Additional - Question:
Que: What was the atm of the thinkers in society?
Ans: The thinkers wanted to understand the ongoing changes in society and to try to find out the true meaning of life.
Que: What did the Buddha do after his enlightenment?
Ans: The Buddha went to Samath and taught for the first time. He spent the rest of his life travelling and teaching people.
Que: What was the ‘Karma’ according to the Buddha?
Ans: ‘Karma’ refers to our actions—good or bad.
Que: How did the Buddha connect to everyone in society?
Ans: The Buddha used Prakrit so that everyone could understand his teachings.
Que: What sort of people became Upanishadic thinkers?
Ans: The Upanishadic thinkers consisted of men, especially ‘brahmins’ and ‘rajas’. There were exceptions, however.
Que: What did Mahavira do to attain enlightenment?
Ans: Mahavira left home at the age of thirty. Then he spent twelve years in the forest and led a hard and lonely life. Then he got enlightenment.
Que: State two basic rules of Jainism
Ans:
(a) The Jains had to beg for food.
(b) They were to be absolutely honest.
Que: Name the book which gives the rules of the Buddhist ‘Sangha’.
Ans: The Vinaya Pitaka gives the rules made for the Buddhist ‘Sangha’.
Que: Who all joined the ‘Sangha’?
Ans: Those who joined the ‘sangha’ included ‘Brahmins’, Kshatriyas’, merchants, labourers, slaves, etc.
Que: How did monks take shelter in the rainy season?
Ans: The monks got temporary shelters built during the rainy season, or they lived in caves.
Que: Write a short note on the Buddha’s teachings.
Ans: The Buddha said that life is full of suffering and unhappiness. He said that its cause lies in our unfulfilled desires and dissatisfaction (‘tanhaj. He suggested a moderation in everything as a solution. He told people to be kind and to respect each and every life. Our actions (‘Karma’) affect us in this life and the further ones. The Buddha encouraged people to think for themselves rather than simply accept his teachings.
Que: Write a short note on Mahavira’s teachings.
Ans: Mahavira said that those who wish to know the truth must leave their homes. People must follow ‘ahimsa’. The Jaines had to leave very simple lives and be very honest throughout. The men had to give up clothes.
Que: Describe how Jainism spread in other parts of India.
Ans: Jainism was initially supported mainly by traders. Farmers found it difficult to follow the rules since they required to kill the insects affecting crops. Over centuries, Jainism spread to different parts of north India, and to Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Que: What does the Vinaya Pitaka teU. about ‘sangha’?
Ans: From the Vinaya Pitaka, we know that there were separate branches for men and women in the Buddhist ‘sangha’. Children were supposed to take the permission of their parents and slaves had to ask for permission from their masters to join it. Women had to ask their husbands. Those who lived in the ‘sangha’ had to lead very simple lives—meditating, travelling and begging. They taught others and helped each other.
Que: Describe Buddha’s life in brief?
Ans: The Buddha (original name—Siddhartha Gautama) belonged to a small ‘gana’ and was a Kshatriya. At an early age, he left the comforts of home and went in search of knowledge. He wandered for several years, and met and discussed with other contemporary thinkers. He meditated for several days under a ‘peepaT tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. Here, after meditation, he attained enlightenment. This gave him the name ‘the Buddha’ (the Wise One). He went to Samath and taught people. He travelled and preached for the rest of his life. He spoke of ‘tanha’, ‘Karma’, etc. He died at Kusinara.
