the Buddha was staying at Mahavana near Vesali when he heard news of the impending death of his father. He is said to have gone to King Suddhodana and taught the Dharma, after which his father became an Arahant.

The king’s death and cremation was to inspire the creation of an order of nuns. Buddhist texts record that the Buddha was reluctant to ordain Women. His foster mother Maha Pajapati, for example, approached him, asking to join the Sangha, but he refused. Maha Pajapati, however, was so intent on the path of awakening that she led a group of royal Sakyan and Koliyan ladies, which followed the Sangha on a long journey to Rajagaha. In time, after Ananda championed their cause, the Buddha is said to have reconsidered and, five years after the formation of the Sangha, agreed to the ordination of women as nuns. He reasoned that males and females had an equal capacity for awakening. But he gave women additional rules (Vinaya) to follow.

Buddha found patronage in the ruler of Magadha, emperor Bimbisara. The emperor accepted Buddhism as personal faith and allowed the establishment of many Buddhist “Viharas.” This eventually led to the renaming of the entire region as Bihar.

The Maurya empire reached its peak at the time of Emperor Asoka, who himself converted to Buddhism after the Battle of Kalinga. This heralded a long period of stability under the Buddhist emperor. The power of the empire was vast – ambassadors were sent to other countries to propagate Buddhism. The Buddha did not appoint any successor and asked his followers to work for personal salvation. The teachings of the Buddha existed only in oral traditions. The Sangha held a number of Buddhist Councils in order to reach consensus on matters of Buddhist doctrine and practice. Buddha attained Parinirvana in the abandoned jungles of Kuśināra, modern Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Buddhism is a religion that originated in India over 2,500 years ago. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is also known as the Buddha. The Buddha taught that suffering is caused by attachment and that the way to end suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of Buddhist teachings. They are:

Suffering exists.
Suffering is caused by attachment.
Suffering can be ended.
The way to end suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path is a set of eight steps that lead to enlightenment. The steps are:

Right understanding
Right thought
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

The Three Marks of Existence are three characteristics of all existence. They are:

Impermanence
Suffering
Emptiness

The Twelve Nidanas are a chain of events that lead to suffering. They are:

Ignorance
Mental formations
Consciousness
Name and form
Six sense bases
Contact
Feeling
Craving
Clinging
Becoming
Birth
Aging and death

Karma is the law of cause and effect. It states that every action has a reaction, either good or bad.

Rebirth is the belief that after death, the soul is reborn into a new body. This cycle of rebirth is called samsara.

Enlightenment is the state of being free from suffering. It is also known as nirvana.

The Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. He was born in Lumbini, Nepal, in the 6th century BCE. He is considered to be the Supreme Buddha of our age.

The Sangha is the community of Buddhist monks, nuns, and laypeople.

The Dharma is the teachings of the Buddha. It is also known as the Law or the Truth.

Buddhist Cosmology is the Buddhist view of the universe. It includes the six Realms of existence: the human realm, the animal realm, the ghost realm, the hell realm, the demigod realm, and the god realm.

Buddhist Meditation is a practice that helps to develop concentration, mindfulness, and wisdom.

Buddhist Ethics are the moral principles that guide Buddhist behavior. They include the five precepts: not to kill, not to steal, not to commit sexual misconduct, not to lie, and not to take Intoxicants.

Buddhist Rituals are ceremonies that are performed to mark important events in the Buddhist life cycle. They include the ordination of monks and nuns, the dedication of a new temple, and the funeral of a Buddhist.

Buddhist Art is a diverse body of work that includes paintings, sculptures, and architecture. It often depicts scenes from the Buddha’s life or the teachings of the Dharma.

Buddhist Literature is a vast body of work that includes sutras, commentaries, and treatises. It is written in a variety of languages, including Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan.

Buddhist Philosophy is a complex system of thought that explores the nature of reality, the mind, and the path to enlightenment.

Buddhist History is the study of the development of Buddhism from its origins in India to its spread throughout Asia and the world.

Buddhist Schools are the different traditions of Buddhism that have developed over time. The two main schools are Theravada and Mahayana.

Buddhist Traditions are the different ways in which Buddhism is practiced around the world. They include Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, and Pure Land Buddhism.

Buddhist Demographics are the statistics that describe the distribution of Buddhists around the world. The majority of Buddhists live in Asia, but there are also significant Buddhist populations in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Buddhist Influence on Society is the impact that Buddhism has had on the cultures and societies where it has been practiced. Buddhism has influenced art, literature, philosophy, and social welfare.

Buddhist Criticism is the examination of Buddhism from a critical perspective. Some critics argue that Buddhism is too passive or that it is not compatible with modern life.

Buddhist Future is the study of the possible directions that Buddhism will take in the future. Some experts believe that Buddhism will continue to grow in popularity, while others believe that it will decline.

What is Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism?

Hinduism is a religion and a way of life that originated in India. It is the oldest major religion in the world, with a history of over 4,000 years. Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, meaning that it has many gods and goddesses. The most important Hindu gods are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Hinduism is a complex religion with a rich history and culture. It is a religion that is constantly evolving, and there is no one right way to practice Hinduism.

What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism?

The basic beliefs of Hinduism are:

There is one supreme being, Brahman.
Brahman is the source of all existence.
The universe is cyclical, and there is an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
The goal of life is to achieve moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Moksha can be achieved through karma Yoga/”>Yoga, or the path of action; jnana yoga, or the path of knowledge; and bhakti yoga, or the path of devotion.

What are the different types of Hinduism?

There are many different types of Hinduism, but the two main branches are Vaishnavism and Shaivism. Vaishnavism is the worship of Vishnu, while Shaivism is the worship of Shiva. Other branches of Hinduism include Shaktism, which is the worship of the goddess Shakti, and Smartism, which is a syncretic tradition that incorporates Elements of all the major Hindu Sects.

What are the holy texts of Hinduism?

The holy texts of Hinduism are the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Ramayana. The Vedas are the oldest Hindu texts, and they are considered to be the foundation of Hinduism. The Upanishads are philosophical texts that discuss the nature of reality and the goal of life. The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna, and it is one of the most important Hindu texts. The Ramayana is an epic poem that tells the story of Rama, a prince who is exiled from his kingdom and must fight to regain his throne.

What are the practices of Hinduism?

The practices of Hinduism vary depending on the sect and the individual. However, some common practices include puja, or worship, which can be done at home or at a temple; yoga, which is a system of physical and mental exercises; and meditation, which is a practice of focusing the mind.

What are the festivals of Hinduism?

There are many festivals in Hinduism, each of which celebrates a different aspect of Hindu culture and religion. Some of the most important festivals include Diwali, the festival of lights; Holi, the festival of colors; and Rama Navami, the birthday of Rama.

What are the contributions of Hinduism to the world?

Hinduism has made many contributions to the world, including:

The concept of karma, or the law of cause and effect.
The concept of dharma, or the right way to live.
The concept of moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
The Hindu Epics, the Ramayana and The Mahabharata.
The Hindu art and architecture.
The Hindu music and dance.

What are the challenges facing Hinduism today?

Hinduism is facing a number of challenges today, including:

The rise of Secularism-2/”>Secularism and atheism.
The Growth of Hindu fundamentalism.
The persecution of Hindus in some parts of the world.
The challenge of Globalization/”>Globalization-3/”>Globalization.

Despite these challenges, Hinduism remains a vibrant and dynamic religion with a rich history and culture.

Here are some MCQs about the topics of Buddhism without mentioning the topic Buddhism:

Which of the following is not one of the Four Noble Truths?
(A) Suffering exists.
(B) Suffering is caused by attachment.
(C) Suffering can be ended.
(D) The way to end suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.
Which of the following is not one of the Eightfold Path?
(A) Right understanding.
(B) Right thought.
(C) Right speech.
(D) Right action.
(E) Right livelihood.
What is the goal of Buddhism?
(A) To achieve enlightenment.
(B) To escape the cycle of rebirth.
(C) To live a moral and ethical life.
(D) To achieve nirvana.
Who is the founder of Buddhism?
(A) Siddhartha Gautama.
(B) Mahavira.
(C) Confucius.
(D) Laozi.
What is the symbol of Buddhism?
(A) The wheel of dharma.
(B) The lotus flower.
(C) The Buddha’s footprint.
(D) The swastika.
What is the most important text in Buddhism?
(A) The Dhammapada.
(B) The Sutta Pitaka.
(C) The Vinaya Pitaka.
(D) The Abhidharma Pitaka.
What is the main Difference between Buddhism and Hinduism?
(A) Buddhism is a non-theistic religion, while Hinduism is a polytheistic religion.
(B) Buddhism is a monastic religion, while Hinduism is a lay religion.
(C) Buddhism is a religion of salvation, while Hinduism is a religion of duty.
(D) Buddhism is a religion of enlightenment, while Hinduism is a religion of karma.
What is the difference between a monk and a nun in Buddhism?
(A) Monks are ordained men, while nuns are ordained women.
(B) Monks live in monasteries, while nuns live in convents.
(C) Monks shave their heads, while nuns do not.
(D) Monks wear robes, while nuns wear saris.
What is the difference between a layperson and a monastic in Buddhism?
(A) Laypeople are not ordained, while monastics are ordained.
(B) Laypeople live in the world, while monastics live in monasteries.
(C) Laypeople have families, while monastics do not.
(D) Laypeople work, while monastics meditate.
What is the difference between a bodhisattva and a Buddha?
(A) A bodhisattva is a being who has vowed to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, while a Buddha is a being who has achieved enlightenment.
(B) A bodhisattva is a being who is on the path to enlightenment, while a Buddha is a being who has attained enlightenment.
(C) A bodhisattva is a being who is compassionate and helpful, while a Buddha is a being who is detached and indifferent.
(D) A bodhisattva is a being who is reborn in the Pure Land, while a Buddha is a being who is reborn in the human world.