Buddhism, founded by Gautama Buddha in the 6th century BCE, is one of the major world religions that focuses on the path to Nirvana (Enlightenment) through ethical living, meditation, and wisdom. Buddhism is the most ancient religion originating in India, advocating non-violence, self-discipline, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
It emphasizes the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the concepts of samsara (cycle of rebirth), karma, and anatta (non-self). Buddhism has deeply influenced Asian cultures, with various branches, including Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. It spread widely due to royal patronage, particularly under Emperor Ashoka.
Buddhism religion emerged as a reformist movements against Brahmanical rituals and caste-based hierarchies & played a crucial role in shaping India’s philosophical, ethical, and cultural landscape. Here is a general knowledge quiz on Buddhism.
Read Also| Top GK Questions and Answers on History of India
GK Questions with Answers on Buddhism
Q1: Who founded Buddhism?
Answer: Gautama Buddha, originally named Siddhartha Gautama, founded Buddhism in the 6th century BCE in ancient India.
Q2: Where was Gautama Buddha born?
Answer: Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini, present-day Nepal, to King Śuddhodana and Queen Maya Devi of the Shakya clan.
Q3: Under which tree did Buddha attain enlightenment?
Answer: Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, after meditating for 49 days.
Q4: In which city did Buddha give his first sermon?
Answer: Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, marking the beginning of his teaching journey.
Q5: What is the name of Buddha’s first sermon?
Answer: The first sermon, called Dharmachakra Pravartana Sutra, explained the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Q6: Where did Buddha attain Mahaparinirvana?
Answer: Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (final liberation) at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, at the age of 80.
Q7: Which Buddhist council led to the division into Hinayana and Mahayana?
Answer: The Fourth Buddhist Council, convened by Kanishka in Kashmir, led to the split into Hinayana and Mahayana sects.
Q8: Who convened the Third Buddhist Council?
Answer: Emperor Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra to purify the Sangha and spread Buddhism abroad.
Q9: What are the three baskets of Buddhist scriptures called?
Answer: The Tripitaka (Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka) are Buddhist scriptures containing rules, teachings, and philosophy.
Q10: Who is considered the "Second Buddha"?
Answer: Padmasambhava, a Buddhist master, is considered the "Second Buddha" for spreading Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet.
Q11: What is the Buddhist term for enlightenment?
Answer: Nirvana is the state of liberation from suffering, desire, and the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
Q12: What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?
Answer: The Four Noble Truths explain suffering (dukkha), its cause (samudaya), cessation (nirodha), and the path (magga) to liberation.
Q13: Which Mauryan ruler spread Buddhism across Asia?
Answer: Emperor Ashoka promoted Buddhism through edicts, sending missionaries to Sri Lanka, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Q14: What is the Buddhist community of monks and nuns called?
Answer: The Sangha is the monastic community responsible for preserving and spreading Buddha’s teachings.
Q15: What is the path leading to Nirvana in Buddhism?
Answer: The Eightfold Path consists of right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
Q16: What is the meaning of the term ‘Dharma’ in Buddhism?
Answer: Dharma refers to the teachings of Buddha, the natural law, and the path to righteousness that leads to enlightenment.
Q17: What is the Buddhist concept of ‘Samsara’?
Answer: Samsara is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, which Buddhism seeks to escape through Nirvana.
Q18: Which Buddhist text contains the teachings of the Buddha’s life and previous lives?
Answer: The Jataka Tales are a collection of stories that describe the Buddha’s previous lives and moral lessons.
Q19: What are the main symbols of Buddhism?
Answer: Key symbols include the Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra), the Lotus Flower, and the Buddha’s footprints, each representing aspects of the Buddha’s teachings.
Q20: What is the meaning of the term ‘Tathagata’?
Answer: Tathagata means one who has attained the truth or the one who has gone beyond suffering.
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